What Food Businesses Need to Know About PRP Overhaul
Introduction
Food safety management systems are constantly evolving. In September 2025, a significant update to ISO 22000 and its associated prerequisite program standards (PRPs) was rolled out by the British Standards Institution (BSI) and international stakeholders. The update introduces a suite of new PRP standards, including ISO 22002-7 (focused on retail, wholesale, and related operations) and ISO 22002-100 — the groundbreaking certifiable baseline prerequisite standard covering food, feed, and packaging operations.
These modular updates are designed to harmonize safety controls across multiple sectors, promote consistency of implementation, and make audits more robust and predictive.
This article explains what these updates mean, how they impact food safety systems, and how organizations can integrate them into existing HACCP and ISO 22000 structures for stronger compliance and performance.
(Source: https://www.newfoodmagazine.com/news/)
What Are PRPs and Why Are They Important?
Prerequisite programs (PRPs) are the environmental and operational conditions needed prior to and during the implementation of a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) system. They ensure that the basic conditions for food safety are in place before hazards are managed at the process level.
Traditional PRPs include:
- Facility layout and construction
- Cleaning and sanitation
- Pest control
- Personal hygiene and training
- Equipment maintenance
- Water quality
- Allergen control
- Traceability and product information
These programs form the foundation of any food safety management system, yet until recently, they lacked a consolidated, certifiable structure across all food sectors.
The 2025 Updates to the ISO 22002 Family
Previously, PRPs were contained in various sector-specific standards or guidance documents, which often created confusion and inconsistency across different operational contexts. The 2025 update introduces a modular ISO 22002 series that simplifies and standardizes PRP requirements.
ISO 22002-100 — Certifiable Baseline PRP Standard
This new standard provides:
- A baseline set of requirements for PRPs that are certifiable
- Applicability across food, feed, packaging, and related supply chains
- A harmonized structure for prerequisite programs at all stages
- Alignment with ISO 22000 risk-management principles
ISO 22002-100 helps organizations achieve consistent PRP implementation, regardless of industry segment.
ISO 22002-7 — Retail and Wholesale PRPs
ISO 22002-7 specifically addresses:
- Retail food handling
- Storage and distribution practices
- Wholesaling controls
- Temperature management in non-manufacturing environments
- Cleaning and sanitation relevant to retail settings
Retail environments commonly operate under different conditions than food processing factories. This standard fills an important gap in existing FSMS structures.
Other Modular PRP Standards
The ISO 22002 family may be expanded to include sector or process-specific modules, such as:
- Catering and food service
- Transport and logistics
- Food packaging supply
- Cold chain management
The modular nature allows organizations to adopt the standards most relevant to their scope while maintaining overall alignment with ISO 22000.
How ISO 22002 Changes the Food Safety Landscape
1. Certifiable PRPs Drive Accountability
Previously, PRP programs were often treated as guidance rather than certifiable requirements. With ISO 22002-100 and its sector modules, organizations can now demonstrate third-party certification of their prerequisite systems — strengthening audit credibility and compliance evidence.
2. Harmonization Across Sectors
The unified PRP structure enables:
- Consistent implementation across facilities
- Reduced interpretation risk
- Easier supplier alignment
- Clearer audit expectations
This benefits multi-site companies and global supply networks alike.
ISO 22002 and HACCP Integration
One of the most important aspects of the new ISO 22002 series is how it supports and enhances HACCP systems.
PRP Role in HACCP Framework
PRPs provide the necessary conditions for effective hazard control. Without strong prerequisite programs in place:
- Critical Control Points (CCPs) may be compromised
- Monitoring may lack consistency
- Corrective actions may fail to address root causes
ISO 22002’s certifiable baseline strengthens the entire HACCP approach by ensuring that the environmental and operational conditions are reliable and auditable.
