The ISO 22000 Food Safety Team

The food safety team has numerous responsibilities called out by the standard. These include:

• Ensuring that information on changes that can have an affect on the FSMS is included in updating of the FSMS
• Conducting Hazard Analysis 
• Planning and implementing validation processes for control measures
• Evaluating the results of verification
• Analyzing results of verification
• Evaluating the Food Safety Management System at planned intervals

In order to effectively carry out these responsibility the Food Safety Team must be qualified. This includes having multi-disciplinary knowledge and experience including:

• Products the organization produces or handles
• Processes taking place at the organization
• Hazards within the scope of the FSMS (Food Safety Hazards)

The Food Safety Team Leader (designated by top management) is responsible for ensuring that the team has the necessary experience and knowledge. If the organization is missing expertise or experience in any area, it must reach outside and obtain assistance with that expertise. Records are required to show that the team has the required knowledge.

Comments

[Dr Jeremy Taylor]

Thank you for all of your emails to date encouraged by the teams's enthusiasm which is easily caught this end.
I have to say that any system can only work if it is implemented carefully and fully and the 'implementees' have been so fully involved that they both understand and have 'ownership' of the system.
So, does the system, ISO22000 ensure this?

[Cynthia Weber]

The standard ensures this by assigning specific responsibilities to top management and the food safety team. By building these responsibilities into the standard, involvement of both groups in the design and implementation of the system is ensured.