Transferring an ISO 22000 certificate to another certification body
You can transfer a valid ISO 22000 certificate to another accredited certification body. An expired or suspended certificate cannot be transferred. The new body then first checks whether the certificate is in order, and then decides whether to take it over. The rules come from IAF document MD 2:2023 on the transfer of accredited certification , issued by the International Accreditation Forum (IAF), the global umbrella of accreditation bodies such as the Dutch RvA (Dutch Accreditation Council). The document applies to all accredited management system certificates, not only to ISO 22000. The FSSC 22000 scheme (section 5.6) also refers to it. For background, see the page on certificate validity and the audit process.
A transfer is not a new certification. The new body takes over the existing certificate, with the existing cycle, if there are no problems.
Transferring in brief
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Can any certificate be transferred? | Only a valid, accredited and non-suspended certificate |
| What happens first? | The new body reviews the existing certificate |
| Is that an audit? | No, a visit beforehand is not an audit |
| What if there are problems? | The new body then treats you as a new client |
Step by step
Check whether your certificate qualifies
The certificate must have been issued by a body accredited by an IAF signatory or a regional signatory to the Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MLA). It must be valid and not known to be suspended. If the body has ceased operating or its accreditation has been withdrawn, the transfer must be completed within six months or before the certificate expires, whichever comes first. The old body may not suspend or withdraw your certificate merely because you are switching, as long as you continue to meet the requirements.
Ask the new body for a quote and a pre-transfer review
The new body asks for the old audit reports, the latest surveillance report and the status of all open nonconformities. It also looks at complaints, ongoing contact with regulators and the reason you want to switch.
Let the pre-transfer review take place
This usually happens on the basis of documents. If something is unclear, a pre-transfer visit follows. That visit is not an audit, but it must be carried out by people with audit competence.
Close any open nonconformities
Before the new body issues the certificate, it must have seen that all open major nonconformities have been resolved. For minor nonconformities, it must have accepted your plan for correction and corrective action.
Wait for the decision
The new body makes the certification decision itself. The person who carried out the pre-transfer review may not make that decision.
What does that mean for your cycle?
If there are no problems, the cycle of the old certificate continues to apply. According to the FSSC scheme, the review, the decision and the new certificate must be in place before the certificate expires and before the next audit in the cycle. The new body sets the audit programme for the remaining part of that cycle. You therefore do not need to start a full new cycle.
If there are problems and the new body treats you as a new client, a new cycle starts with the new certification decision. In practice, that means a new initial assessment.
Fictional example
A meat processor holds an ISO 22000 certificate from a body that ceased operating in September. That body’s accreditation has therefore lapsed, so the transfer must be completed within six months or before the certificate expires. The processor looks for a new body. That body requests the reports and schedules a pre-transfer review. One minor nonconformity is still open, concerning temperature records in the cold store. The processor delivers a correction plan, the new body accepts it, and the certificate is taken over within the deadline.
Common mistakes
- Waiting until the certificate expires. Then a transfer is often no longer possible and you have to start again.
- Not disclosing open nonconformities. The new body asks for the reports and the status. Hiding them makes things more expensive later.
- Assuming it is a cheap new audit. It is a review of what is already in place. Costs differ per body, so ask for a quote.
- Forgetting to compare scope. The scope of the new body must cover the activities you are transferring.
If you first want to know what a switch costs, read costs and timeline. To help with the choice between schemes, ISO 22000 vs FSSC 22000 explains the differences.
What do you provide for the pre-transfer review?
Ask the new body in advance which documents it wants to see. In most cases it is the same set:
- the report of the most recent initial or recertification audit;
- the report of the most recent surveillance audit;
- an overview of all open nonconformities, with the status of each correction;
- an overview of complaints and how they were handled;
- the reason for the switch and any ongoing contact with a regulator.
Supply complete documentation. If the reports are not available, or if a surveillance or recertification audit was not carried out according to the audit programme, the new body will treat you as a new client under IAF MD 2.
What changes and what stays the same?
| Component | With a successful transfer | With a new client |
|---|---|---|
| Certification cycle | Remains that of the old certificate | Starts again with the decision |
| Audit programme | Set by the new body for the remaining part | Set by the new body for the whole cycle |
| Documentation | The new body reviews what is in place | Full assessment of the system |
| Lead time | Expected to be shorter, provided there are no open points (indication) | Longer, because everything must be proven again |
What does a transfer cost?
Costs differ per body and per size. A transfer is expected to cost less than a full new certification (indication only, not fixed rates), because the new body uses the existing evidence. However, the pre-transfer visit, the time your quality team spends on it and any corrections also count. Ask for a quote that lists these components separately, so you compare like with like.