Significance of ISO 22000 to the

Food Industry
By
Dr. Deryck D. Pattron, Ph.D.
FDI, Ministry of Health
Port of Spain
Trinidad
West Indies

Introduction
In order to understand the significance of ISO 22000
we must first understand what ISO 22000 is about and
how is it applicable to the food industry. To achieve
these objectives we must ask the following questions:

What ISO 22000 means?

-ISO 22000 means consensus agreements between
all the economic stakeholders concerned: suppliers;
users; government regulators; other interest groups,
such as consumers

How ISO 22000 benefit society?

For businesses, the widespread adoption of ISO 22000

means that suppliers can base the development of their
products and services on specifications that have wide
acceptance in their sectors;

This, in turn, means that businesses using ISO 22000

are increasingly free to compete on many more markets
around the world

How ISO 22000 benefit consumers?

For consumers:
- conformity of products and services to International
Standards
-provides assurance about:
-quality
-safety
-reliability
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How ISO 22000 benefit trade officials?

For trade officials negotiating the emergence of regional

and global markets, IS0 22000 create "a level playing
field" for all competitors on those markets;

The existence of divergent national or regional standards

can create technical barriers to trade, even when there is
political agreement to do away with restrictive import
quotas and the like;

International Standards are the technical means by

which political trade agreements can be put into practice

How ISO 22000 benefit developing

countries?

For developing countries, ISO 22000 represents an

international consensus and constitute an important
source of technological know-how;

By defining the characteristics that products and services

will be expected to meet on export markets;

International Standards give developing countries a

basis for making the right decisions when investing their
scarce resources and thus avoid squandering them

How ISO 22000 benefits everyone?

ISO 22000 can contribute to the quality of life in general

by:
-ensuring safe food
-reducing foodborne diseases
-better quality and safer jobs in the food industry
-better utilization of resources
-more efficient validation and documentation of
techniques, methods and procedures
-increased profits
-increased potential for economic growth and
development
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How ISO 22000 benefit governments?

For governments, ISO 22000 provides:

-technological and scientific know-how
-bases for developing health, safety and environmental
legislation
-education of food regulatory personnel

How ISO 22000 benefit governments? (Contd)

-certification or registration
-international acceptance of standards used globally
-economic benefits
-social benefits
-trade liberalization
-food quality
-food safety
-food security

What are the benefits of ISO 22000 for other

stakeholders?

Confidence that organizations implementing ISO 22000

have the ability to identify and control food safety
hazards;

International in scope;

Provides potential for harmonization of national

standards;

Provides a reference for the whole food chain;

Provides a framework for third party certification;

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What are the benefits of ISO 22000 for other

stakeholders? (Contd)

Fills a gap between ISO 9001:2000 and HACCP;

Contributes to a better understanding and further

development of Codex HACCP;

Auditable standards with clear requirements;

System approach rather than product approach;

Suitable for regulators

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Summary of benefits of ISO 22000

More efficient and dynamic food safety hazard control;

Systematic management of prerequisite programmes;

Valid basis for taking decisions;

Increased due diligence;

Control focused on what is necessary;

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Summary of benefits of ISO 22000 (Contd)

Saves resources by reducing overlapping system audits;

Organizes and targets communication among partners;

Resource optimization;

Improves documentation;

Better planning, less post-process verification

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Conclusions

Food safety is related to the presence of and levels of food-borne

hazards in food at the point of consumption. As food safety hazards
may be introduced at any stage of the food chain, adequate control
throughout the food chain is essential. Thus, food safety is a joint
responsibility of all parties participating in the food chain;

Failures in food supply can cause human suffering, death, poor

reputation, violations, poor nutrition, poor quality products and
decreased profits;

ISO 22000 ensures integrity of food supply chain by minimizing

food-borne hazards throughout the food chain by ensuring that
there are no weak links;

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Conclusions (Contd)

It therefore makes good scientific sense for those who

are involved in food processing, manufacturing, storage,
distribution of food and food products to adopt and
implement ISO 22000;

ISO 22000 for food safety management systems is

intended to provide food safety and security;

ISO 22000 can be applied on its own or in combination

with other management system standards such as ISO
9001:2000

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Bibliography

ISO 2005-Food safety management systemsRequirements for any organization in the food chain.
(2005). Geneva: FDSI 22000.
ISO 9001:2000. Quality management systemRequirements.
Codex Alimentarius Food Hygiene Basic Texts. (2001).
Rome: FAO
Reference websites: http://www.iso.org
http://www.codexalimentarius.net

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Thank You
Dr. Deryck D. Pattron
FDI, Ministry of Health
Port of Spain
Trinidad, West Indies
dpattron@scientist.com

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