Henri Charpentier becomes BSI Japan’s first ISO 22000 certified client

Monday 17 July 2006

BSI Management Systems Japan is pleased to announce it has issued its first ISO 22000 certificate to Henri Charpentier Co Ltd, the Japanese confectionery manufacturer.

ISO 22000 is the international food safety management system standard. Henri Charpentier, a well-known confectionery manufacturer and distributor, is one of the first companies in the Japanese food industry to achieve ISO 22000 certification. The scope of certification covers the baked goods manufacturing process which includes financie, and madelines, the company’s flagship products.

ISO 22000, published in September 2005, specifies the requirements for a food safety management system. The standard combines generally recognised key elements to ensure food safety along the entire food chain including: interactive communication; system management; control of food safety hazards through pre-requisite programmes and HACCP plans; and continual improvement and updating of the management system.

BSI’s accreditation has been granted by UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service) and the process included UKAS witnessing a BSI Japan audit of Henri Charpentier ISO 22000 food safety management system.

Henri Charpentier, which has been using a HACCP based manufacturing hygiene control system for many years, decided to aim for a higher level of control by implementing ISO 22000.

BSI Japan was chosen by Henri Charpentier for a number of reasons – not least because it has food safety specialist assessors, including one who has extensive experience in the confectionery industry.

Furthermore, BSI is one of the first independent certification bodies to be able to deliver ISO 22000 certification. Mr. Koji Yoshida, Assistant Manager of Henri Charpentier’s Operational Audit Office and a member of the ISO 22000 Steering Task Force, said: “We went through the assessment by BSI Japan believing that they represent our customers. Therefore, we welcomed any observations or comments for improvement from BSI, as those comments are easier for us to absorb and because observations by BSI Japan are more persuasive than those made by people within our company.”

Through  ISO 22000 certification, Henri Charpentier has added the value of “Safety” to accompany its existing values of “Great Taste” and “Beautiful Design”.

Yusuke Hayashi, BSI FSMS Technical Manager at BSI Japan who assessed the client commented:  “Through the FSMS validation and verification which are required by ISO 22000, an organisation which has already implemented HACCP can reinforce its improvement framework. Plus, by checking validation/verification processes, as well as those results from the perspective of an external expert, and by delivering good practice, the organisation can benefit from finding opportunities to enhance its food safety.“

Yoko Urade, New Product Development Manager at BSI Japan added: “BSI can offer continuous enhancement of food safety in the food industries by delivering effective and efficient ISO 22000 assessments to assure food safety.”