BUSINESS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR YOU: ISO 22000

(ISO: Geneva) -- The principal highlights of “The ISO Survey of Certifications 2009” are that ISO 9001, the global benchmark for quality management, has topped one million certifications, and that certifications to ISO 22000 for food safety management systems, and to ISO/IEC 27001 for information security management systems have rocketed.

SO states in the introduction to the survey that the 8-percent increase in ISO 9001 certificates, compared with the 3-percent increase in 2008, “confirms the importance of ISO 9001 in the global supply chains and as the pioneering model on which subsequent management system standards have been built and flourish.”

Safe food supply chains are a global priority. ISO 22000 certifications reached at least 13,881 certificates in 127 countries and economies—a rise of 69 percent.

The increasing importance organizations give to information security was demonstrated by the 40-percent increase in ISO/IEC 27001 certifications, which reached 12,934 in 117 countries.

“Each year, the release of the latest ISO Survey is an eagerly awaited event as the primary source of information on the importance of ISO’s management system standards to the global economy,” says ISO secretary-general Rob Steele. “For the first time, the new edition is being published on a CD-ROM containing Excel files of the surveys from the first, in 1993, up to the end of 2009. Making this data available in one place will facilitate comparison and extrapolation and make the survey an even more useful business tool.”
ISO 9001

ISO 9001 (certifications to 2000 and 2008 editions cumulated), which gives the requirements for quality management systems, is now firmly established as the globally implemented standard for providing assurance about the ability to satisfy quality requirements and to enhance customer satisfaction in supplier-customer relationships.

Up to the end of December 2009, at least 1,064,785 ISO 9001 (2000 and 2008) certificates had been issued in 178 countries and economies. The 2009 total represents an increase of 81,953 (more than 8%) over 2008, when the total was 982,832 in 176 countries and economies.
ISO 14001

ISO 14001, which gives the requirements for environmental management systems, retains its global relevance for organizations wishing to operate in an environmentally sustainable manner.

Up to the end of December 2009, at least 223,149 ISO 14001 certificates had been issued in 159 countries and economies. Annual growth is stabilized at almost the same level as in 2008—34,334 in 2009, compared to 34,242 in 2008, when the total was 188,815 in 155 countries and economies.
ISO/TS 16949

ISO/TS 16949 (certifications to 2002 and 2009 editions cumulated) gives the requirements for the application of ISO 9001:2000 by suppliers in the automotive sector. Up to the end of December 2009, at least 41,240 ISO/TS 16949 certificates had been issued in 83 countries and economies.
ISO 13485

ISO 13485 gives quality management requirements for the medical device sector for regulatory purposes. Up to the end of December 2009, at least 16,424 ISO 13485 certificates had been issued in 90 countries and economies. The 2009 total represents an increase of 3,190 (about 24%) over 2008 when the total was 13,234 in 88 countries and economies.
ISO/IEC 27001

ISO/IEC 27001 gives the requirements for information security management systems. At the end of 2009, at least 12,934 ISO/IEC 27001 certificates had been issued in 117 countries and economies. The 2009 total represents an increase of 3,688 (more than 40%) over 2008 when the total was 9,246 in 82 countries and economies.
ISO 22000

ISO 22000 gives the requirements for food safety management systems. Up to the end of December 2009, at least 13,881 ISO 22000 certificates had been issued in 127 countries and economies. The 2009 total represents an increase of 5,675 (more than 69%) over 2008 when the total was 8,206 in 112 countries and economies.
Survey on CD-ROM

For the first time, ISO is making the survey available on a CD-ROM in Excel files covering 1993 to 2009, which allows comparisons since the survey was launched.

ISO makes available the principal findings of the survey free of charge on the ISO website. More information, including industry sector breakdowns, can be found in “The ISO Survey of Certifications 2009,” on a CD-ROM. It is available from ISO national member institutes (see the complete list with contact details).
source : www.iso.org

September 2005 is ISO’s publication target for ISO 22000 1), the new standard for food safety management systems, which is intended to ensure that there are no weak links in food supply chains.

ISO has circulated the final draft of the standard to the national standard bodies that make up its membership for a two-month voting period, ending on 5 July 2005.

ISO 22000, Food safety management systems – Requirements for any organization in the food chain, can be applied to organizations ranging from feed producers, primary producers through food manufacturers, transport and storage operators and subcontractors
to retail and food service outlets – together with interrelated organizations such as producers of equipment, packaging material, cleaning agents, additives and ingredients.

“As food safety hazards can be introduced at any stage of the food chain, adequate control throughout the food chain is essential,” commented Jacob Færgemand, convenor of the ISO working group that is developing ISO 22000.

Food chain

“Thus, food safety is a joint responsibility that is principally assured through the ombined efforts of all the parties participating in the food chain.”

ISO 22000 specifies the requirements for a food safety management system in the food chain where an organization needs to demonstrate its ability to control food safety hazards in order to provide consistently safe end products that meet both the requirements
agreed with the customer and those of applicable food safety regulations.

Dorte Jespersen, secretary of the ISO 22000 working group, explained the background to the standard : “Organizations that produce, manufacture, handle or supply food recognize that customers increasingly want them to demonstrate and provide adequate evidence of their ability to identify and control food safety hazards and the many conditions impacting food safety”.

“The growing number of national standards for food safety management has led to confusion. Consequently, there is a need to harmonize the national standards at an international level.”

The standard can be applied on its own, or in combination with other management system standards such as ISO 9001:2000, with or without independent (third party) certification of conformity.

Complemented

The publication of ISO 22000 will be complemented by an ISO Technical Specification (ISO/TS 22004) giving guidance on the implementation of the standard, with a particular emphasis on small and medium-sized enterprises. In the following months, another Technical Specification ((ISO/TS 22003) will be published explaining certification requirements applicable when third-party certification is used.

These documents are being developed by working group WG 8, Food safety management systems, of ISO technical committee ISO/TC 34, Food products. Experts from 23 countries are participating and organizations with liaison status include the following: Confederation of the Food and Drink Industries of the European Union (CIAA), Codex Alimentarius Commission, International Hotel and Restaurant Association, CIES/ Global Food Safety Initiative, and World Food Safety Organization (WFSO). (by Roger Frost)