Certificate of Eligibility for Food Safety Expiration: Can it be Extended?

Clause 2, Article 37 of the 2010 Food Safety Law stipulates the validity of the Certificate of eligibility for food safety as follows:

Within 06 months prior to the expiration date of the Certificate of eligibility for food safety, organizations or individuals producing or trading food must submit an application for reissuance of the Certificate in case of continuing production or trading. The dossier, order, and procedures for reissuance are carried out as prescribed in Article 36 of this Law.

Thus, within 06 months prior to the expiration date of the Certificate of eligibility for food safety, if your store continues to do business, you must submit an application for reissuance of the Certificate, not an extension.

*The dossier for reissuance of the Certificate of eligibility for food safety includes:

- Application for the Certificate of eligibility for food safety;

- A copy of the business registration certificate;

- An explanation of facilities, equipment, utensils ensuring food safety conditions as prescribed by the competent state management agency;

- Health certificates of the owner and the person directly producing or trading food issued by a district-level or higher health agency;

- Certificates of training in food safety and hygiene knowledge for the owner and the person directly producing or trading food as prescribed by the Minister of the sectoral management.

*Procedures

- You submit the dossier for reissuance of the Certificate of eligibility for food safety to the competent state agency as prescribed in Article 35 of this Law;

- Within 15 days from the date of receipt of a complete and valid dossier, the competent state agency shall inspect the actual conditions ensuring food safety at the food production and trading establishment; if the conditions are met, the Certificate of eligibility for food safety must be issued; in case of refusal, a written response stating the reasons must be provided.

Sincerely!