ISO 22000 is the international standard for food safety management systems, integrating HACCP principles, prerequisite programmes and management-system requirements into a single auditable framework applicable across the entire food supply chain.
In trade practice
The current edition, ISO 22000:2018, introduced a high-level structure aligned with other ISO management standards, making integration with ISO 9001 or ISO 14001 more straightforward. Certification is granted by an accredited third-party body, but ISO 22000 alone is not GFSI-benchmarked; FSSC 22000 adds the sector-specific prerequisite programmes and additional requirements needed for GFSI recognition. Many buyers in the EU accept ISO 22000 for ingredient suppliers and logistics providers but require a GFSI-benchmarked scheme for direct food manufacturers. A common misunderstanding is treating ISO 22000 certification as equivalent to FSSC 22000, which can cause a listing to be refused at retailer approval stage.
In a specification
A supply contract requiring ISO 22000 should cite the current edition, specify the certified scope, and distinguish clearly whether ISO 22000 alone or a GFSI-benchmarked scheme built on it is the accepted standard.