New regulations on food export certification application

The Ministry of Health has just issued Circular No. 08, regulating the dossier and procedures for granting export food certificates, to ensure the quality and food safety of Vietnamese exported products.

The Ministry of Health has just issued Circular No. 08, regulating the dossier and procedures for granting export food certificates, to ensure the quality and food safety of Vietnamese exported products.

This regulation not only helps improve the quality and reliability of Vietnamese food products in the international market but also creates favorable conditions for food exporting enterprises to comply with the process in a transparent and effective manner.

Circular 08 of the Ministry of Health is an important step forward in improving the quality and transparency of Vietnam's food export industry.

Understanding the requirements and certification process is very important for businesses and food production facilities exporting, helping them ensure that their products meet the safety and quality requirements of the import market.

Circular 08 clearly stipulates the required documents when requesting a certificate for an export shipment or an export food production facility.

First, the exporting organization or individual must submit an Application for Certificate according to the form specified in the Appendix of the Circular. This is a mandatory document and is the first step in the certification process.

Next, the production facility needs to have a Certificate of Food Safety Qualified Facility or international certifications such as GMP, HACCP, ISO 22000, IFS, BRC, FSSC 22000, or equivalent valid certifications.

These certificates demonstrate that the food manufacturing facility has complied with international food safety standards.

An important and indispensable part of the dossier is the Food Safety Test Result Certificate of the sample of the exported product batch. The test certificate must be issued by a designated testing laboratory or a testing laboratory in accordance with ISO 17025.

This certificate will prove that the sample of the shipment meets the food safety requirements and technical indicators, national regulations or international standards. Finally, the exporting organization or individual must submit the Confirmation of payment of the appraisal fee for the issuance of the certificate according to regulations.

In addition, in case the importing country requires a certificate with a form and information different from the regulations in the Circular, the exporting organization or individual needs to supplement appropriate documents to prove the required information.

Once the dossier is complete, food exporting organizations and individuals can submit the dossier to the Ministry of Health (Department of Food Safety) via the online public service system, submit it directly at the One-Stop Department, or send it by post.

The time for issuing the certificate will not exceed 5 working days from the date of submission of complete and valid documents. If the documents are incomplete or invalid, the Ministry of Health will request the organization or individual to amend or supplement within 5 working days. If after 90 days the organization or individual does not amend or supplement, the documents will no longer be valid.

The Ministry of Health will issue a certificate or a document stating the reason for not issuing a certificate for submitted applications, and the certificate will be returned according to the form of application (in person, by post or online public service). Each certificate will be issued upon request of the exporting organization or individual.

In addition, Circular 08 also clearly stipulates the cases in which the certificate may be revoked. These cases include: organizations and individuals providing fake or incorrect documents in the dossier; shipments that do not meet announced standards and technical regulations (if any); food production establishments having their food safety certificate revoked; or certificates issued by unauthorized authorities.

Revocation of certificates helps protect the reputation of Vietnamese exported food and ensures that food products fully meet safety and quality requirements.

Circular 08 of the Ministry of Health is an important step forward in improving the quality and transparency of Vietnam's food export industry.

This regulation not only helps businesses improve their competitiveness, but also creates a solid foundation to protect the health of global consumers.

Enterprises need to focus on fully and accurately implementing procedures and documents according to regulations so that the export process takes place smoothly and effectively.

Furthermore, compliance with international food safety standards will build solid trust with international partners and customers and contribute to promoting the sustainable development of the Vietnamese food industry.

Source: https://baodautu.vn/quy-dinh-moi-ve-ho-so-cap-giay-chung-nhan-thuc-pham-xuat-khau-d251523.html