Procedures for issuing Certificate of food safety eligibility for agricultural, forestry, and fishery production and business facilities in Vietnam

Procedures for issuing Certificate of food safety eligibility for agricultural, forestry, and fishery production and business facilities in Vietnam​ (Image from the internet)

On December 25, 2024, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam issued Decision 4768/QD-BNN-CCPT regarding the announcement of amended and supplemented administrative procedures in the field of Quality Management of Agricultural, Forestry, and Aquatic Products, under the management scope of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Procedures for issuing Certificate of food safety eligibility for agricultural, forestry, and fishery production and business facilities in Vietnam

Step 1: Submit Application

Facilities (either exporting directly or involved in the production, preliminary processing, processing, and preservation for export to countries or territories requiring health certification, food safety certification by competent Vietnamese authorities; or requiring registration, establishment, supplementation to the export list, or the issuance of other certifications by competent Vietnamese authorities as per importing market regulations) shall submit an application via the online public service system, by postal mail, or directly to the specialized management department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (hereinafter referred to as the Competent Authority).

Step 2: Acknowledge Completeness of Application Components

The Competent Authority conducts a review for completeness and validity of the application and notifies the facility of the results, including the estimated assessment date in case of a valid application; or informs them of an incomplete application, specifying the reasons.

Step 3: Establish an Evaluation Committee

The Competent Authority issues a decision to establish an evaluation committee immediately after notifying the valid application.

Step 4: Conduct On-site Evaluation and Issue Certificate

Within 15 days from the date of receipt of a complete and valid application:

- The evaluation committee announces the decision to establish the committee, stating the purpose and content of the evaluation;

- Conduct actual evaluation: review, assess recorded files, evaluate the actual conditions ensuring food safety at the facility including workshops, equipment, management resources, food safety management programs, traceability, recall, and handling of unsafe products, and results; interview relevant subjects, collect samples if required as per regulations.

- Prepare an evaluation report and notify the evaluation results to the facility's representative according to the form in Appendix II issued together with Circular 17/2024/TT-BNNPTNT. In case a violation is detected, the evaluation committee prepares a working report or administrative violation record to transfer to the competent authority or individual for handling in accordance with the law.

- Upon receiving the evaluation report from the evaluation committee, the Competent Authority conducts a verification of the report (requiring the evaluation committee to explain evaluation contents if necessary).

- Issue the certificate according to the form in Appendix V issued together with Circular 17/2024/TT-BNNPTNT in cases where:

+ The facility meets food safety assurance conditions or has met the requirements in the case of sample testing during the evaluation process.

+ In cases where the sample testing results do not meet the food safety regulations, certificate issuance is only performed after the facility investigates the cause, implements corrective measures, and is verified by the Competent Authority as meeting the requirements.

+ If the facility has unsatisfactory evaluation results but submits a corrective report and is verified to meet the requirements by the Evaluation Committee within the certificate issuance period, the Competent Authority will conduct verification and issue the certificate.

In cases of unsatisfactory evaluation results and failure of the facility to make corrections within the required timeframe: The Competent Authority issues a notification of the evaluation results, does not issue the certificate, and simultaneously notifies the local food safety management agency to supervise the facility which is not permitted to operate.

Refer to more detailed content in Decision 4768/QD-BNN-CCPT effective from January 15, 2024.

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