What is the primary objective of **ISO 22000**?

**ISO 22000 establishes, implements, maintains, and continually improves a Food Safety Management System (FSMS) to provide safe products and services.** It enables organizations to prevent, eliminate, or reduce food safety hazards to acceptable levels, demonstrate compliance with statutory/regulatory and customer requirements, and support effective internal/external communication across the food chain. Published June 19, 2018, ISO 22000:2018 integrates HACCP principles with a **High-Level Structure (HLS)** and dual PDCA cycles—one for organizational FSMS governance (Clauses 4–7, 9–10) and one for operational hazard controls (Clause 8)—ensuring hazard analysis, PRPs, CCPs/OPRPs, verification, traceability, and emergency preparedness.

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with **ISO 22000**?

**No organization is legally required to comply with ISO 22000, as it is a voluntary international standard.** It applies professionally to any organization directly or indirectly in the food chain, including primary producers, feed/animal food producers, processors, packaging providers, transport/storage operators, retailers, food services, and related suppliers, regardless of size. Compliance is driven by customer requirements, market access (e.g., GFSI schemes like FSSC 22000), or supplier qualification, with scope defined per Clause 4 to cover relevant processes, products, and outsourced activities.

Does **ISO 22000** require an external audit or third-party certification?

**ISO 22000 does not require external audit or third-party certification, but certification provides independent FSMS verification.** Certification follows ISO/IEC conformity assessment standards via accredited bodies, typically in two stages: Stage 1 (readiness review) and Stage 2 (implementation audit), with annual surveillance and triennial recertification. Organizations must demonstrate full Clause 4–10 compliance, including leadership accountability, hazard control plans, internal audits, and management reviews, after a minimum operational period (often 3 months).

How often should an assessment for **ISO 22000** be performed?

**Internal audits for ISO 22000 must be conducted at planned intervals, with risk-based frequency for high-risk processes.** Clause 9.2 requires a documented audit program assessing FSMS conformity and effectiveness, prioritizing areas like CCPs/OPRPs, PRPs, and supplier controls. Management reviews (Clause 9.3) occur at planned intervals (typically annually or semi-annually), incorporating audit results, performance data, and changes. Hazard analyses and verifications are updated as needed (e.g., process changes), with continual improvement per Clause 10.

What are the consequences of non-compliance with **ISO 22000**?

**Non-compliance with ISO 22000 results in certification denial, suspension, or withdrawal by the certification body.** Audits identify major/minor nonconformities requiring correction (e.g., 14–90 days for majors); uncorrected issues prevent certification. Organizationally, weak FSMS exposes firms to food safety incidents, recalls, regulatory fines, litigation, brand damage, and market exclusion, as it fails to control hazards via PRPs, hazard analysis, traceability, and withdrawal procedures.

An **ISO 22000** be mapped to other international frameworks?

**Yes, ISO 22000:2018 adopts the High-Level Structure (HLS) enabling seamless mapping and integration with other ISO management system standards.** Clauses 4–10 align with ISO 9001 (quality), ISO 14001 (environment), and ISO 45001 (occupational health), supporting combined audits and shared processes like risk planning (Clause 6), support (Clause 7), and performance evaluation (Clauses 9–10). It forms the foundation for GFSI schemes like FSSC 22000, which mandates all ISO 22000 requirements plus sector PRPs.

What is the first step to begin implementing **ISO 22000**?

**The first step is determining organizational context, scope, and interested parties per Clause 4.** Conduct a gap analysis against ISO 22000:2018 clauses, identifying internal/external issues, needs/expectations becoming compliance obligations, and FSMS boundaries (products, sites, processes). Secure leadership commitment (Clause 5) for a food safety policy, form a cross-functional team, and prioritize PRPs and hazard analysis planning.

What is the primary objective of **BRC**?

**The primary objective of BRCGS Global Standard for Food Safety is to ensure the production of safe, legal, authentic, and quality-assured food products through a structured management system.** It combines senior management commitment with a Codex HACCP-based food safety plan and prerequisite programs (GMP/GHP) to control contamination, mislabelling, food fraud, and operational risks across manufacturing, processing, and packing sites.

