ISO standards
ISO is the International Organization for Standardization, which sets standards for companies and organisations worldwide. At international level, ISO often works with the IEC, the International Electrotechnical Commission. In Belgium, ISO standards are managed by the NBN (Bureau for Standardisation).
ISO publishes documents containing requirements, specifications, guidelines and quality marks. Companies can apply these consistently to ensure that their materials, products, processes and services are fit for purpose.
ISO also ensures that these requirements are aligned across all member countries, leading to standardisation. With an ISO certification, companies show that their products, services or systems meet the agreed specifications. ISO standards also support innovation and promote quality, safety and reliability worldwide.
AMNorman helps you build a quality management system compliant with ISO standards and carries out internal audits to verify compliance with those standards. We specialise in:
ISO 9001:2015
ISO 9001 is one of the best-known quality management standards worldwide. Its focus includes revenue growth, demonstrable quality, greater customer satisfaction, efficiency, cost savings and adaptability in a changing market.
ISO 14001:2015
ISO 14001 focuses largely on the social aspect of environmental legislation. ISO 14001 is also increasingly a condition for doing business. By obtaining this certification, companies prove that they take responsibility for the environment and comply with the environmental legislation that applies to their sector. ISO 14001 covers the environmental management system. We leave environmental permits and the legal aspects of environmental management to specialists, but the management system itself, including internal audits, a risk management plan, improvement plans and measures, is part of our field.
ISO 22000:2018
ISO 22000 is the internationally recognised standard for food safety and provides guidelines for setting up a food safety management system. ISO 22000 is aimed at the global agri-food chain, and its main goal is to guarantee food safety throughout the entire chain. ISO 22000 is intended for organisations active in the food chain that do not handle the products themselves. If your organisation manufactures products itself, you must comply with FSSC 22000.
ISO/IEC 17025:2017
ISO/IEC 17025 specifies the general requirements for the competence of laboratories to carry out tests and/or calibrations, including sampling. This standard is of great importance because:
- by implementing ISO/IEC 17025, laboratories can demonstrate that their results are reliable and accurate, which is crucial for customers, regulatory authorities and certification bodies;
- accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025 allows results to be accepted internationally without further testing, which is particularly important in a globalised market;
- thanks to the emphasis on risk-based approaches in the latest version of ISO/IEC 17025, laboratories can identify and reduce potential errors or weaknesses in their processes;
- implementing standardised processes helps laboratories work more efficiently and minimise waste;
- in many sectors (such as the food industry, the environment and pharmaceuticals), compliance with ISO/IEC 17025 is required by legislation and regulations.
The scope of ISO/IEC 17025 covers laboratories that carry out tests and calibrations. The standard applies to:
- testing and calibration laboratories: both independent commercial laboratories and in-house laboratories within companies;
- all types of analyses and tests, from chemical and biological analyses to mechanical and physical testing;
- all sectors, from food and pharmaceuticals to construction, the environment and energy.
ISO/IEC 17025 specifically addresses the technical requirements, such as methods, equipment and staff competence, as well as the management requirements, such as process control, document control and continual improvement.
Thanks to its broad scope, ISO/IEC 17025 applies to a wide variety of industries and disciplines, making it a universal standard for laboratory quality.
An ISO management system above all has to work on the shop floor, not just look right on paper. That is always the focus of our ISO & Logistics team. Do you have a question about ISO 9001 or another ISO standard?
We are happy to help you think it through.
Lieselot Heyse, team lead ISO & Logistics
Frequently asked questions about ISO standards
Which ISO standards are relevant to the food industry?
The most common are ISO 9001 (generic quality management, applicable to any sector), ISO 22000 (food safety management, the basis on which FSSC 22000 builds), ISO/IEC 17025 (for laboratories), ISO 14001 (environmental management) and ISO 45001 (occupational health and safety). Which standard is relevant depends on your activities and on what your customers require.
Is ISO certification a legal requirement?
No. Unlike a system based on HACCP principles, which every food business is legally required to have, ISO certification is voluntary. In practice, however, it is often imposed as a commercial requirement by customers, retailers or public tenders.
What is the difference between ISO 9001 and ISO 22000?
ISO 9001 is a general quality management standard that applies to every sector and focuses on customer satisfaction and process control. ISO 22000 is specific to food safety: it builds on the HACCP methodology and sets requirements for the entire chain, from raw material to finished product.
How long does it take to achieve a first ISO certification?
For a company starting from a solid basis (an existing quality system or sector guide for self-checking), 6 to 12 months to the initial certification audit is realistic. Building a system from scratch can take longer, depending on the internal capacity available.
Further reading in our knowledge centre
