ISO 22000 is the international standard for food safety management systems, applicable to any organization in the food chain, including packaging and packaging material suppliers.
Detailed Definition
ISO 22000, currently the 2018 edition, sets requirements for a food safety management system. It combines HACCP principles with prerequisite programs and a management system structure shared with other ISO standards. It is voluntary and is not a US regulation; FSMA rules such as 21 CFR Part 117 apply separately. Certification schemes such as FSSC 22000 add sector prerequisite program requirements to ISO 22000, including ISO/TS 22002-4 for food packaging manufacturing.
Where pallets fit in a food safety management system
In a food plant or warehouse, pallets are covered mainly by prerequisite programs: pest control, cleaning, maintenance, storage and control of incoming materials. A hazard analysis may identify pallet hazards such as wood splinters, loose nails, mold, pests or residues from earlier loads. The site then sets controls such as inspection, segregation, dedicated pallets for production areas or plastic pallets in wet zones.
Records and traceability for pallets
An ISO 22000 system expects documented evidence that controls work. For pallets, that can include receiving inspection records, cleaning logs for reusable pallets, pest control reports for pallet storage areas and records of rejected loads. Some sites also record the pallet supplier and delivery date alongside the packaging or ingredient lots they carry, which helps when a complaint involves the pallet.
What a pallet supplier may be asked for
- A written pallet specification covering condition, cleanliness and moisture.
- Pest control and storage practices at the supplier's yard.
- Disclosure of any treatment chemicals, coatings or paints used.
- Traceability of deliveries.
- A certificate, if the customer has chosen to require certified packaging suppliers; this is a customer decision, not an ISO 22000 rule.
Related Glossary Terms
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ISO 22000 the same as FSMA compliance?
No. FSMA is US law, implemented through FDA rules such as the preventive controls rule in 21 CFR Part 117 and the sanitary transportation rule. ISO 22000 is a voluntary international standard. A well-run ISO 22000 system covers many of the same ideas, such as hazard analysis and prerequisite programs, but certification does not by itself show legal compliance. FDA inspects against its own regulations.
Is ISO 22000 recognized by GFSI?
ISO 22000 on its own is not a GFSI-benchmarked scheme. FSSC 22000, which builds on ISO 22000 and adds sector prerequisite program standards and extra scheme requirements, is GFSI recognized. Retailers and brand owners that require GFSI certification will usually ask for FSSC 22000 or another recognized scheme, such as SQF or BRCGS, rather than ISO 22000 alone. Check the customer's supplier requirements.