ISO 22000 Certification — Food Safety Management

Ensuring safety throughout the food supply chain.

Who this standard is for

Any business in the food chain — production, processing, catering, storage, transport, packaging — including businesses that only handle food indirectly.

Sectors that most often certify

Food manufacturing
Catering and hospitality
Cold storage and logistics
Retail and distribution
Packaging

What the standard requires

Prerequisite programmes appropriate to the operation
Hazard analysis covering biological, chemical, physical and allergen hazards
Critical control points with validated limits, monitoring and corrective action
Traceability in both directions, and a tested recall or withdrawal procedure
Verification that the food safety system works, not merely that it exists

Evidence auditors typically ask for

Hazard analysis and the reasoning behind each control decision
CCP monitoring records with evidence of action when limits were breached
Traceability exercise results, including time taken
Supplier approval and incoming material verification records
Cleaning, pest control and temperature monitoring records

Common pitfall: Running a traceability exercise on paper only. Auditors ask for a live mock recall and time it.

How certification works

Choose the standard and scope
The scope statement decides what the certificate actually covers, so it is worth getting right before anything else. It names the activities, and the sites, that are being certified.
Submit your documentation
Your management system documentation is reviewed against the standard. Gaps are identified at this point rather than during the audit, which is where most delays otherwise occur.
Stage 1 audit
A readiness review. The auditor confirms that the system is documented, that internal audits and management review have taken place, and that you are ready to be assessed against practice.
Stage 2 audit
The implementation audit. The auditor tests whether the system described is the system being operated, by examining records and interviewing the people who do the work.
Certification and surveillance
Once any findings are closed, the certificate is issued and listed for verification. Certificates run on a three-year cycle with annual surveillance audits to keep them valid.

Pricing

Annual certification	Three-year term
$1,800 / AED 6,611 per year	$4,860 total for three years

Published prices, billed as a subscription. Certifying more than one standard together reduces the combined price. Final scope may affect the price where multiple sites or high headcount are involved.

Accreditation and verification

What gives a certificate its value is the body standing behind it. A certificate issued by a body accredited by an International Accreditation Forum member is listed on the IAF CertSearch global registry, where any client or procurement team can confirm it in seconds. Always ask which accreditation body sits behind a certificate, not just who issued it.

Frequently asked questions

How long does ISO 22000 certification take?

It depends on how ready your management system is and on the scope being certified. Once documentation is complete and reviewed, the two audit stages usually move quickly — gaps found at Stage 1 are the most common cause of delay.

Is ISO 22000 certification internationally recognised?

A certificate issued by a body accredited by an International Accreditation Forum member is internationally recognised, and anyone can confirm it on the IAF CertSearch global registry.

How long does the certificate stay valid?

Certificates run on a three-year cycle, subject to passing an annual surveillance audit. If surveillance is not carried out, the certificate can be suspended or withdrawn before the cycle ends.

Do we need a consultant?

Not necessarily. Many organisations prepare their food safety management system in-house, particularly where processes are already documented. A consultant helps when time is short or the scope is complex, but is not a requirement for certification.