Choosing the right certification body for ISO 22000 is quite complicated. Before choosing a certification body, food firms must evaluate several options, confirm compliance with the CASCO standard, and verify accreditation. An ideal ISO 22000 certification body will assign auditors familiar with your organization and provide a written quote that includes audit days.
How Do You Assess That a Certification Body Is Credible?
First, start with accreditation. A certificate from an unaccredited certification body might look valid; however, it is usually rejected by retailers/buyers. Get the accreditation certificate and verify its validity on the accreditation body’s website.
How Can You Verify Accreditation?
● Scope Match: The scope must cover your food chain category, such as meat processing or packaging.
● Current Status: Suspended/Withdrawn listings are not considered.
● Recognized Body: The accreditation agency must be a signatory to the MLA from IAF.
What Should You Ask Before You Sign?
Request an audit quote from an ISO 22000 certification body that includes audit days for the Stage 1 audit, the Stage 2 audit, and each year’s surveillance audit. It depends on the size of the company or organization, risk level, and process complexity. In case the cost of a quote is much cheaper than any of the other quotes, enquire as to why. A cheap audit will always be a quick one.
It is also very important to know who the auditor is. An auditor who has experience auditing dairies and bakeries identifies problems more quickly than an auditor without this kind of experience. It means that you won’t have any surprises when the audit ends.
Which Questions Will Help You Find the Best Fit?
● Auditor Background: How many years has the auditor worked in your product category?
● Lead Time: How soon can they schedule Stage 1?
● Report Speed: How long until you get the findings and the certificate?
● Site Reach: Can they cover every location in your scope?
Can Your Consultant Impact the Decision?
Yes, and that leads to problems. Certification agencies should remain neutral and not offer consulting services to the same clients that they audit. Consultants may give recommendations. Get quotes from at least three different providers of ISO certifications. The difference in prices and services will be bigger than you think.
What Is the Cost of ISO 22000 Certification?
The exact cost varies from agency to agency. The fee is normally paid for the application, the audit, and the certificate. Some ISO 22000 certification bodies charge additional travel fees, for reviewing the report, or for a subsequent audit in case of a serious nonconformity. The certificate lasts three years with surveillance audits in between, so compare the costs for the whole period of three years, not just for one audit.
What to Avoid?
● Guaranteed Results: No reputable certification body would guarantee a positive audit result.
● Rushed Timelines: A few days from the certificate application is too fast.
● Vague Answers: Dodging questions about accreditation is a warning sign.
● Hidden fees: Charges that show up after signing should worry you.
In A Nutshell
Check for accreditation, ensure compatibility between the auditor and your products, and check the cost for three years. It is an ISO 22000 certification organisation that does fair auditing and provides a true test of your food safety management system.
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