ISO 22000 Lead Auditor Training

Course Overview

The ISO 22000 lead auditor training is aimed at giving participants the necessary expertise to carry out first-, second-, and third-party audits of Food Safety Management System (FSMS) audits in accordance with ISO 22000 requirements, as well as providing the foundation for developing an FSMS audit program. The course provides detailed instruction on how to plan and conduct an FSMS audit to assess compliance with ISO 22000 requirements.

EAS is a sister organization of IAS that provides the IRCA Certified ISO 22000 Lead Auditor Course. This course is led by expert auditors and covers all aspects of the audit process, from planning and conducting the audit to reporting on the findings.

Why Take the ISO 22000 Lead Auditor Course?

The course provides participants with detailed knowledge on how to audit a Food Safety Management System as per the requirements of ISO 22000. It covers various aspects of FSMS auditing including principles and the process approach, auditing methodology, sampling techniques, and statistical methods for data analysis. On successful completion, participants will be able to effectively plan and conduct FSMS audits in their organizations and guide other auditors in their team.

What the ISO 22000 Lead Auditor Course Covers

The course combines the requirements of ISO 22000:2018 with the auditing discipline of ISO 19011, covering:

• The structure of ISO 22000:2018 (the Annex SL high-level structure) and the FSMS framework.
• Context of the organization, interested parties, and the scope of the FSMS (Clause 4).
• Leadership, the food safety policy, and roles and responsibilities (Clause 5).
• Planning — actions to address risks and opportunities, and FSMS objectives (Clause 6).
• Support — resources, competence, awareness, external and internal communication, and documented information (Clause 7).
• Operation — prerequisite programmes (PRPs), the hazard analysis and HACCP plan, traceability, emergency preparedness, and control of monitoring and measuring (Clause 8).
• The HACCP principles — conducting a hazard analysis, determining critical control points (CCPs) and operational PRPs, setting critical limits, and validation and verification.
• Performance evaluation — monitoring, measurement, internal audit, and management review (Clause 9).
• Improvement — nonconformity, corrective action, and updating the FSMS (Clause 10).
• Audit principles and the full audit lifecycle: planning, conducting, gathering evidence, grading nonconformities, reporting, and follow-up.

Benefits of the Course

• Provides a detailed understanding of the requirements of the ISO 22000 standard and how to audit FSMSs against it.
• Enables you to conduct audits effectively, efficiently, and in accordance with international best practices.
• Provides valuable insights into the latest thinking on food safety management systems and how to audit them effectively.
• Gives you the skills and knowledge to add value to your organization's FSMS and contribute to its effectiveness.
• Helps you develop an effective food safety culture within your organization and improve its overall performance.
• Equips you to lead a team of audit professionals in conducting an ISO 22000 audit.
• Enhances your job and career prospects in the food safety industry.

Who Should Attend

The course is for those who wish to become lead auditors of Food Safety Management Systems (FSMS) based on ISO 22000, and for those who require an in-depth understanding of FSMS and how it can be used to manage food safety risks. This includes:

• Food safety managers
• Food technologists
• Process engineers
• Production managers

Prerequisites

Candidates are recommended to have a good knowledge of food safety and quality management systems, as well as auditing experience. It would be beneficial if the candidate holds an ISO 22000 internal auditor certification.

Course Duration & Delivery

The ISO 22000 lead auditor training is conducted by IAS as a full-time course of 5 days (40 hours), offering both continuous and weekend-based schedules.

Assessment & Certification

Continuous Assessment: candidates are evaluated throughout the course on attendance, active participation, completion of individual and group exercises, and professional engagement during class discussions.

IRCA Examination: at the end of the course — whether delivered in a classroom, virtual, or in-house setting — participants complete the IRCA examination, conducted online. The examination specifications are as follows:

Candidates taking the exam in languages other than English, Spanish, Japanese, Arabic, or Traditional Mandarin will complete a paper-based version.

Certification: participants achieving 70% or higher in continuous assessment, plus 50% or above in the final examination, will receive a CQI/IRCA-accredited certificate of successful course completion, recognized globally. Candidates who do not meet this threshold will be issued a certificate of attendance.

Enrolment Process

Start your professional journey by contacting us about the ISO 22000 Lead Auditor Course today. Visit our frequently asked questions page!