Instructions for issuing health certificates for food

Issuing health certificates for food is an administrative procedure carried out by the Department of Food Safety – Ministry of Health. This procedure applies to food products, food additives, processing aids, tools and packaging materials containing exported food. Enterprises need to comply with regulations on documents, procedures and conditions for issuance of certificates according to Circular 52/2015/TT-BYT. The article below will provide detailed instructions on the process of issuing health certificates for food.

Subjects need to apply for a health certificate for food

Health Certificate (HC) is issued for the following products according to the provisions of Article 15 of Circular 52/2015/TT-BYT as follows:

• Exported food;
• Food additives;
• Food processing aids;
• Tools and materials for packaging and storing food.

These are the subjects that need to apply for a health certificate for food. Issuing medical certificates is only done when requested by organizations or individuals. This is a mandatory procedure for certain export markets. Applying for a health certificate helps businesses meet the requirements of export markets. By proving that products meet food safety and hygiene standards, businesses can create a competitive advantage in the international market.

Process for issuing health certificates for food

Prepare application documents for certification

According to Article 16 of Circular 52/2015/TT-BYT, application documents for a Medical Certificate include:

• Application for issuance of Medical Certificate according to Appendix 08 (Application form)
• Test results of each item in the export shipment, including criteria required by the corresponding Technical Regulations (for products with Technical Regulations) or major quality indicators, indicators. safety standards according to regulations (for products without technical regulations), information on item name, batch number, date of manufacture, and expiry date provided by a designated testing laboratory or an independent testing laboratory. accredited or accredited testing laboratory. (Original or certified copy).
• Product label sample (copy certified by organization or individual)
• Business registration certificate, Certificate of establishment meeting food safety conditions, except for the cases specified in Clause 1, Article 12 of Decree No. 38/2012/ND-CP (currently replaced by Decree 15/ 2018/ND-CP) or Receipt of declaration of conformity with regulations or Confirmation of declaration of conformity with food safety regulations (Copy certified by the organization or individual).

Note: All documents in the application must be presented in Vietnamese. Documents in foreign languages ​​must be translated into Vietnamese and notarized.

Submit application and fees

According to Article 17 of Circular 52/2015/TT-BYT, the application process for a Medical Certificate is as follows:

• Place of submission: Department of Food Safety – Ministry of Health
• Method of submission: In person or by mail
• When receiving the application, the receiving department will check and issue a receipt receipt according to the prescribed form

Fees for issuing health certificates for food are implemented according to current regulations of the Ministry of Finance. Enterprises need to pay the fee along with the application for certification.

Document appraisal and physical inspection

After receiving the application, the Food Safety Department will proceed:

• Verify the validity and completeness of documents
• Check food safety indicators according to test results
• Compare product information with current technical regulations
• In case of necessity, a physical inspection can be conducted at the production facility

The appraisal process is to ensure the product fully meets food safety requirements before issuing a health certificate.

Processing time and receiving results

According to the provisions of Article 17 of Circular 52/2015/TT-BYT:

• Processing time limit: Within 05 (five) working days from the date recorded on the application receipt form, the competent state agency specified in Clause 1 of this Article must consider and issue an international medical certificate.
• Result: Medical certificate according to the form specified in Appendix No. 09, Appendix No. 10 issued together with Circular 52/2015/TT-BYT
• In case of non-issue: The competent authority must respond in writing and clearly state the reason

Businesses can receive results directly at the Food Safety Department or by mail upon request.

Conditions for issuing health certificates for food

For products

Food products, food additives, processing aids, tools and food packaging materials must meet the following requirements to receive a health certificate:

• Meet food safety criteria according to corresponding technical regulations
• There are testing results that meet quality and safety requirements
• Product labels must comply with regulations on labeling of goods
• Not on the list of products banned from export

For products without technical regulations, it is necessary to meet the main quality criteria and safety criteria according to current regulations.

For production and business establishments

Establishments producing and trading food for export must meet the following conditions:

• Have a Business Registration Certificate
• Have a Certificate of establishment meeting food safety conditions (except for the cases specified in Clause 1, Article 12 of Decree No. 15/2018/ND-CP)
• Or have a Certificate of Receipt of Declaration of Conformity/ Confirmation of Declaration of Compliance with Food Safety Regulations

In addition, production facilities need to meet the following requirements:

• Facilities and equipment
• The production process ensures safety and hygiene
• Source of input materials
• Quality control mode

Compliance with these conditions helps ensure that products meet food safety and hygiene standards when exported.

Legal basis: Article 16 of Circular 52/2015/TT-BYT; Clause 1, Article 34 of the Law on Food Safety 2010; Clause 1, Article 28, Decree 15/2018/ND-CP; Clause 1 Article 19, Clause 1 Article 20, Clause 1 Article 21 Law on Food Safety 2010.

Consulting service for issuing health certificates for food in Long Phan

Long Phan provides comprehensive consulting services on issuing health certificates for food. With a team of experienced experts, we support businesses in the following tasks:

• Consulting on relevant legal regulations
• Prepare complete and accurate application documents for certification
• Support implementation of product testing procedures
• Representatives submit applications and monitor progress
• Explanation and additional documents as required (if any)

With many years of experience in the field of consulting on issuing health certificates for food, Long Phan always strives to provide professional and effective services to customers. Long Phan’s services help businesses save time and costs, ensure documents meet requirements from the first time and avoid risks during the export process.

Issuing health certificates for food is an important procedure for export businesses. Complying with the correct process and preparing complete documents will help the process of applying for a certificate go smoothly. Customers who need detailed advice on this procedure, please contact Long Phan via hotline 0906735386 for dedicated and professional support.