ISO 22000 – The International Standard for Food Safety Management System
ISO 22000 is the world’s primary standard for Food Safety Management Systems. It combines the HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) principles with a full management system structure, making it the most comprehensive and globally accepted food safety standard available. Over 34,000 organisations across more than 140 countries hold ISO 22000 certification.
What is ISO 22000?
ISO 22000 is an international standard developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). It sets out the requirements for a Food Safety Management System (FSMS) — a structured framework to ensure that food is safe at every stage of the supply chain.
The current version is ISO 22000:2018.
ISO 22000 integrates two important frameworks:
- HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) — the systematic approach to identifying and controlling food safety hazards, required by law in many jurisdictions.
- The ISO management system structure — the plan-do-check-act framework that makes continuous improvement systematic and auditable.
This combination means ISO 22000 is more powerful than standalone HACCP. It is also the foundation for FSSC 22000 — the standard required by most major global retailers and food service companies.
ISO 22000 covers any organisation in the food chain:
- Farmers and primary food producers
- Food manufacturers and processors
- Packaging manufacturers
- Food ingredient suppliers
- Food retailers and distributors
- Catering and food service companies
- Transport and storage companies handling food
Who Needs ISO 22000 Certification?
Demand for ISO 22000 follows food export routes, retailer requirements, and regulatory frameworks.
Food Manufacturers and Processors Any company that manufactures, processes, or packages food destined for export or major retail faces a direct requirement. The EU market, UK market, US market, and Gult region all expect certified food safety management from suppliers.
Agriculture and Primary Production Large export-oriented farms and cooperatives — particularly in Thailand, Egypt, Iran, Nigeria, Ghana, Turkey, Kenya, Peru, and South Asia — need ISO 22000 to access premium export markets.
Catering and Food Service Large hotel groups, airline catering operations, hospital catering, and institutional food service companies use ISO 22000 to demonstrate systematic food safety to clients and regulators.
Food Ingredient and Additive Suppliers Ingredient suppliers that provide inputs to certified food manufacturers are increasingly required to hold equivalent certification themselves.
Packaging Companies Companies that manufacture food-contact packaging are included in the food chain scope. Many food manufacturers require their packaging suppliers to hold ISO 22000.
Why ISO 22000 Matters Now a Days
ISO 22000 demand is primarily driven by market access:
- A major supermarket chain or food retailer requires certified food safety management as a condition of supplier registration
- An export shipment is rejected because the destination market requires ISO 22000 certificates or equivalents
- A food contamination incident in the sector creates regulatory and buyer pressure for systematic safety management
- A new export market opportunity — EU, UK, GCC, or similar — requires formal food safety certification for market entry
For food exporters in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East specifically, ISO 22000 is increasingly the minimum threshold for accessing premium markets. FSSC 22000 (built on ISO 22000) is required by GFSI-benchmarked buyers.
Why Accredited ISO 22000 Certification Matters
In the food industry particularly, the strength of your certificate’s backing matters enormously. Buyers and regulatory bodies verify that certification bodies are properly accredited before accepting certificates.
At Isofranchise, every certificate is issued through certification bodies accredited by one of six internationally recognised accreditation bodies. None of our certification bodies has ever been suspended.
The Six Accreditation Bodies We Work With:
IAS (International Accreditation Service) — Strong recognition in USA, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Middle East, and Southeast Asia.
UAF (United Accreditation Foundation) — Widely accepted across Asia, Middle East, and Africa. Popular choice for new and growing certification businesses.
UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service) — The national body for the UK. Highly valued for UK and European supply chains.
ANAB (ANSI National Accreditation Board) — Important for US government contracts and large American corporations.
KAB (Korea Accreditation Board) — Essential when supplying to South Korean companies in automotive and electronics.
EGAC (Egyptian Accreditation Council) — Recognised across North Africa and the Arab MENA region.
All six are connected through the International Accreditation Forum (IAF), so certificates are accepted in over 100 countries.
ISO 22000 Certification Process – Step by Step
- Initial Enquiry — You contact us and a local franchise partner reaches out within 24 hours to understand your food operations and requirements.
- Gap Analysis — We review your current food safety practices, HACCP records, and documentation against ISO 22000 requirements.
- Prerequisite Programme (PRP) Development — We help establish the baseline hygiene, infrastructure, and operational controls required before HACCP implementation.
- Hazard Analysis and HACCP Plan — We identify food safety hazards (biological, chemical, physical, allergenic) and establish Critical Control Points with limits and monitoring procedures.
