TSE ISO/TS 22003

TSE ISO/TS 22003 sets out requirements for bodies that audit and certify food safety management systems. It focuses on how certification and audit rules are applied to a food safety management system based on ISO 22000, and on giving customers confidence that their suppliers’ certification route has been handled in a reliable way.

The framework for certification bodies

In practice, this document addresses the framework used by organizations that perform audits and issue certifications for food chain organizations. Such a framework normally centers on competence, impartiality, audit planning and consistent certification decisions. The technical focus is not the food product itself, but the assessment of whether the management system meets the defined requirements.

Understanding the food safety management system context

A food safety management system is a structured approach for controlling food safety hazards through process control, hazard analysis and traceability-related practices. In ISO 22000-based systems, certification is used to demonstrate that an organization applies defined food safety requirements in a consistent manner. The distinction between the certification body and the customer matters: one party carries out the evaluation and certification decision, while the other relies on that certification within its supply chain.

This technical specification refers not only to ISO 22000 requirements but also to other specified sets of food safety management system requirements. In other words, it is a framework for audit and certification across defined FSMS requirement sets, rather than a single-sector food industry rule. As a withdrawn TSE edition, it remains a historical and technical reference rather than an active current requirement.