Certificates of food safety eligibility is an important license for businesses conducting food business. Therefore, businesses need to know the documents and the implementation process to avoid the lack of records, improper implementation of the process and procedures. The following is the process of granting a certificates of food safety eligibility to help readers better understand this issue.

Certificates of food safety

What is food safety

Food safety means the assurance that food does not cause harm to human health and life (according to Clause 1, Article 2 of the Law on Food Safety 2010). Accordingly, certificates of satisfaction of food safety conditions is a document issued by a competent authority certify that food production and business establishments are safe, not harmful to human health and life.

Conditions for the grant of certificates of food safety eligibility

According to Clause 1, Article 34 of the Law on Food Safety 2010, An establishment shall be granted a certificate of food safety eligibility when it fully meets the following conditions:

• Having adequate conditions for assuring food safety suitable to each type of food production and trading as prescribed in Chapter IV of this Law;
• Having registered for food production and trading as indicated in its business registration certificate.

Competence to grant certificates of food safety eligibility

According to Article 35 of the Law on Food Safety 2010, the competence belongs to the following subjects:

• The Department of Health issues certificates of satisfaction of food safety conditions to food service establishments and food processing establishments.
• The Department of Industry and Trade issues certificates of satisfaction of food safety conditions to food production and trading establishments.

Dossiers for the grant of certificates of food safety eligibility

According to Article 36 of the Law on Food Safety 2010, A dossier of application for a certificate of food safety eligibility comprises:

• An application for a certificate of food safety eligibility;
• A copy of the business registration certificate;
• Written explanations about the satisfaction of food safety and hygiene conditions of physical foundations, equipment and tools as prescribed by competent state management agencies;
• Health certificates of the establishments owner and persons directly engaged in food production and trading, issued by a district- or higher-level health establishment;
• Certificates of training in knowledge about food safety and hygiene of the establishment’s owner and persons directly engaged in food production and trading as prescribed by line ministers.

Order and procedures for the grant of certificates of food safety eligibility

According to Clause 2 Article 36 of the Law on Food Safety 2010:

• Food producers and traders shall submit dossiers of application for certificates of food safety eligibility to a competent state manage­ment agency defined;

Number of records: 01 set

• Within 15 days after the receipt of a complete and valid dossier, the competent state agency shall conduct field inspection of food safety assurance conditions at the producer’s or trader’s establishment. If all conditions are met. it shall grant a certificate of food safety eligibility; in case of refusing to grant a certificate, it shall issue a written reply clearly stating the reason.