Changes in applications for Certificate of food safety in Vietnam

What are the changes in applications for Certificate of food safety in Vietnam?​ (Internet image)

1. Establishments and conditions for the grant and withdrawal of certificates of food safety eligibility

Article 34 of the Law on Food Safety 2010 stipulates the establishments and conditions for the grant and withdrawal of certificates of food safety eligibility as follows:

- 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 the Law on Food Safety 2010;

+ Having registered for food production and trading as indicated in its business registration certificate.

- An organization or individual shall have its/his/her certificate of food safety eligibility withdrawn when it/he/she no longer satisfies all conditions prescribed in Clause 1 of Article 34 of the Law on Food Safety 2010.

2. Validity duration of certificates of food safety eligibility in Vietnam

Article 37 of the Law on Food Safety 2010 stipulates the validity duration of certificates of food safety eligibility as follows:

- A certificate of food safety eligibility is valid for 3 years.

- At least 6 months before the expiration date of a certificate of food safety eligibility, if the food producer or trader wishes to continue its/ his/her production or trading activities, it/he/she shall submit a dossier of application for the re-grant of a certificate of food safety eligibility. Dossiers of application and the order of and procedures for re-grant of certificates comply with Article 36 of this Law.

3. Application and report on changes of information in Vietnam

Article 10 of Circular 48/2013/TT-BNNPTNT amended by Circular 32/2022/TT-BNNPTNT stipulates application and report on changes of information as follows:

- An application for the food safety certificate and addition to the list of qualified exporters prescribed in Clause 1 Article 36 of the Law on Food Safety includes:

+ Application form for granting food safety certificates using the Form prescribed in Appendix I enclosed with Circular 48/2013/TT-BNNPTNT;

Report on material business operators, equipment and tools used for ensuring the conformance to requirements for compliance with food safety regulations under the corresponding schedule in Appendix II enclosed with Circular 48/2013/TT-BNNPTNT;

(According to Circular 48/2013/TT-BNNPTNT, amended by Circular 16/2018/TT-BNNPTNT, stipulates "Registration for appraisal of food safety conditions according to the form in Appendix IIIA of Circular 48/2013/TT-BNNPTNT”)

+ Certificates of food safety training granted to business owners and food handlers confirmed by business owners;

Full health certificates of business owners and food handlers granted by district-level or higher-level healthcare facilities.

(According to Circular 48/2013/TT-BNNPTNT, amended by Circular 16/2018/TT-BNNPTNT, stipulates "the Report on the current status (facilities, equipment, food safety assurance system) of the Facility according to the form in Table 1, Appendix IVA issued with Circular 48/2013/TT-BNNPTNT”)

- In case the application is rejected and the business operator is added to the list of qualified exporters, the business operator shall make a rectification report using the Form specified in Appendix III enclosed with Circular 48/2013/TT-BNNPTNT.

- In case of assessment serving the purpose of periodical evaluation of conformance to requirements for compliance with food safety regulations prescribed in Point a Clause 2 Article 12 of Circular 48/2013/TT-BNNPTNT, the business operator shall send a report on the change in information using the corresponding schedule specified in Appendix II enclosed herewith.

*Methos of submission of application to the assessing agency

The business operator shall send 01 application to the assessing agency:

- In person, by post.

- By email or online.

The business operator shall submit the documents specified in Point b Clause 1 of Article 10 of Circular 48/2013/TT-BNNPTNT amended by Circular 32/2022/TT-BNNPTNT when submitting its application or provide them for an assessors' team during site inspection.

Circular 32/2022/TT-BNNPTNT takes effect from February 15, 2022.

Ngoc Nhi

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