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Abstract
The worldwide implementation of Quality Management System (QMS) has increased significantly during the last few years. ISO 22000 certification demonstrates the ability of an organization to implement a Food Safety Management Systems (FSMS). This paper analyzes the benefits gained and the obstacles encountered by Italian companies when implementing ISO 22000 standards, and considers the effects of Company size and years of certification on the outcome. The research was carried out using a sample of 180 Italian food Companies interviewed. The sample considered in the present study is constituted by Companies in the Italian food industry certified for at least 2 years. The respondents were all qualified as Quality Control /Assurance Manager. Data were elaborated through SPSS 22.0 Statistical Software Package. The main benefits derived from the application of this standard are both external and internal: ISO 22000 improves commercial opportunities and internal procedure; the main obstacles to implementation are perceived particularly by Micro-Small Companies at the beginning phase of certification and they are related to changes in internal organization and the costs involved in certification.
Keywords: ISO 22000, management system, quality assurance, food safety.
1.Introduction
The implementation of international standards constitutes a necessary element for competitiveness. Hudson and Orviska (2012) note that the adoption of international standards may be required for entry into certain markets, especially in the European Union Countries (Djordjevic et al., 2011). Retailers often impose their own quality standards on suppliers (Fulponi, 2006). In this way, private standards in agri-food sector, have increased in importance, often becoming more complex and stringent than government standards (Hamoudi et al., 2009).
Competitiveness entails the adoption of new marketing strategies by food Companies. Thus, the number of food Companies that are adopting quality assurance systems to improve their competitiveness in the global market is continually increasing (Karipidis et al., 2009). In fact, Food Safety and quality standards are key prerequisites to maintaining and improving the reputation of a Company. Furthermore, retailers are moving in the direction of a harmonization of Food Safety standards (Fulponi, 2006).
The competitiveness of food Companies in national and international markets depends, in fact, on their ability to adopt production processes, which meet the Food Safety and quality requirements (Holleran et al., 1999). Efstratiadis and Arvanitoyannis (2000) argue that HACCP...