The requirement that applies today
The second Codex step describes the product: what it is made of, how it is made, where it comes from, how it is packed, how it is stored, how long it keeps and what the acceptance criteria are. The current edition maps this to the characteristics of raw materials, ingredients and contact materials and the characteristics of end products.
ISO/DIS 22000:2026, Annex A 2, Codex step 2: describe the product.
What the draft does
Mapped in the current Annex A to 8.5.1.2 and 8.5.1.3; the 2026 table is sold by ISO and not held here: The 2026 contents keep both clause titles at the same numbers. For this row the inferred 2026 destination is 8.5.1.2, 8.5.1.3, 8.1.3; that reading comes from the clause titles, not from the published 2026 table.
Source: public contents and foreword at A.2, retrieved 2026-10-19.
Why this clause matters
You cannot analyse a hazard in a product you have not described. The step is also where allergens, provenance and supplier change enter the system. The 2026 draft keeps both clause titles, so the mapping is stable even though the table itself is sold by ISO and not held here.
Suggested evidence to discuss with your auditor
For A.2, these are the artefacts we suggest discussing with your auditor. The standard publishes no evidence list, so this is our reading, not a requirement.
- A current description for each product and each material
- The place of origin and the supplier recorded
- Acceptance criteria linked to the hazard analysis
Where systems usually fall short
- A description written for the label rather than the analysis
- Material specifications that have not kept pace with supplier changes
How to prepare
Take one product and one material and check that both descriptions are current. Then check the label against them. The three should tell the same story.
Dates
Cross-references
Source
Annex A, A.2. Current edition: ISO 22000:2018. Draft: ISO/DIS 22000:2026. Retrieved 2026-10-19. The full DIS text for A.2 is sold by ISO and not held here; the sources page lists what is.
Not legal advice; does not certify; our words, not the standard's, and the planning date is an estimate.