Food safety certificates for restaurants: Issuance process

Food safety certificates for restaurants are a mandatory condition to help businesses comply with legal regulations, avoid penalties, and ensure customer rights. This certification not only helps the restaurant build a reputation but also affirms food quality, attracts customers, and increases revenue. Understanding the licensing process will help the restaurant complete the procedure quickly, and smoothly and operate sustainably.

Is a restaurant required to apply for a food safety certificate?

Pursuant to the provisions of Article 11 of Decree 15/2018/ND-CP, all food production and business establishments must have a certificate of establishment meeting food safety conditions (food safety certificate) when operating.

A restaurant that is an establishment that both produces and sells food and does not fall into the cases specified in Points a, b, c and h, Clause 1, Article 12 of Decree 15/2018/ND-CP must apply for a food safety certificate. Specifically, except for the following cases:

• Initial production was small;
• Food production and trading without a fixed location;
• Small preliminary processing;
• The collective kitchen does not have a registered food business.

Thus, after opening a restaurant, the restaurant owner must quickly carry out procedures to apply for a food safety certificate at the competent authority before going into operation.

Conditions for granting food safety certificates for restaurants

In addition to the general conditions for ensuring food safety for food production and business establishments as prescribed in Section 1 Chapter IV of the Law on Food Safety 2010, eateries must also meet the conditions for ensuring food safety in food service businesses as prescribed in Section 4 Chapter IV of the Law on Food Safety 2010. Specifically as follows:

1. Conditions for ensuring food safety for food processing and service businesses:

• The kitchen is arranged to ensure there is no cross-contamination between unprocessed and processed foods.
• There is enough water that meets technical standards to serve processing and business.
• There are tools to collect and store garbage and waste to ensure hygiene.
• Sewers in shop and kitchen areas must be clear and not stagnant.
• The dining room must be airy, cool, well-lit, maintain cleanliness, and take measures to prevent insects and harmful animals.
• There is equipment for food preservation, toilets, hand washing and clean daily waste and garbage collection.
• The head of the unit with a collective kitchen is responsible for ensuring food safety.

2. Conditions for ensuring food safety for food processing and service establishments:

• Have separate utensils and containers for raw and cooked foods.
• Cooking and processing utensils must ensure safety and hygiene.
• Eating utensils must be made of safe materials, washed, and kept dry.
• Comply with regulations on health, knowledge and practices of people directly producing and trading food.

3. Conditions to ensure food safety in food processing and preservation:

• Use of food and food ingredients must have clear origins and ensure safety, and store food samples.
• Food must be processed to ensure safety and hygiene.
• Food displayed for sale must be kept in glass cabinets or hygienic storage equipment, resistant to dust, rain, sunlight and the penetration of harmful insects and animals; displayed for sale on tables or shelves above the ground.

A restaurant must meet all of the above conditions to be able to apply for a food safety certificate.

Process of obtaining food safety certificates for restaurants

Prepare documents

According to the provisions of Clause 1, Article 36 of the Law on Food Safety 2010, Article 4 of Circular 43/2018/TT-BCT, the application file for Food safety certificates for restaurants includes:

1. Application for issuance of Certificate of establishment meeting food safety conditions according to form No. 01a in the Appendix issued with Circular 43/2018/TT-BCT.
2. Copy of Business Registration Certificate.
3. Explanation of facilities, equipment and tools to ensure food hygiene and safety conditions according to Form No. 02a and Form No. 02b (for establishments with both production and business) in the Appendix issued with Circular 43/2018/TT-BCT.
4. Certificate of good health/Compiled list of health certification of facility owners and people directly producing and trading food issued by a district-level medical facility or higher (copy certified by the facility).
5. Certificate of training in food safety knowledge/Certificate of food safety knowledge of the facility owner and person directly producing and trading food (copy certified by the facility).

Grant process

The order and procedures for granting food safety certificates are specified in Clause 2, Article 36 of the Law on Food Safety 2010, specifically including the following steps:

Step 1: The restaurant owner submits an application for a food safety certificate at the Food Safety and Hygiene Department – Department of Health where the restaurant is opened.

Step 2: Within 15 days from the date of receipt of complete and valid documents, the competent state agency conducts an actual inspection of food safety conditions at food production and business establishments; If eligible, a Certificate of establishment meeting food safety conditions must be issued; In case of refusal, they must respond in writing and clearly state the reason.

Full food safety certificate application service at Long Phan

Food safety certificate application service at Long Phan helps business households, restaurants, eateries and businesses carry out procedures quickly and in accordance with regulations, ensuring legal operations and avoiding risks. Our services include the following tasks:

1. Consulting on conditions and subjects for certification:

• Determine who needs to apply for a certificate.
• Check the conditions of facilities, equipment, and food processing processes according to legal regulations.

2. Draft and prepare accurate and complete documents according to the provisions of law and other documents such as food ingredient supply contracts and other related documents (if any).
3. Submit documents and work with authorities:

• Representing customers to submit applications at the Department of Health;
• Monitor application processing progress and update approval status.
• Support editing and supplementing documents as requested by licensing agencies.

4. Instructions for inspection and appraisal of facilities:

• Support the restaurant to prepare necessary conditions to pass inspection by authorities.
• Instructions for arranging food processing and storage areas according to hygiene standards.
• Ensure the facility meets food safety criteria as prescribed.

5. Receive certification and post-licensing support:

• Receive and hand over the Certificate of establishment meeting food safety conditions.
• Consulting on food safety compliance obligations after licensing.
• Support for license renewal and additional licenses when expanding business.

Food safety certificates for restaurants help businesses comply with legal regulations, create trust with customers and enhance brand reputation. Having a certificate also helps the restaurant avoid risks, ensure sustainable operations and attract more customers. Long Phan supports applying for licenses quickly and according to regulations. Contact the hotline 0906735386 immediately for detailed advice!