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with **BRC**?

**BRC compliance is professionally required for food manufacturers, processors, and packers supplying major retailers worldwide, as it is GFSI-benchmarked and often contractually mandated.** It applies to sites producing processed foods, ingredients, primary products like fruit/vegetables, and domestic pet foods under direct management control; exclusions are limited to physically segregated, differentiable products.

Does **BRC** require an external audit or third-party certification?

**Yes, BRC requires mandatory external audits by accredited certification bodies, with certificates issued annually based on performance.** Audits can be announced or unannounced, evaluating compliance across nine clauses with grading (AA/A/B/C/D, "+" for unannounced); fundamental non-conformities can prevent certification.

How often should an assessment for **BRC** be performed?

**BRC certification audits occur annually, with internal audits required at least four times yearly across all clauses.** Management reviews happen at least annually, plus monthly food safety meetings and quarterly objective reporting; unannounced audits reinforce continuous readiness.

What are the consequences of non-compliance with **BRC**?

**Non-compliance with BRC can result in certification denial, suspension, or withdrawal, plus commercial delisting by retailers.** Major/critical non-conformities in fundamentals (e.g., HACCP, traceability) require root cause analysis and CAPA closure within strict timeframes (e.g., 28 days); repeated failures increase audit frequency and block market access.

Can **BRC** be mapped to other international frameworks?

**Yes, BRC maps effectively to frameworks like FSMA Preventive Controls, where it is rated comparable or exceeding in areas like HACCP and PRPs.** However, adaptations may be needed for formal preventive control designation and PCQI roles; it aligns via shared elements like risk assessment and verification.

What is the first step to begin implementing **BRC**?

**The first step is securing senior management commitment via a signed food safety policy and defining audit scope.** Assemble a multidisciplinary team, conduct a gap analysis against Issue 9 clauses using BRC tools, and prioritize fundamentals like HACCP and site standards.

ISO 22000 vs BRC

Standards Comparison

ISO 22000

Voluntary

2018

International standard for food safety management systems

BRC

Voluntary

2022

Global standard for food safety management certification

Quick Verdict

ISO 22000 offers flexible FSMS governance for any food chain organization globally, while BRC provides prescriptive site controls and HACCP for manufacturers targeting retailers. Companies adopt ISO for integration and scalability; BRC for market access and buyer trust.

Food Safety

ISO 22000

ISO 22000:2018 Food safety management systems

Cost

€€€€

Complexity

High

Implementation Time

6-12 months

Key Features

Adopts High-Level Structure for integrated management systems
Uses two nested PDCA cycles for strategic and operational control
Integrates HACCP principles with full management system requirements
Categorizes controls systematically as PRP, OPRP, or CCP
Emphasizes interactive communication across food chain

Food Safety

BRC

BRCGS Global Standard for Food Safety

Cost

€€€€

Complexity

High

Implementation Time

6-12 months

Key Features

Senior management commitment and culture plan
Codex HACCP-based food safety system
Fundamental non-negotiable certification requirements
Site standards with risk zoning segregation
Expanded environmental monitoring and food defence

Detailed Analysis

A comprehensive look at the specific requirements, scope, and impact of each standard.

ISO 22000 Details

What It Is

ISO 22000:2018 is an international certification standard for Food Safety Management Systems (FSMS). It applies to any organization in the food chain, providing a systematic framework to prevent food safety hazards, ensure compliance with regulations and customer needs, and enable effective communication. Its risk-based approach uses two nested **PDCA cyclesone for overall FSMS governance and one for operational hazard controls.

Key Components

Clauses 4-10 follow ISO's High-Level Structure (HLS).
Core elements: PRPs, hazard analysis, CCPs/OPRPs, traceability, verification, internal audits.
Built on HACCP principles integrated with management system discipline.
Requires documented information, competence, and leadership accountability; certification via accredited bodies.

