Introduction

Food safety is one of the most critical aspects of modern supply chains. Organizations working in food production, processing, and distribution must comply with international food safety standards to ensure the well-being of consumers and maintain trust in their products. ISO 22000 is the globally recognized Food Safety Management System (FSMS) standard that provides a framework for managing food safety risks and achieving compliance.

This Lead Auditor Training Program, designed by Global Horizon Training Center, equips participants with the knowledge and skills required to plan, conduct, report, and follow up on audits of food safety management systems in accordance with ISO 22000 requirements. The program emphasizes both theoretical knowledge and practical auditing techniques, enabling participants to act as competent lead auditors within their organizations or for certification bodies.

Objectives

By the end of the training, participants will be able to:

1. Understand the principles, structure, and requirements of ISO 22000:2018.

2. Interpret ISO 22000 clauses and apply them in real-world food safety contexts.

3. Develop audit plans, checklists, and conduct audits as per ISO 19011 guidelines.

4. Lead an audit team effectively and manage audit processes.

5. Identify nonconformities, prepare audit reports, and conduct follow-up activities.

6. Strengthen organizational compliance and continuous improvement in food safety management systems.

Course Methodology

• Interactive Lectures & Discussions: Facilitator-led sessions to explain ISO 22000 clauses and auditing principles.

• Case Studies & Scenarios: Practical examples from food industry operations.

• Role-Playing & Mock Audits: Simulated audit exercises to practice leadership and auditing skills.

• Workshops & Group Work: Collaborative exercises to analyze findings and prepare reports.

• Assessments & Feedback: Pre/post assessments, group feedback, and trainer evaluation.

Organizational Impact

• Strengthens the organization’s ability to comply with global food safety standards.

• Enhances customer confidence and market reputation.

• Provides internal capability to perform professional audits, reducing dependency on external auditors.

• Ensures proactive identification and control of food safety hazards.

• Supports certification and continuous improvement initiatives in food safety management systems.

Target Audience

• Quality Managers and Food Safety Managers.

• Internal Auditors aspiring to become Lead Auditors.

• Professionals from food production, processing, packaging, and distribution sectors.

• Consultants and trainers in the field of food safety.

• Regulatory officers and certification professionals.

 Outlines

Day 1: Fundamentals of ISO 22000 & FSMS

• Introduction to Food Safety Management Systems (FSMS).

• ISO 22000:2018 framework and principles.

• Key terms, definitions, and clauses.

• Risk-based thinking and PDCA cycle in FSMS.

• Group exercise: Mapping food safety risks in a sample supply chain.

Day 2: ISO 22000 Requirements in Depth

• Context of the organization and leadership requirements.

• Planning for FSMS: risk assessment, objectives, and resources.

• Support processes: competence, awareness, communication, documentation.

• Operational controls, prerequisite programs (PRPs), and HACCP principles.

• Case study analysis: successful FSMS implementations.

Day 3: Auditing Principles & ISO 19011 Guidelines

• Overview of auditing types (first, second, third-party).

• Principles of auditing: integrity, confidentiality, evidence-based approach.

• ISO 19011 guidelines for auditing management systems.

• Audit planning, preparation of checklists, and audit team management.

• Workshop: Preparing an audit plan for a food safety process.

Day 4: Conducting and Leading Audits

• Opening meetings, conducting interviews, and collecting objective evidence.

• Identifying nonconformities and classifying findings.

• Techniques for managing conflicts during audits.

• Leadership skills for lead auditors.

• Role play: Conducting a simulated ISO 22000 audit.

Day 5: Reporting, Follow-up & Certification Process

• Writing clear and concise audit reports.

• Corrective action requests (CARs) and follow-up audits.

• Certification process for ISO 22000 FSMS.

• Final mock audit exercise with reporting and feedback.

• Course review, Q&A, and final assessment.