HACCP

WHAT IS HACCP CERTIFICATION?

HACCP – Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points – is a set of principles used to establish a food safety management system. HACCP certification is issued by an independent third-party certification body such as KMR Vietnam.

WHY DO BUSINESSES NEED HACCP CERTIFICATION?

The HACCP certificate can replace the Certificate of Food Safety and Hygiene Eligibility issued by the competent state authority, and it demonstrates the organization’s commitment to ensuring food safety for consumers.

OVERVIEW OF HACCP CERTIFICATION SERVICES

WHAT IS HACCP?

HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) is a set of principles used to establish a food safety management system. HACCP is mandated by many countries worldwide for application in food production and processing activities.

HACCP is a tool used to assess hazards and establish control systems, with a primary focus on prevention rather than finished product inspection.

HACCP is applied throughout the entire food chain, from primary production to final consumption, and its application must be based on scientific evidence regarding hazards to human health. In addition to enhancing food safety, the implementation of HACCP provides significant benefits by promoting international trade through increased confidence in food safety.

HACCP is a fundamental tool in planning for safe food production when applying ISO 22000 within organizations involved in the food chain. The implementation of HACCP is compatible with quality management systems such as the ISO 9000 series and is the selected system for managing food safety within these frameworks.

With a HACCP certificate, businesses and organizations demonstrate their commitment to ensuring food safety for consumers.

CHARACTERISTICS OF HACCP:

• Systematic approach: HACCP reviews and controls all stages of food production, processing, and supply operations. It helps identify hazards, establish and implement control measures, and verify system effectiveness to ensure that food safety is consistently maintained.
• Scientific basis: Food safety hazards and their control measures are identified based on scientific evidence.
• Specificity: Depending on the characteristics of each type of food, HACCP helps identify common hazards associated with that product and establish appropriate control measures.
• Preventive approach: HACCP focuses on prevention rather than inspection of finished products.
• Ongoing suitability: When there are changes in facilities, technology, personnel, or food safety information, the system is reviewed and adjusted to remain appropriate and effective.

HACCP certification issued by KMR Vietnam

APPLICABLE SUBJECTS OF THE HACCP STANDARD & HACCP CERTIFICATION

• Enterprises engaged in food production and trading, seafood, animal feed, etc.
• Food production and processing facilities, industrial catering facilities
• Food service establishments, restaurants, hotels, and other food-related activities

BENEFITS OF OBTAINING A HACCP CERTIFICATE

• Enhances product quality reputation, increases competitiveness, and expands market share, especially for exported food products. At the same time, it builds trust with consumers and business partners.
• Permitted to print conformity with the HACCP Food Safety Management System on product labels.
• Allowed to use the HACCP conformity mark or certificate in advertising, marketing, and product promotion activities.
• Serves as a condition for enterprises to carry out self-declaration of food safety and hygiene quality standards.
• Acts as a basis for food safety inspection authorities to consider reduced inspection frequency for products.
• Provides a foundation to facilitate negotiations and signing of domestic and export commercial contracts.
• Serves as a basis for priority investment and training policies from the government as well as foreign partners.

Why do businesses need HACCP certification?

HACCP CERTIFICATION CONTENT

The HACCP system consists of the following 7 principles:

• Principle 1: Conduct a hazard analysis
• Principle 2: Determine the Critical Control Points (CCPs)
• Principle 3: Establish critical limits
• Principle 4: Establish a monitoring system to control CCPs
• Principle 5: Establish corrective actions to be taken when monitoring indicates that a particular CCP is not under control
• Principle 6: Establish verification procedures to confirm that the HACCP system is working effectively
• Principle 7: Establish documentation and record-keeping procedures for all principles and their application

SOME IMAGES OF HACCP CERTIFICATION AUDITS AT ENTERPRISES

Certification audit of the HACCP  (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points)

HACCP certification audit at Sunjin Vina Company and Olam Vietnam Company

TO OBTAIN HACCP CERTIFICATION, THE 12 STEPS OF HACCP IMPLEMENTATION MUST BE APPLIED:

WHICH ORGANIZATIONS CAN APPLY FOR HACCP CERTIFICATION?

The Food Safety Management System: Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Points is applicable for certification to Organizations/Enterprises engaged in production/trading/services in the food sector.

From organizations/businesses with 1 employee to those with thousands or tens of thousands of employees; from individual business households/family businesses to private or state-owned companies, limited liability companies or joint-stock companies … operating in production/trading/services in the food sector — all are eligible to apply for HACCP certification.

WHICH AUTHORITY ISSUES THE HACCP CERTIFICATE? WHAT IS ITS VALIDITY?

In Vietnam, the HACCP certificate is issued by certification bodies that are registered to conduct certification activities. The certificate issued by KMR Vietnam is normally valid for 3 years from the date of issuance. After the HACCP certificate expires, the organization must undergo a Recertification audit to be issued a new certificate for the next 3-year period.

AFTER BEING GRANTED HACCP CERTIFICATION, IS ANNUAL SURVEILLANCE AUDIT MANDATORY?

Yes. Annually, the organization is required to conduct periodic surveillance audits (once every 12 months) in accordance with the requirements of the certification body.

If the organization fails to conduct the annual surveillance audit when it is due, the HACCP certificate will be suspended or withdrawn in accordance with regulations.

CAN HACCP OR ISO 22000 CERTIFICATION REPLACE THE CERTIFICATE OF FOOD SAFETY AND HYGIENE ELIGIBILITY?

Answer: Yes. Specifically, according to Article 12 of Decree 15/2018/ND-CP dated February 2, 2018, guiding the implementation of several articles of the 2010 Law on Food Safety, establishments not subject to the issuance of a Certificate of Food Safety Eligibility include those that have been granted one of the following valid certificates: Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), ISO 22000 Food Safety Management System, Food Safety System Certification (FSSC 22000), or equivalent.

WHY CHOOSE KMR VIETNAM ISO CERTIFICATION BODY?

1. By choosing ISO certification body KMR, your ISO certificate will be internationally recognized (IAF, KAB). KMR certificates are recognized worldwide through the mutual recognition agreement, the International Accreditation Forum Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MLA). To ensure that your certification is appropriately recognized both internationally and nationally, the certification activities of ISO certification body KMR Vietnam have been licensed by the Directorate for Standards, Metrology and Quality under the Ministry of Science and Technology in accordance with Decree No. 107/2016/ND-CP, with Certificate No.: 3535/TĐC-HCHQ.

Certification Operation License issued by the Directorate for Standards, Metrology and Quality

2. The certification auditors of KMR are leading experts with extensive experience and in-depth understanding of your industry. Their constructive working approach and conformity-based audit perspective in accordance with standards help give you peace of mind.

3. Our office staff and coordinators always provide the most dedicated support to ensure that registration and certification audit activities are carried out conveniently and according to plan.

4. Our ISO certification costs are competitive, clear, and transparent.

5. Our experience, technical knowledge, and service standards have enabled us to provide certification services to many client organizations/enterprises across various sectors in numerous countries worldwide. Our certification experts are always ready to support your organization — this is also the mission of ISO certification body KMR. KMR is committed to accompanying enterprises not only during the certification process but also after certification.