Why Organizations Use It

Mitigates recalls, litigation, and brand damage.
Meets voluntary but market-driven needs for GFSI schemes like FSSC 22000.
Enhances supply chain trust, operational efficiency, and integration with ISO 9001/14001.
Builds stakeholder confidence through auditable assurance.

Implementation Overview

Phased: gap analysis, PRPs/hazard planning, training, audits, certification.
Scalable for SMEs to multinationals across food sectors globally.
Involves 6-18 months, cross-functional teams, and ongoing surveillance audits.

BRC Details

What It Is

The BRCGS Global Standard for Food Safety is a GFSI-benchmarked, third-party certification framework for food manufacturers, processors, and packers. It ensures product safety, legality, authenticity, and quality via a structured system combining senior management commitment and a Codex HACCP-based food safety plan, supported by prerequisite programs like GMP/GHP.

Key Components

Nine core clauses spanning governance, HACCP, site standards, product/process controls, personnel, and traded products.
Fundamental requirements (e.g., internal audits, traceability, allergen management) critical for certification.
Risk-based approach with environmental monitoring, food defense, and root cause analysis.
Annual audits (announced/unannounced) with performance grading (AA/A/B/C/D).

Why Organizations Use It

Meets retailer mandates for supply chain access.
Reduces audits, evidences due diligence, mitigates recall risks (allergens, pathogens, labelling).
Builds trust, enhances reputation, supports regulatory compliance (e.g., FSMA).

Implementation Overview

Phased: gap analysis, documentation, training, internal audits, certification.
Applies globally to manufacturing sites; 6-12 months typical; requires multidisciplinary teams and CAPA.

Key Differences

Aspect	ISO 22000	BRC
Scope	Full FSMS with governance, hazard control, PRPs across food chain	Food safety, quality, site standards, HACCP for manufacturing/packing
Industry	All food chain organizations worldwide, any size	Food manufacturers, packers, retailers globally, scalable to SMEs
Nature	Voluntary ISO management system certification standard	Voluntary GFSI-benchmarked retailer-driven certification scheme
Testing	Internal audits, management review, 3-year recertification	Annual site audits, announced/unannounced, internal audits required
Penalties	Loss of certification, no legal penalties	Certification withdrawal, grade downgrade, buyer delisting

Scope

ISO 22000

Full FSMS with governance, hazard control, PRPs across food chain

BRC

Food safety, quality, site standards, HACCP for manufacturing/packing

Industry

ISO 22000

All food chain organizations worldwide, any size

BRC

Food manufacturers, packers, retailers globally, scalable to SMEs

Nature

ISO 22000

Voluntary ISO management system certification standard

BRC

Voluntary GFSI-benchmarked retailer-driven certification scheme

Testing

ISO 22000

Internal audits, management review, 3-year recertification

BRC

Annual site audits, announced/unannounced, internal audits required

Penalties

ISO 22000

Loss of certification, no legal penalties

BRC

Certification withdrawal, grade downgrade, buyer delisting

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about ISO 22000 and BRC

ISO 22000 FAQ

BRC FAQ

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ISO 22000

BRC

Quick Verdict

ISO 22000

Key Features

BRC

Key Features

Detailed Analysis

ISO 22000 Details

What It Is

Key Components

Why Organizations Use It

Implementation Overview

BRC Details

What It Is

Key Components

Why Organizations Use It

Implementation Overview

Key Differences

Scope

Industry

Nature

Testing

Penalties

Frequently Asked Questions

ISO 22000 FAQ

What is the primary objective of ISO 22000?

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with ISO 22000?

Does ISO 22000 require an external audit or third-party certification?

How often should an assessment for ISO 22000 be performed?

What are the consequences of non-compliance with ISO 22000?

An ISO 22000 be mapped to other international frameworks?

What is the first step to begin implementing ISO 22000?

BRC FAQ

What is the primary objective of BRC?

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with BRC?

Does BRC require an external audit or third-party certification?

How often should an assessment for BRC be performed?

What are the consequences of non-compliance with BRC?

Can BRC be mapped to other international frameworks?

What is the first step to begin implementing BRC?

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