ISO 22000 — food safety on a poultry farm
ISO 22000 is an international food safety management standard. It combines HACCP with a way of running the whole business. We explain when it’s needed, what it covers and how to get it.
verifiedFrom the team that has organised work on poultry farms for years.
ISO 22000 is an international standard developed by ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) that describes a Food Safety Management System (FSMS). It rests on two pillars: HACCP principles, meaning hazard analysis, and a management-system structure similar to ISO 9001. As a result, food safety stops being a single procedure and becomes the way an entire farm or plant operates.
Does a poultry farm need ISO 22000?
Producing poultry alone is not required by law to hold ISO 22000. Farms and plants choose the standard when they want internationally recognised proof that they control food safety — often because a buyer asks for it, or because they want to reach export markets. ISO 22000 is also frequently a first step toward GFSI-recognised schemes (such as FSSC 22000) that many large buyers and retail chains expect.
What ISO 22000 requires
The standard combines hazard analysis with managing the whole organisation.
HACCP plan
Hazard analysis and critical control points — where food could become unsafe and how to prevent it. This is the core of the whole system.
Prerequisite programmes (PRPs)
Basic hygiene and housekeeping: clean facilities, pest control, staff hygiene, water, waste. The foundation on which HACCP stands.
Traceability and recall
The ability to trace a product both ways, plus a ready procedure for quickly recalling a batch should something go wrong.
Leadership and management
Management commitment, clear food-safety objectives, assigned responsibilities and a policy — the management-system element, as in ISO 9001.
Communication along the chain
Sharing information with suppliers and buyers about hazards and requirements, so the whole chain responds to the same risks.
Certification body audit
An independent audit by an accredited body at certification and annual surveillance audits. The outcome decides whether the certificate is kept.
ISO 22000 step by step
- 1
Check whether ISO 22000 is for you
Think about why you want it: does a buyer require it, are you planning to export, or do you want a foundation for FSSC 22000? If no buyer expects it, implemented HACCP without certification may be enough.
- 2
Implement prerequisite programmes (PRPs)
Start with the basics: hygiene, pest control, water quality, facility upkeep. Without working PRPs the HACCP plan has nothing to rest on.
- 3
Develop the HACCP plan and documentation
Carry out the hazard analysis, set the critical control points, write the procedures and records. This is the most labour-intensive stage — it requires writing down processes and training people.
- 4
Build the management system
Set objectives, responsibilities, communication and management reviews. This is the "management" layer that sets ISO 22000 apart from HACCP alone.
- 5
Choose an accredited body and pass the audit
The certificate is issued by an independent, accredited certification body. The auditor checks the documentation and practice on site; after a positive result you receive the ISO 22000 certificate.
- 6
Maintain it — surveillance audits
The certificate is usually valid for three years, but keeping it depends on annual surveillance audits and ongoing record-keeping. Neglected documentation is the most common problem at renewal.
Frequently asked questions about ISO 22000
Must every poultry farm have ISO 22000?add
No. The law does not require ISO 22000 from poultry farms. Companies choose the certificate when they want internationally recognised proof that they control food safety — most often because a buyer requires it or because they plan to export.
How is ISO 22000 different from HACCP?add
HACCP is a hazard-analysis method and is part of ISO 22000. ISO 22000 adds a management layer on top of HACCP (objectives, responsibilities, communication, reviews) plus a formal, independent certification audit. HACCP can be run without a certificate; ISO 22000 is a certified system.
Is ISO 22000 the same as FSSC 22000?add
No. ISO 22000 is the base standard. FSSC 22000 is a scheme built on ISO 22000 with extra requirements, and it is recognised by GFSI. Many large buyers and retail chains expect a GFSI-recognised scheme, and ISO 22000 is often the first step toward it.
How long is an ISO 22000 certificate valid?add
A certificate is usually issued for three years, with annual surveillance audits. A negative audit or serious non-conformities can lead to suspension or withdrawal.
Sources & resources
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