Food Safety Management
System Certification
ISO 22000 is the international standard for Food Safety Management Systems — combining HACCP principles with a full management system framework to ensure food safety hazards are controlled across the entire food chain, from farm to fork.
What is ISO 22000?
ISO 22000 is the internationally recognised standard specifying requirements for a Food Safety Management System (FSMS). It is applicable to all organisations in the food chain — from primary producers and ingredient manufacturers through to food processors, retailers, caterers, packaging suppliers and logistics operators — regardless of size or sector.
ISO 22000 uniquely combines HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) principles — as defined by Codex Alimentarius — with a full ISO management system framework. This integration means food safety hazards are systematically identified and controlled within a structured system of leadership, planning, support, operation, performance evaluation and continual improvement.
A central concept in ISO 22000 is the FSMS Hazard Analysis: identifying all biological, chemical and physical hazards that could occur in the food chain, evaluating their likelihood and severity, determining whether they are controlled by Prerequisite Programmes (PRPs) or whether they require Operational PRPs (OPRPs) or Critical Control Points (CCPs) with defined critical limits.
The 2018 edition aligned ISO 22000 with the High-Level Structure (HLS), enabling straightforward integration with ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 — and introduced risk-based thinking at both the business/management system level and at the hazard analysis level, clarifying the two distinct risk assessment processes required.
Systematic identification, evaluation and control of food safety hazards — biological, chemical and physical — using HACCP principles aligned with Codex Alimentarius.
Establish and maintain foundational PRPs — GMP, GHP, pest control, cleaning, allergen management — as the baseline for the FSMS.
Identify CCPs in the process where control is essential to prevent or reduce food safety hazards to acceptable levels, with critical limits and monitoring.
Applicable to all food chain operators — primary producers, manufacturers, retailers, caterers, logistics, packaging and feed producers.
Set measurable FSMS objectives, monitor food safety performance, review the FSMS at management level and drive ongoing improvement.
Benefits of ISO 22000 Certification
Third-party certification by RBA Registrars provides independent, credible verification that your management system meets international requirements.
ISO 22000 provides systematic assurance that food safety hazards are controlled throughout production and distribution — protecting consumers and reducing recall risk.
A documented FSMS aligned with ISO 22000 demonstrates compliance with food safety regulations including UK Food Safety Act, EU Regulation 852/2004 and international equivalents.
Major retailers, food service companies and export markets often require ISO 22000 or equivalent certification as a mandatory supply chain pre-qualification condition.
Systematic hazard control reduces the frequency of food safety incidents, product withdrawals and costly recalls — protecting both consumers and business continuity.
ISO 22000 is recognised internationally and facilitates access to export markets requiring food safety management system certification from suppliers.
ISO 22000 incorporates HACCP principles in a way that is recognised by regulatory authorities and food businesses globally — providing credible, auditable HACCP evidence.
Certification contributes to achieving multiple United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), supporting your organisation's sustainability commitments and ESG reporting.
Why Certify with RBA Registrars?
RBA Registrars provides ISO 22000 certification services to organisations across the UK, Bangladesh, Asia and internationally — delivered by practising auditors with genuine sector competence and understanding of local and regional regulatory frameworks.
Our auditors are assessed for technical competence across specific NACE/EA sector codes prior to assignment, ensuring that every audit is conducted by someone who understands the management system requirements relevant to your industry.
Whether your organisation is implementing a system for the first time or transferring your existing ISO 22000 certificate from another body, RBA Registrars offers a clear, transparent and professionally conducted certification pathway.
All auditors assessed for NACE/EA sector knowledge before assignment.
Local knowledge, internationally recognised certification processes.
Impartial, consistent and integrity-driven certification operations.
Transfer your existing certificate to RBA Registrars via a streamlined process.
RBA Registrars can support your staff training alongside certification.
Implementing Your Management System
ISO 22000 follows the Plan–Do–Check–Act (PDCA) cycle. The eight stages below map the standard's clauses to a logical implementation sequence.
Define the FSMS scope, identify the food chain position, understand interested parties and their food safety requirements. (Cl. 4)
Top management commits, establishes the Food Safety Policy. Food Safety Team Leader appointed and food safety team formed. (Cl. 5)
Describe products, intended use and process flow. Conduct hazard analysis. Determine PRPs, OPRPs and CCPs. Establish HACCP plan. (Cl. 6, 8)
Provide resources, establish food safety competence, deliver food hygiene training, control documented information and manage FSMS communications. (Cl. 7)
Implement PRPs, OPRPs and CCP controls in production. Manage allergens, traceability, supplier controls and non-conforming product procedures. (Cl. 8)
Monitor CCP critical limits, PRP compliance, food safety objectives and supplier performance. Verify control measures are effective. (Cl. 9)
Audit FSMS conformity and effectiveness. Investigate food safety incidents. Implement and verify corrective actions. (Cl. 9.2)
Top management reviews FSMS performance, updates hazard analysis, makes resourcing decisions and drives continual improvement. (Cl. 9.3, 10)
ISO 22000 Certification Process
RBA Registrars's certification pathway is transparent, structured and aligned with ISO/IEC 17021-1 — from initial enquiry through to certificate issue and ongoing surveillance.
Contact RBA Registrars to discuss your organisation's activities, the proposed ISO 22000 scope, number of sites and relevant NACE/EA sector codes. We confirm auditor competence for your sector and issue a tailored, no-obligation quotation.
Complete the RBA Registrars Application for Systems Certification and sign the Certification Agreement setting out the audit programme, fees, surveillance schedule, certification mark rights, confidentiality and rights of appeal.
An RBA Registrars auditor reviews your ISO 22000 management system documentation to assess readiness for the Stage 2 implementation audit. The Stage 1 report identifies any significant gaps to address before Stage 2 proceeds.
A comprehensive on-site or remote audit assessing the full implementation and effectiveness of the management system against all normative clauses of ISO 22000. Nonconformities must be closed before certification is granted.
An independent technical reviewer — not involved in either audit — reviews the complete audit file and makes the certification decision. On approval, RBA Registrars issues a ISO 22000 certificate valid for three years.
At least one surveillance audit per calendar year verifies continued conformity with ISO 22000, monitors system performance and checks progress on objectives and corrective actions.
Before certificate expiry, RBA Registrars conducts a full recertification audit. On successful completion, the certificate is renewed for a further three-year cycle.
The RBA Registrars Certification Mark
Once certified to ISO 22000, RBA Registrars will issue your certificate and authorise use of the RBA Registrars certification mark on your packaging, website, tender documents and marketing materials — in accordance with our Logo Use Guidelines. The mark demonstrates to retailers, regulators and consumers that your food safety management system has been independently certified to the international standard.
Enquire About Certification →ISO 22000 — Edition & Transition
ISO 22000 replaced ISO 22000:2005. All certificates should now reference the 2018 edition. RBA Registrars issues certificates to ISO 22000. If your organisation is still certified to the 2005 edition, contact RBA Registrars to arrange a transition audit to the current standard.
Ready to achieve ISO 22000 certification?
Contact RBA Registrars for a no-obligation scoping call and tailored quotation.