The Institute for Standardization of Bosnia and Herzegovina in cooperation with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) within ISO technical assistance to developing countries, and with the support of Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency - SIDA and the Foreign Trade Chamber of B&H organized a seminar “ISO 22000 - Food Safety Management Systems” from 30 May to 1 June 2011  

The main lecturer at the seminar was Ms. Ghita Benkirane from France, and around 50 participants attended the seminar - representatives of ministries, companies from the food sector, employees in the standardization area and consultants from the whole Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In recent years there has been a worldwide increase in consumer demand for safer food. This led to an increased number of national standards for food safety which created confusion among food producers and suppliers.

In an effort to harmonize existing national standards for food safety in September 2005 ISO has developed and published ISO 22000 - international standard for Food Safety Management Systems - Requirements for any organization in the food chain.

This standard defines the requirements for food safety management system that covers all organizations in the food chain from farmers to caterers, including packaging.

Standard combines generally accepted key aspects of food safety at all stages of the food chain, including communications, management system, hazard control and continuous improvement of management system.

Institute for Standardization of Bosnia and Herzegovina organized a seminar to raise awareness of food sector experts in B&H about the benefits of implementing food safety management system in accordance with ISO 22000. Presentations were focused on the standard requirements and the benefits of its implementation, and participants had the opportunity to actively participate in the seminar through discussion and group exercises.

Institute for standardization of Bosnia and Herzegovina, through its continuous work and activities, is promoting the importance of standardization and thus seeks to allow Bosnian economy to become well prepared for competition in the market of the European Union, aiming at progress of Bosnia and Herzegovina in European integration process.

Participants of the workshop considered the workshop well organized, very useful and interesting regarding actuality of the topic, which is confirmed by statements of some of the participants:

Dubravka Ćorić, Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry:

”I was familiar with ISO standards (ISO 9001 and HACCP) before and I've heard of ISO 22000 and it’s related to systems for food safety management, but this is my first more detailed encounter with this standard, about what is related to, what and how it works. In particular, I would like to point out that the lecturer, Mrs. Benkirane, was very good and gave many practical examples that I find extremely useful. In addition, I find that the group work of the participants was very useful, as well as the attention that Mrs. Benkirane paid to that pointing to the things we do well, and the mistakes we made. I hope that the Institute for standardization of Bosnia and Herzegovina will continue to organize similar seminars and we will be pleased to respond to such invitation.”

Edita Ćorić, Laks exp-imp Ltd. Mostar:

”The seminar was a great way to expand the existing knowledge on this subject. I'm quite satisfied with everything that was presented at the seminar. I think the most useful thing was interaction among participants, as well as group work. The seminar fulfilled more than I expected.”

Boriša Vujadinović BIMAL Ltd. Brčko:

”BIMAL has implemented ISO 9001 and HACCP system. In an effort to meet the requirements related to food safety and to improve our company, in the near future we intend to implement the system in accordance with requirements of international standards ISO 22000 and IFS, which requires a certain number of buyers from Western Europe. We are pleased to be participating in the seminar, which was very well organized by the host. Also lecture and international experience of Mrs. Ghita Benkirane has provided us with a basic knowledge about the requirements of ISO 22000 and manner of certification.”

Nijaz Alispahić, QS Agency Sarajevo:

”I think the seminar was envisioned and adapted for those who are just entering into this area, and experts who already gained significant experience related to food safety. The lecturer adapted seminar to the audience by using her vast knowledge and experience, so one could test theoretical knowledge in highly practical workshops that are thematically very skillfully organized.

I would like to compliment the organizers for taking care of everything and ensuring excellent technical support.”

Amela Semić, SPRIND Ltd. Sarajevo:

”My observations regarding national seminar ISO/BAS 22000 are:

1. professionalism and accommodating host,

1. technically organized and modern approach (I had similar experience at international congresses, but not at the similar seminars in B&H),

1. very heterogeneous structure of participants, which is positive,

1. lecturer is very professional, clear, has good methodological approach and experience of working with different types of people, capable for adaptation and leadership

1. teamwork, practical implementation through practice and example given from already implemented system,

1. beside quality of lectures that you could not help but to participate, high-quality work material, comprehensive, that you can use for your own further education.

What else can I add is that more training of this kind is needed, because of the modern trend of living and very important topics - general food safety, also as many lecturers with global experience as possible,  due to different approaches and experiences more heterogeneous structure of participants. Sprind has implemented ISO 9001 and HACCP so I personally could participate and learn something and contribute to increase the safety of products to consumers through SPRINDs production. As a quality manager and as a professor and an expert who deals with the prevention of food contamination and production of safe medical products I had great benefit from this seminar.
Personally I was pleased, I would like to thank to organizers and I will gladly participate in this type of education.”

Hajrudin Skender, ZIM – Ltd. Zenica milk industry Zenica:

”National seminar ISO/BAS 22000 - Food Safety Management Systems, which was held from 30.05. to 01.06.2011 fully met our expectations. The seminar has given a clear picture about ISO 22000 in comparison with previous standards that we possess (ISO 9001:2000 and HACCP). Because of the importance of ISO 22000 in the food industry, management commitment and quality control manager in Zenica milk industry is that in the future to take all decisions of the governing body after the start of implementation of the system in accordance with the requirements of ISO 22000.
We thank the organizers for allowing us to witness a well-organized seminar and presentation that will make this standard closer to our way of thinking through interactive cooperation.

We hope you will continue with these presentations and seminars that will enable businessmen to accept EU legislation more easily.”

The Institute for Standardization of Bosnia and Herzegovina has a successful cooperation with the International Organization for Standardization - ISO, as well as with other European and international standardizing organizations and in the future is planning to organize similar workshops on topics of interest for Bosnian economy. The workshops will be organized at regional and local level.

The aim of organizing such workshops is to enable representatives of government and economy in Bosnia and Herzegovina to become more familiar with the standards and possibilities and advantages of standardization.

To learn more about the Institute, its responsibilities, work and activities, current or planned, visit the website www.bas.gov.ba