Summary
The post discusses the role of leadership and its responsibilities as per the ISO food safety management system, ISO 22000. It highlights what the standard requires from the top management regarding implementing an FSMS.
If you have ever implemented an ISO management standard at your organization, you would know that most ISO standards have a dedicated set of requirements for leaders and top management. The ISO food safety management system is no exception to this.
ISO 22000 has 10 clauses that companies must adhere to in order to obtain the ISO 22000 certification. Clause 5 of this standard focuses primarily on leadership and top management.
It outlines the responsibilities of the top management to help organizations allocate their roles in the FSMS process.
In today’s post, the following section goes into the details of Clause 5. It lists what the standard requires from the top management to help you comply without errors.
The Responsibilities of FSMS Leaders in the ISO Food Safety Management System
ISO 22000 makes it mandatory for top management to take a firm role in the FSMS certification process. It requires the leaders to formulate food safety policies, gather resources, communicate critical information to interested parties, take part in management reviews and more.
Here’s a detailed overview of the responsibilities of top management in ISO 22000
Clause 5.1: Leadership
The ISO 22000 food safety management system standard makes it necessary for top management to show their commitment and understanding for the FSMS. It requires management to:
• Make sure the food safety management system requirements are integrated into the organization’s business process
• Ensure the organization has a sufficient supply of the resources required for FSMS
• Communicate the significance of an effective ISO food safety management system and confirm the statutory/regulatory requirements and customer requirements related to food safety
• Confirm the FSMS undergo proper evaluation and maintenance to achieve the desired outcomes
• Direct and support employees to contribute to the FSMS
• Promote continual improvement
• Support other relevant managers to demonstrate their leadership regarding the system
Clause 5.2: Food Safety Policy
The ISO 22000 manual requires top management to establish, maintain, communicate, and implement an adequate food safety policy. According to the standard, the policy should:
• Be appropriate for the context and purpose of the organization
• Include a framework for setting and reviewing the FSMS objectives
• Contain commitment to satisfy relevant food safety requirements
• Address external and internal communication
• Highlight commitment towards the continual improvement of the ISMS
• Address competencies related to the food safety management system
• Be accessible and maintained as documented information
• Be available to relevant parties
• Be implemented, communicated, and understood at all levels of the organization
Clause 5.3: Organizational Responsibilities, Authorities, and Roles
Your top management is responsible for assigning roles and authorities. They should be able to communicate the roles and ensure everyone understands their position. In addition to that, the top management is responsible for:
• Assuring the food safety management system adheres to the requirements of the documents and policies
• Reporting on the performance of the FSMS
• Gathering the food safety team and appointing a team leader
• Assign people with detailed authorities and responsibilities to initiate and record actions
5.3.2: The Responsibility of the Food Safety Team Leader
Apart from the role of top management, ISO 22000 also provides guidelines for food safety team leaders. According to the standard, the food safety team leader should:
• Ensure the establishment, implementation, update, and maintenance of the food safety management system
• Organize and manage the work of the food safety team
• Make sure the food safety team receives relevant training
• Report to top management on the suitability and efficiency of the food safety management system
• Tackle nonconformities and reports regarding the food safety management system
Bottom Line
As you can see, the top management and food safety leaders play a vital role in the implementation and maintenance of the ISO food safety management system. Therefore, choose your team of management carefully. Also, schedule routine management reviews and audits to ensure every individual demonstrates their dedication towards the system.
Author Bio
The author is a certified ISO auditor based in the US. He partners with reputed certified bodies to help businesses improve their management systems and earn accreditation.