Practical Integration Steps
To integrate ISO 22002 into HACCP:
- Map PRPs to HACCP Flow Diagrams
Identify where prerequisite conditions support hazard prevention. - Align Documentation
Update SOPs and PRP procedures to match ISO 22002 language and requirements. - Conduct Gap Assessments
Evaluate existing PRP structures against ISO 22002-100 and ISO 22002-7 checklists. - Update Training Programs
Ensure staff understand new PRP requirements and their operational implications. - Use PRP Data in HACCP Analysis
Include PRP effectiveness metrics in hazard analysis and verification processes.
Impact on Audits and Certification
The updated PRP standards will influence both internal and third-party audits:
- Audit teams will evaluate PRP systems against certifiable criteria
- Corrective action records will reflect standardized PRP gaps
- Supplier audits can reference a common baseline
- Audit times may decrease due to greater clarity
Certification bodies are expected to roll out updated interpretation criteria for ISO 22000, including ISO 22002 integration, making early readiness critical.
Benefits for Food Businesses
The 2025 ISO 22002 updates deliver concrete advantages:
Enhanced Operational Control
Certifiable PRPs mean fewer surprises during audits and stronger environmental controls, such as:
- Sanitation consistency
- Allergen segregation
- Pest control effectiveness
- Hygiene management
Stronger Supplier and Customer Confidence
Buyers and retailers are increasingly demanding verifiable compliance evidence.
With ISO 22002 certification:
- Suppliers can provide certified proof of baseline safety conditions
- Retailers gain clarity on environmental controls in non-manufacturing environments
- Multi-tier supply networks can standardize expectations
Simplified Compliance Across Multiple Sectors
Whether you operate a manufacturing plant, a retail outlet, a distribution center or a food service environment, ISO 22002 provides:
- Modular standards tailored to operations
- A consistent baseline that links directly to ISO 22000’s framework
- Stronger global compliance alignment
Challenges in Implementation
Organizations may face initial challenges, including:
- Updating legacy SOPs and documentation
- Training staff on new PRP criteria
- Aligning multi-site operations with modular PRP standards
- Integrating PRP data into existing FSMS dashboards
These challenges can be managed with structured change planning, leadership engagement, and expert guidance.
Practical Implementation Roadmap
Step 1: Awareness and Gap Analysis
Conduct preliminary reviews of existing PRPs against ISO 22002™ checklists.
Step 2: Documentation Update
Revise PRP manuals, SOPs, and forms to reflect certifiable requirements.
Step 3: Training and Competence Building
Conduct targeted training for teams managing PRPs and HACCP systems.
Step 4: System Integration
Integrate updated PRPs into the ISO 22000 risk management framework.
Step 5: Internal Audits and Pre-Assessment
Perform internal audits using the new PRP criteria.
Step 6: External Audit Preparation
Engage certification bodies to understand updated audit protocols.
Emaza Services can support these steps with tailored consulting and readiness programs.
Case Example
Retail Chain Enhances Food Safety Using ISO 22002-7
A national retail chain with multiple outlets faced inconsistent sanitation practices and unclear temperature control protocols. By implementing ISO 22002-7 as the basis for its retail food safety PRPs, the chain achieved:
- Consistent environmental controls across outlets
- Documented sanitation and temperature SOPs
- Faster internal audit cycles
- Improved customer confidence
- Easier integration with ISO 22000 certification
Conclusion
The 2025 overhaul of the ISO 22002 family represents one of the most significant improvements in prerequisite program standards in recent years. With certifiable PRPs aligned to ISO 22000, food businesses across manufacturing, retail, catering, and distribution can standardize safety controls, improve audit readiness, and enhance global compliance.
Integration with HACCP and a structured implementation roadmap will not only help organizations comply but also support proactive risk management and supply chain confidence.
Emaza Services Pvt. Ltd. offers expert support in gap analysis, PRP integration, documentation alignment, training programs, and audit preparedness to help food industry stakeholders adopt the new ISO 22002 standards with confidence.
