22000: Step-by-Step
Step 1: Learn about ISO 22000
The first step in your progress towards building your Food Safety Management System is to understand what the ISO 22000 requires and how it will affect your organization.
- If you need to learn about the standard, I recommend these resources:
- What is ISO 22000: Read an article about the standard to get an overview.
- ISO 22000: Download our Free ISO 22000 PowerPoint presentation for a summary of the requirements
- Understanding 22000 Training: Purchase the online training program for a detailed explanation of the requirements. You will be able to start learning immediately and be ready to lead your project. The training includes a final quiz, and if that is passed a certificate of completion is issued as a training record.
Free 22000 PowerPoint Download and Informational Email Newsletters
Step 2: Compare your current system to the requirements
In order to be able to plan your project, you will need to know exactly what needs to be done in your organization to meet the requirements of the standard. Identify what requirements you already meet, and list the ones that need to be addressed.
- To accomplish this, you will perform a gap analysis
- Read more about conducting a gap analysis; I recommend our information page: What is an ISO 22000 Gap Analysis? and try the free Gap Analysis Manager
- To prepare for your gap analysis, purchase and download a Gap Analysis Checklist.
Step 3: Plan your project
Once you have your list of requirements that you need to address, you can start planning your project. Using teams to implement the FSMS is a very efficient and effective approach. It brings in employees from all parts of the organization to participate in the development and implementation, assuring the effectiveness of the final system as well as employee ownership of the system.
- For more detail on using teams and creating your project plan visit our pages:
Step 4: Design and document your system
With the team approach to implementation, there is a team assigned for each of the processes that must be documented. For example, a team assigned to work on the document control system and procedure will work together to make any changes to the current system to bring it into compliance. Then they will document the procedure as well as any necessary work instructions or forms.
The team uses information from the Gap Analysis to determine what must be done to bring the process into compliance. They may also use a prewritten procedure to assist them. This will provide them with a foundation to work from as well as an example of a process that complies with the ISO 22000 requirements. They will tailor the procedure to reflect your processes.
- For more information on documentation and a documentation package visit:
Step 5: Train employees and an internal audit team
In order to complete the implementation of the system, employees must be trained, both any new processes that have been implemented and on the requirements of the standard.
- Read about recommend our training programs.
- 22000 Employee Training: Purchase and download our computer-training program to use to train your employees individually. Each employee completes the training on a computer. A quiz resulting in a training certificate provide records of the training.
ISO 22000 Internal Auditor Training
You will also need to train an internal audit team. Train enough auditors so you will be able to maintain your audit schedule.
- We recommend our
- Internal Auditor Training
- This program will train your auditors on ISO 22000, as well as the basics of HACCP and PRP programs. They will be guided through a practice audit of your facility.
- Internal Audit Tips
Step 6: Registration audit
When the day of your Registration Audit has arrived, it is time to showcase your Food Safety Management System. The Auditor or Auditors are coming in to see how you have addressed the requirements of ISO 22000, and how you have designed your FSMS
Our 22000 Project Manager™ will help you through each of these steps.