- Documentation Development — We help prepare the Food Safety Policy, Food Safety Management Plan, FSMS procedures, and required records.
- Implementation — You put the FSMS and HACCP plan into daily operation and train your team.
- Internal Audit — An internal review confirms the system is working before the external audit.
- Certification Audit — Two stages: document review (Stage 1) and full on-site assessment (Stage 2) by an accredited auditor.
- Certificate Issuance — If successful, you receive your ISO 22000:2018 certificate, valid for three years.
- Surveillance Audits — Annual checks to confirm continued compliance and improvement.
11. Recertification — A full audit every three years to renew the certificate.
Typical Timeline
Organisation Size | Typical Duration |
Small (up to 50 employees) | 8–14 weeks |
Medium (50–250 employees) | 12–18 weeks |
Large (250+ employees) | 18–28 weeks |
Food safety systems involve detailed hazard analysis and HACCP planning which add time compared to simpler management system standards. Our partners provide full technical support throughout.
Typical Cost Range
Organisation Size | Typical Cost (USD) |
Small | USD 2,000 – 5,000 |
Medium | USD 5,000 – 12,000 |
Large | USD 12,000+ |
Costs depend on the size of your operations, number of product lines, number of locations, and chosen accreditation body. We provide a clear, no-obligation quote.
Key Documents Required
- Food Safety Policy
- Prerequisite Programme (PRP) Records
- Hazard Analysis Documentation
- HACCP Plan (CCPs, Critical Limits, Monitoring Procedures)
- Operational Prerequisite Programmes (oPRPs)
- Traceability and Product Recall Procedures
- Customer Communication and Complaint Records
- Training and Competence Records
- Internal Audit Reports
- Management Review Records
- Corrective Action Records
- Emergency Preparedness and Response Plans
For Businesses: Get ISO 22000 Certified
If your food business needs ISO 22000 certification to access export markets, qualify with major retailers, or meet regulatory requirements, our network offers a clear and reliable path.
- Certificates issued under internationally recognised accreditations (IAS, UAF, UKAS, ANAB, KAB, EGAC)
- Accepted in more than 100 countries
- Complete technical support from gap analysis to final certificate
- Option to appear on the official accreditation schedule
- Trusted network with a perfect record — no suspensions ever
We support food businesses across UAE, Saudi Arabia, United Kingdom, USA, Australia, Germany, Canada, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Nigeria, Kenya, Qatar, Egypt, Turkey, Iran, Ghana, Peru, and many more countries.
ISO 22000 as a Business Opportunity — Join the Isofranchise Network
Food safety certification demand is consistent and growing across every food-producing country. Every country that exports food to EU, UK, GCC, USA, or major Asian markets generates businesses that need ISO 22000. This makes it a highly sustainable specialisation for a certification business.
How the Isofranchise model works
We operate a global network that gives franchise partners access to accreditation, training, tools, and clients — so you can start delivering ISO certifications without building everything from scratch.
What every franchise partner receives:
- Zero Investment — No franchise fee, no setup costs, no joining fees
- Access to six accreditation bodies — flexibility to serve different markets and client requirements
- Free professional website — fully built and ready from day one
- Free client database — pre-qualified leads in your territory actively looking for ISO certification
- Exclusive regional rights — you are the only isofranchise.in partner in your area
- Free comprehensive training — covers ISO 22000, HACCP, auditing, and business operations. No prior experience required
- Option to appear on the official accreditation schedule
ISO 22000 pairs naturally with ISO 9001, ISO 45001, and ISO 14001. Most food manufacturers need quality, safety, and environmental management giving partners a natural multi-standard opportunity with every food client.
How to Become an ISO 22000 Franchise Partner
The process is simple and straightforward:
- Submit your franchise application
- Complete onboarding and receive your free website and client database
- Finish the free training programme
- Choose the accreditation bodies you want to work with
- Set up your operations in your exclusive territory
- Start certifying clients and growing your business
Countries Where We Deliver ISO 22000 Certification
- Our network is active in many of the world’s strongest ISO certification markets, including:
Australia — Qatar — Thailand — Egypt — Azerbaijan — Nigeria — United Kingdom — Peru — Brazil — Bangladesh — USA — South Africa — Malaysia — Kuwait — Italy — Ghana — Georgia — Iraq — Kenya — Saudi Arabia — Nepal — Bulgaria — India — Pakistan — Indonesia — Mongolia — Canada — Iran — Germany — Singapore — Sri Lanka — Turkey — UAE — Vietnam and many more.