Food safety certificate expired? How to extend?

A food safety certificate is one of the important documents for food production and business establishments in Vietnam. This certificate confirms that the facility meets all conditions for hygiene, food safety, and consumer health protection. However, this Certificate has a certain validity period. When the certificate expires, the establishment needs to carry out procedures to re-issue the Food Safety Certificate to continue operating legally.

Why must an expired food safety certificate be renewed?

Renewing the certificate ensures that the facility still meets food hygiene and safety standards, while avoiding legal risks such as administrative sanctions or interruptions in business operations. Some reasons for needing to renew a food safety certificate are as follows:

• Ensuring legalization of operations: Certificates help establishments maintain legal operations and avoid violating the law.
• Continue to meet hygiene requirements: Certificate proves that the establishment still meets food hygiene and safety standards.
• Avoid administrative penalties: Failure to renew may result in regulatory fines.
• Create trust for customers: Renewal helps maintain consumer confidence in product quality.
• Protecting consumer rights: Certificate ensuring product safety for consumers’ health.
• Confirming legal compliance: Renewal certificate proves the facility remains compliant with legal regulations.
• Prove to partners and suppliers: Renew certificate of support for cooperation with partners in the food industry.
• Ensuring business stability: Renewal helps establishments maintain stability in food production and supply.

Validity of Food Safety Certificate

According to Article 37 of the Law on Food Safety 2010, the validity period of the Food Safety Certificate is stipulated as follows:

• Food safety license is valid for 3 years from the date of issue.
• After 3 years, if the facility continues to operate and meets all food hygiene and safety requirements, the facility must carry out procedures to re-issue the certificate instead of renewing it.
• In addition, at least 06 months before the expiration date of the Certificate of eligibility for food safety, organizations or individuals producing and trading food must submit an application for re-issuance of the Certificate if they continue production and business activities.
• Documents and procedures for reissuing the Certificate are carried out in accordance with the provisions of Article 36 of the Law on Food Safety 2010.

Procedures for reissuance of Food Safety Certificate

Application for re-issuance of Food Safety Certificate

According to Article 36 of the Law on Food Safety 2010, the application for re-issuance of a Food Safety Certificate includes the following documents:

• Application for issuance of Certificate of establishment meeting food safety conditions according to sample.
• Copy of Business Registration Certificate.
• Explanation of facilities, equipment and tools to ensure food hygiene and safety conditions according to regulations of competent state management agencies.
• Certificate of good health of the facility owner and person directly producing and trading food issued by a district-level medical facility or higher.
• Certificate of training in food safety and hygiene of the facility owner and those directly producing and trading food according to regulations of the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

Implementation procedures

Procedures for reissuing the food safety license are carried out according to the following process:

Step 1: Submit application for re-issuance of Certificate

Subjects applying to re-issue a food safety license must submit it to the competent state agency. Specifically:

• Ministry of Health;
• Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development;
• Ministry of Industry and Trade.

Ministers of agencies specify the authority to grant and revoke Certificates of establishments meeting food safety conditions in the fields assigned to their management.

Step 2: Document processing

• The competent authority receives the application and inspects the actual food hygiene and safety conditions at the facility.
• If the facility meets the requirements, the Certificate will be reissued.

Step 3: Licensing

• Within 15 days, the competent state agency will carry out a physical inspection and make a decision to re-issue the food safety license.
• In case of ineligibility, the agency will notify the reason for refusal.

Customers should note that this procedure must be completed 6 months before the Certificate expires, ensuring no interruption in operations.

Food safety certificate re-issuance service

To help customers save time and ensure the correct procedures for re-issuance of Food Safety Certificates, we provide support services for re-registration of Food Safety Certificates. Our services include:

• Consulting on processes and procedures for re-issuance of Certificates.
• Support in preparing complete and accurate documents.
• Representing customers to submit documents and work with authorities.
• Monitor progress and notify customers of results.

Customers can contact us for quick and effective support in re-issuing the Food Safety Certificate.

Expired food safety certificates cannot be renewed and must be reissued in accordance with the law. To ensure uninterrupted operations, customers need to proactively prepare documents and carry out re-issuance procedures before the certificate expires. Customers can contact us via the hotline 0906735386 to receive consulting support and carry out procedures to re-issue the food safety license quickly and effectively.