Talking to the right people, inside and out
Plain-language summary
Set up reliable communication - with suppliers, customers, regulators and your own teams - so food-safety information flows when it needs to.
What the clause is really asking
Food safety depends on information moving fast and accurately. This clause requires defined external communication (suppliers on specifications, customers on safe-use and recalls, authorities on incidents) and internal communication (shift handovers, changes that affect hazards, feedback to the food-safety team). Poor communication is behind many recalls and allergen incidents, so the standard treats it as critical.
What auditors look for
Auditors check that you have defined who communicates what, to whom, and when - especially for emergencies and recalls. They test internal flow too: does a change on the floor reach the food-safety team, are shift handovers capturing safety issues, is customer allergen information accurate.
Typical evidence
Communication procedures and responsibilities; supplier/customer specification exchanges; regulator contact records; shift handover and internal briefing records
How to comply — recommendations
Document who is responsible for each external channel - regulators, customers, suppliers - and keep contact details current for emergencies. Make internal communication robust: structured handovers, a clear route for floor staff to flag hazards to the food-safety team. Test the lines you would use in a recall before you need them.
Common nonconformities
No defined responsibility for regulator/customer communication; allergen or spec changes not communicated; weak shift handover losing safety information
Related clauses
ISO 22000 8.4 (emergency), 8.9 (recall), 4.2
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Qlause provides interpretive guidance only and is not a substitute for the standard. Refer to your licensed copy of the relevant standard for the authoritative text.