REGISTRATION OF FOOD HYGIENE AND SAFETY CERTIFICATE

A food hygiene and safety certificate is a compulsory condition when a company manufactures or trades food in Vietnam. If a facility operates without a certificate on sufficient food hygiene and safety conditions, it will be sanctioned with caution or fine or operation suspension according to Decree No. 178/2013/NĐ-CP promulgated by the government on sanction of administrative violations on food safety.

I. DEFINITION OF FOOD HYGIENE AND SAFETY (FHS):

Food hygiene and safety is narrowly interpreted as processing, preserving and storing food by preventional or mitigatory means against food-related diseases. FHS also includes some habits and acts required in processing to avoid serious potential health risk. To be widely interpreted, FHS is all matters related to maintaining the hygiene of food to assure the health of consumers.

II. RULES ABOUT FHS: 

  • According to Law on food safety No. 55/2010/QH12 issued on June 17th 2010 by the National Assembly: regulates rights and obligations of organizations and individual in keeping food safety;
  • According to Decree No. 15/2018/NĐ-CP promulgated by the Government on elaboration of some articles of the law on food safety;
  • According to Joint Circular No. 13/2014/TTLT-BYT-BNNPTNT dated April 9th 2014 on instructing assignment and coordination in administrative management on food safety;

III. COMPETENT AGENCIES AND ASSESSMENT ON GRANTING FHS CERTIFICATE:

A FHD certificate will be granted by different competent agencies based on different types of products. So, how to know which competent agency will grant you a FHS certificate for your product?

1. Department of Industry and Trade:

The Department of Industry and Trade is competent to grant a FHS certificate for products such as: beers, wines, alcohol and alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, processed milk, vegetable oil, pies, jams, candies, flour and starch,…

2. Department of Agriculture:

Regarding agricultural products like: cereals, meats, seafoods, eggs, ingredient milk, honey, tea, coffee…and other crops… The Department of Agriculture will grant a FHS certificate for enterprises trading such products.

3. Department of Health:

Once conditions are met, the Department of Health will grant a FHS certificate for companies doing the following businesses: pure water, dining services, canteen, industrial ready-to-eat food…

4. Department of Food hygiene and safety- Ministry of Health

Imported products, functional food, food additives, high-risk food… will be granted a FHS certificate by the Department of Food hygiene and safety- Ministry of Health upon the standards are met.

IV. WHICH BUSINESS SUBJECT MUST COMPLY WITH REGULATIONS:

Subjects required by law to submit a petition for a FHS certificate include: Agencies, organizations and individuals operating in Vietnam and participating in manufacturing or trading of food.  

V. DOCUMENT COMPOSITION TO REGISTER A FHS CERTIFICATE:

Copies of Business Registration Certificate of the company or the branch (if the certificate is registered for the branch): 03

(note: the notarized copies must be dated less than 3 months)

A name list of staff and legal representative

(note: without blue card: a copy of ID card is needed to register training and check-ups; with blue card: provide the latest copy of blue card, training card)

A copy of manager’s ID card if the director does not have a training certificate (only apply to restaurants and food stalls)

3×4 Images of employees participating in training and check-ups

Water sample in-use 

VI. PETITION PROCEDURE FOR A FHS CERTIFICATE AT HO CHI MINH CITY:

Step 1: Consulting procedure-related matters.

  • Investigating facilities, checking documents and related information of the enterprise. 
  • Consulting FHS-related matters, consulting improvements on facilities: Arranging processes in one-way principle, equipment, tools, conditions of walls, ceiling, AC system, electrical system, waste, storage…
  • Completing administrative procedure: sample log, input ingredient log, process monitoring log….…

Bước 2: Prepare documents to register a FHS certificate for the facility.

Bước 3: Submit the documents on behalf of the enterprise.

Bước 4: Monitoring documents status and inform the customer during the process until the certificate is granted.

Customers interested in our FHS certificate registration consulting service please contact us at:

  • Hotline: 076 455 2008

Email: info.ipleader@gmail.com