Obtaining Food Safety Certificate Service in Vietnam

Food safety certificates are one of the methods for the Vietnamese government to manage business and food production activities of establishments in the face of the difficult situation of food safety and hygiene in recent years. At the same time, this is also one of the documents and papers that most food production and business establishments need to have. However, the documents and procedures for applying for a certificate are what make many food businesses afraid. To save time and increase the success rate, many customers have chosen to use Viet An Law comprehensive obtaining food safety certificate service in Vietnam.

Why is a food safety certificate needed?

Legalize business and food production activities

According to the provisions of Article 11 of Decree 15/2018/ND-CP, food production, and business establishments must have a food safety certificate, except for some establishments specified in Clause 1 of Article These 12 of this Decree include:

• Initial small production;
• Food production and trading without a fixed location;
• Small preliminary processing;
• Small food business;
• Trading in pre-packaged foods;
• Producing and trading in tools and materials for packaging and storing food;
• Restaurants in hotels;
• The collective kitchen does not have a registered food business;
• Street food business;
• The facility has been granted one of the following valid Certificates: GMP, HACCP, ISO 22000, IFS, BRC, FSSC 22000, or equivalent.

Thus, a food safety certificate is a necessary document to legalize the business and food production activities of the above business and food production establishments.

Avoid administrative sanctions

According to the provisions of Article 18 of Decree 115/2018/ND-CP (amended and supplemented by Clause 8, Article 1 of Decree 124/2021/ND-CP), food production and business establishments without a food safety certification (except for establishments that are not required to have a certificate) may be subject to administrative sanctions as follows:

• Fine from 20,000,000 VND to 30,000,000 VND for doing food service business without a valid Food Safety Certificate.
• Fine from 30,000,000 VND to 40,000,000 VND for producing and trading food without a valid Food Safety Certificate.

Enhance the reputation of the facility

To be granted a Food safety certificate, food production and business establishments must meet strict conditions on facilities, staff, etc. as prescribed by law.

Therefore, a food safety certificate is an affirmation of the establishment’s quality and reputation to customers.

Process for obtaining food safety certificate service in Vietnam

Documents needed to prepare to apply for a food safety certificate

According to Article 36 of the Law on Food Hygiene and Safety, food production and business establishments need to prepare the following documents and papers to apply for a food safety certificate:

• Application for issuance of Certificate of establishment meeting food safety conditions;
• Copy of Enterprise Registration Certificate;
• Explanation of facilities, equipment, and tools to ensure food hygiene and safety conditions according to regulations of competent state management agencies;
• Certificate of good health of the facility owner and person directly producing and trading food issued by a district-level medical facility or higher;
• Certificate of training in food safety and hygiene of the facility owner and of the person directly producing and trading food according to regulations of the Minister of Industry Management.

Who issues the food safety certificate?

According to the provisions of Article 35 of the Law on Food Safety and Hygiene and Decree 15/2018/ND-CP, the authority to issue food safety certificates belongs to the Ministers of the following ministries:

• Ministry of Health: For food products/product groups; Goods are listed in Appendix II of Decree 15/2018/ND-CP.
• Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development: For goods /groups of food products and goods listed in Appendix III of Decree 15/2018/ND-CP.
• Ministry of Industry and Trade: For goods/groups of food products and goods listed in Appendix IV of Decree 15/2018/ND-CP.

Therefore, to be granted a certificate, food production, and business establishments need to submit documents to one of the three agencies mentioned above, depending on the type of goods and products that the establishment is producing and trading.

Steps to carry out procedures for granting Food Safety Certificates in Vietnam

• Step 1: Food production and business establishments prepare and submit documents to the competent authority.
• Step 2: The competent authority receives and processes the dossier
  • Within 15 days from the date of receipt of complete and valid documents, the competent agency shall issue a food safety certificate;
  • If not granted, the competent authority shall respond in writing and clearly state the reason.
• Step 3: Food production and business establishments receive the results
  • Food safety certificate
  • Written response to refuse to grant a certificate

Cost of issuing the food safety certificate

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the food safety certificate valid?

According to Article 37 of the Food Safety Law 2010, a food safety certificate is valid for 3 years from the date of issue.

However, it should be noted that 6 months before the expiration date of the Food Safety Certificate, organizations and individuals producing and trading food must apply for re-issue of the certificate if production and business continue.

When do we need Food Safety Certificate Reissuance in Vietnam?

According to Article 12 of Decree 17/2020/ND-CP, the following cases will be re-issued food safety certificates if the production and business establishment still meets all food safety conditions: Products prescribed by law:

• The certificate is lost or damaged;
• The certificate expires;
• Due to the establishment of changing production and business locations; Change and supplement production processes and business products;
• Because the establishment changed its name but did not change the establishment’s owner, address, location, and entire production process and business items.
• Due to a change of facility owner but no change in facility name, address, location, and entire production process and business items.

Can a certificate be reissued if it is revoked?

Pursuant to Clause 2, Article 34 of thAccording toe Food Safety Law 2010, food production and business establishments do not fully meet the conditions for certification as prescribed.

In addition, Clause 1, Article 9 of Circular 43/2018/TT-BCT guides cases where food safety certificates are revoked, including:

• Falsifying application documents for Certificate;
• Renting or borrowing Certificates;
• Illegal modify the content of the Certificate;
• Has terminated production and business activities,

In case of revocation, the facility applies for re-issue according to the first-time certification procedure.

Comprehensive food safety certificate service by Viet An Law

• Establish a company for food trading in Vietnam and trademark registration for this new brand in Vietnamese market;
• Advise clients on conditions to be granted a Certificate of eligibility for food safety;
• Prepare documents and submit applications on behalf of clients for a Certificate of establishment meeting food safety conditions at a competent state agency;
• Exchange and update information with customers during the procedure;
• Receive and return to clients the Certificate of establishment meeting food safety conditions;
• Consulting, supporting, and representing clients to carry out related procedures such as food product procalmation / declaration; tax service; tax accounting service; issue codes and barcodes; registering food labels, granting food advertising licenses, etc.
• Consulting on legal issues related to the business activities of the enterprise.

If you have any questions or need to use Viet An Law’s comprehensive food safety certificate service, please contact Viet An Law for the most effective support.