‘Should ISO 22000 become an industry standard for F&B production suppliers?’
The company claims it is the first compressor manufacturer to receive ISO 22000and believes it should become an industry standard for F&B production suppliers as it has implications for both the industry and equipment manufacturers.
Safe food products
Tony Beeckmans, segment manager, F&B, Atlas Copco, told FoodProductionDaily, ISO 22000 certification of an equipment manufacturer is an important milestone.
“Like other ISO (International Organization for Standardization) standards, ISO 22000 is respected worldwide for covering an entire industry in a comprehensive and uniform way. This avoids the necessity of navigating multiple standards that focus on different food products or stages within the industry,” he said.
“The certification uses the Quality Management System approach and incorporates the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) and Good Manufacturing Principles (GMP).
“It demonstrates an organization’s ability to control food safety hazards by implementing a Food Safety Management System (FSMS).”
He added it targets any organization in the F&B industry, regardless of size, that wishes to implement systems that consistently provide safe food products.
Oil-free Air Division
“The new procedures for achieving supplier certification have opened up opportunities for customers in the F&B industry to see how seriously equipment manufacturers take their responsibilities in supporting and contributing to the continued success of the F&B industry.”
The certification covers Atlas Copco's Oil-free Air Division production facility which produces oil-free Z compressors, blowers, dryers and filters.
“Compressed air is an essential piece of equipment for the F&B production process. It is used in numerous applications from sorting and ejecting to mixing and aerating substances,” added Beeckmans.
“Because of these benefits and the role of compressed air within the F&B industry, Atlas Copco expects the industry to start introducing supplier ISO 22000 certification as a key requirement in RFPs and to make them part of their ISO 22000 prerequisite programs (PRPs).”
ISO 22000, Food safety management systems – ‘Requirements for any organization in the food chain’ is currently under revision. A draft version is available to buy from mid-2016 with a final updated version expected in early 2017.
