Introduction

Food safety is a priority for all businesses that produce, process, and distribute food. Therefore, given the greater emphasis placed on food quality within Nepal, companies are keen to implement foreign food safety management systems recognized internationally. An ISO 22000 standard gets wide recognition, but we will look into its authentication in comparison with other food safety standards. This article explains the differences between ISO 22000 and different international food safety certifications that would benefit businesses in Nepal in choosing the right one.

What Exactly is ISO 22000?

ISO 22000 offers a Food Safety Management System (FSMS), which is solely a global standard developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). In this way, it provides an entire framework for food safety risk management across the entire supply chain of food commodities. The standards cover principles of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) and lay equal emphasis on continuous improvement, risk assessment, and communication.

Comparing ISO 2200 with Other Food Safety Standards

Nepalese business organizations may consider some food safety standards according to their industry, market demands, and relative requirements. Comparison with iso 22000 as against many other food safety standards follows:

1)ISO 22000 vs. HACCP

The object of HACCP is to identify and control food safety hazards; ISO 22000 deals with the broader issue of food safety management systems, including HACCP principles.

  • HACCP is more used in food processing and manufacturing, while ISO 22000 is applied to the entire food supply chain from production till distribution. 
  • ISO-22000 is more worthy for worldwide acknowledgment while HACCP certification is mostly considered as a prerequisite. 




2) ISO-22000 and FSSC 22000

- FSSC 22000 is based on ISO 22000 but requires food manufacturers to meet additional requirements that may differ from those in ISO 22000.

- International recognition is granted to FSSC 22000 by the Global Food Safety Initiatives (or GFSI)-the system being now-a-days favoured by international retailers and exporters. 

- Which would be best for Nepal? - If an organization in Nepal will aim at export markets, FSSC 22000 will suit it much better. 




3) ISO-22000 versus BRC Global Standard

  • Industry Target: BRC is inherently retail, manufacturers and packaging sectors
  • Market Acceptance: BRC is more widely accepted by European retailers as against ISO 22000's being of global acceptance.

Best for Nepal?-BRC could suit better for sectors with interest on exports to Europe, however ISO-22000 is a wider choice of applications. 




4) ISO-22000 vs. SQF

  • Levels of Certification-SQF offers Individual Levels of Certification ranging from Fundamental, Food Safety to Quality.
  • Retailer Preference-Many big retailers prefer SQF-certified suppliers. 

Best for Nepal?: SQF might help business properties with their exports to North America whereas ISO-22000 is definitely a really good choice for overall food safety compliance.




Choosing the Best Food Safety Standard in Nepal

Selecting any food safety certification depends a lot upon business aspirations, expected markets, and industry requirements/ needs. Some points to consider: 

  1. Market Need: Depending on where one is exporting to, European Union or North America, certification requirements for BRC, FSSC 22000, or SQF will come into play. 
  2. Adherence to Legislation: ISO 22000 helps the organization to check on Nepalese food safety regulation while conditioning for international trade. 
  3. Industry Needs: Food manufacturers, retailers, and processors have various certification requirements. 
  4. Cost and implementation: ISO 22000 would still be less expensive than some of the other standards that are not so easy to come by for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Nepal. 

Conclusion

ISO 22000 is a comprehensive and globally recognized food safety standard for the benefit of firms across the food industry of Nepal. While other certifications offer particular benefits like HACCP, FSSC 22000, BRC, and SQF, ISO 22000 presents a good alternative due to the balance it strikes between local compliance and international recognition.

From the point of view of Nepalese firms pushing for food safety and brand acceptance, ISO 22000 is a reasonable and pragmatic choice. If aimed at a particular international market, additional certifications may be required. Properly investing in food safety certification is going to promote consumer confidence and create market opportunities for a safer food supply chain.




Visit https://www.abishekadhikari.com.np/ to learn more about ISO.