Contents
I. What is a food safety license?
A food safety license is also known as a certificates of food safety eligibility. In essence, a food safety license is a certificate issued by competent state agencies to establishments and enterprises producing and trading food products/services in order to prove the basis, that enterprise has fully met the necessary conditions for food safety and hygiene.
II. Cases exempted from food safety license
Pursuant to Article 11, 12 of Decree 15/2018/ND-CP, food manufacturer and seller must have a food safety license when operating, except for the following cases:
– Micro food manufacturers;
– Mobile food manufacturers and sellers;
– Micro food processors;
– Micro food sellers;
– Sellers of prepackaged foods;
– Manufacturers and sellers of instruments and materials for wrapping and storing food;
– Restaurants within hotels;
– Industrial kitchens not registered as a food business;
– Street food vendors;
– Any food business that has one of the following certificates: Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point System (HACCP), Food safety management systems ISO 22000, International Food Standard (IFS), British Retail Consortium (BRC), Food Safety System Certification (FSSC 22000) or an equivalent certificate.
III. Conditions for granting a food safety license
Pursuant to clause 1, Article 34 Law on food safety 2010, an establishment shall be granted a food safety license 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.
IV. Competence to grant a food safety license
The Minister of Health, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Minister of Industry and Trade shall specify the competence to grant food safety licenses in their assigned management domains. (Article 35 Law on food safety 2010)
V. Order of issuing food safety license
Step 1: Organizations and individuals producing and trading food shall submit an application for a food safety license to the competent state agency corresponding to the field in which they want to do business.
Step 2: Within 15 days from the date of receipt of complete and valid dossiers, competent state agencies shall physically inspect conditions for ensuring food safety at food production and trading establishments;
Step 3: The agency competent to issue a food safety license (if eligible), in case of refusal, must reply in writing and clearly state the reason.
VI. Dossier of application for a food safety license
- 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 establishment’s 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.
VII. Notes
– A food safety license is valid for 3 years.
– At least 6 months before the expiration date of food safety license, 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 food safety license.
To save time learning about the law, filling out forms, waiting to submit the dossier, you can contact HT for advice and support for Register Food Safety License.
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- Email: hue.truong@htlaw.vn
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