THIÊN DI PROVIDES HACCP CERTIFICATION CONSULTING SERVICES IN VIETNAM

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1. What is HACCP?

HACCP stands for Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point. It is a systematic preventive approach to food safety that identifies, evaluates, and controls hazards that could occur in the production, storage, and distribution of food.

HACCP was developed by the Codex Alimentarius Commission, which is a joint FAO/WHO food standards program.

In Vietnam, the HACCP standard is issued as TCVN 5603:1998 (this standard is completely equivalent to CAC/RCP 1 – 1969 of CODEX). In the Asia region, there is also the HACCP Code:2003 standard of Australia.

HACCP is a quality management system based on the analysis of hazards and critical control points. It is an analytical tool that ensures food safety and quality. HACCP involves systematic assessments of all relevant steps in the food processing chain and identifies those that are critical to food safety and quality.

HACCP analysis identifies Critical Control Points (CCPs) along with preventive measures, monitoring and surveillance procedures, and corrective actions for each CCP. To maintain continuous product safety and quality, the analysis results are documented. The HACCP study method must be regularly updated depending on changes in the processing process.

HACCP is a scientifically sound and systematic system. It can easily adapt to changes such as advances in equipment design, processing procedures, or technical improvements. The HACCP system can be independent of other quality management systems.

HACCP implementation is compatible with existing quality management systems and is a system of choice for food safety and quality management among many different quality management systems.

2. What is HACCP Certification?

HACCP certification is the process of verifying that an organization or business has implemented a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) system that meets the requirements and principles set by HACCP. After a review of the assessment documentation, if the results are found to be satisfactory, the organization or business will be granted HACCP certification (also known as a HACCP certificate).

HACCP certification and assessment are carried out by an authorized conformity assessment organization.

3. Issuing Authority for HACCP Certification:

After establishing and implementing a HACCP quality management system, the certification organization will conduct an on-site assessment of the company's HACCP implementation. If the results are satisfactory, the certification organization will issue a HACCP certificate to the company.

The certification organization must be designated by the Directorate for Standards, Metrology and Quality (STAMEQ) of the Ministry of Science and Technology (MST) in the field of certification. They must also be independent from the consulting organization that assisted with the implementation of the HACCP standard. Currently, there are many certification organizations in Vietnam that businesses can choose from, including foreign certification organizations registered to operate in Vietnam.

4. Benefits of Applying HACCP

Demonstrates commitment to regulatory requirements.
Increases customer, retailer, and government confidence in product quality.
Enhances brand reputation and supports assessments by authorities or stakeholders.

4.1. Market Reputation:

Improves business reputation and image with customers through third-party certification of HACCP compliance.
Boosts competitive advantage by increasing consumer trust in products.
Promotes sustainable development by meeting food safety requirements of regulators and society.
Improves export opportunities and entry into international markets that require certification as a mandatory condition.
Reduces inspection requirements by government agencies.

4.2. Economic Benefits:

Minimizes costs associated with product recalls and consumer compensation.
Reduces product reprocessing and disposal costs through early detection of food safety hazards.
Enhances product competitiveness.

4.3. Risk Management Benefits:

Effectively prevents risks and minimizes losses caused by risks.
Lowers insurance costs.
Facilitates insurance claims and compensation processes.
Provides a foundation for certification, recognition, and acceptance.

5. Who Needs to Apply for HACCP?

HACCP certification is required for the following entities:

Businesses involved in the production, trading, and distribution of food, animal feed, and seafood.
Industrial food and beverage manufacturing and processing facilities, including export processing zones.
Food service establishments, restaurants, hotels, and other organizations involved in the food sector.

Therefore, HACCP certification has a relatively broad scope of application. It manages the quality of food at all stages, from raw materials and processing to production and consumption.

6. Conditions for Obtaining HACCP Certification

To be granted HACCP certification, an enterprise must meet the following conditions:

Condition 1: Establish and Implement HACCP Standards

Each enterprise's food safety management system is different due to significant differences in conditions such as field, operation method, implementation process, production scale, and business.

Therefore, each enterprise will build and apply HACCP standards that are most suitable for its context to achieve high efficiency. Some specific aspects that businesses need to focus on include:

Commitment from the enterprise's leadership to build and apply HACCP standards.
Conduct a detailed HACCP assessment and plan.
Establish a HACCP system based on the enterprise's conditions.
Correctly and fully apply the 7 principles in the food safety management system.
Accurately evaluate the implementation results.
Develop measures to improve the system and effectively overcome weaknesses.

Condition 2: Register for HACCP Certification

After establishing and applying HACCP standards, the enterprise needs to register for certification at a reputable organization. Thien Di is a consulting firm specializing in advising on which organization to apply for HACCP certification to suit the enterprise's purpose: export, advertising, productivity improvement, etc.

At that time, the enterprise's food safety management system will be evaluated in detail based on the premise of HACCP standards. If all requirements are met, the certificate will be granted. Otherwise, effective measures must be taken within the specified time to ensure the certification process continues.

Condition 3: Maintain the System and Validity of the Certificate

After obtaining HACCP certification, the enterprise must maintain and improve the system to ensure the effectiveness of the certificate and bring high benefits to the enterprise in the production and business process, control hazards, and prevent any negative impact on goods and products.

7. HACCP Certification Consulting Services at Thien Di

Food safety is a major concern in Vietnam, with widespread contamination posing significant health risks for consumers. As a result, food businesses have increasingly adopted the HACCP standard to enhance their brand reputation and gain a competitive edge.

HACCP is a globally recognized food safety management system that is essential for businesses in Vietnam.

If you are looking for a reliable and experienced HACCP consulting partner, please contact Thien Di today. We will be happy to discuss your specific needs and requirements and provide you with a customized proposal.

8. HACCP Certification Process and Procedures by Thien Di

After successfully establishing a HACCP system, food manufacturing enterprises need to obtain certification from authorized agencies. The HACCP certification body is an independent organization from the HACCP consulting agency. In some countries, the certification body is the state management agency for food safety, such as in Korea. However, in other countries, the HACCP certification body is a technical service organization. Certification bodies in different countries vary, but the HACCP Certification Procedure steps must follow the following steps:

Step 1: Initial Contact

The initial contact is for the exchange of information between the certification consulting unit and the Client. The main information to be agreed upon includes:

Basic requirements for certification
Certification procedure steps
Applicable standards
Estimated costs
Work plan

Step 2: Preparation for Certification Audit (Preliminary Assessment)

The enterprise sends to the certification body: HACCP certification application, HACCP plans, documents, and records related to HACCP implementation.
The certification body sends experts to analyze and assess the actual status of the HACCP documentation to identify weaknesses in the documentation and the implementation of the HACCP system in the field. After the preliminary inspection and assessment, the experts must identify the problems with the documentation and the actual implementation of HACCP that need to be corrected for timely repair by the enterprise. This preliminary assessment step is very beneficial for the enterprise because it acts as a template for the formal assessment step.

Step 3: Review of HACCP Documents

These documents have been revised after the preliminary assessment (step 2), including:

HACCP plan, HACCP related documents (HACCP manual)
Procedures and work instructions
Product description
Documents on monitoring, inspection, testing, repair...
HACCP audit questionnaire

Step 4: Formal Document Assessment

The HACCP documentation (HACCP manual) will be assessed for the suitability of the HACCP system with the identified regulations and standards, specifically:
Review for compliance with hygiene requirements
Verification and validation of CCPs
Other related documents and records
After reviewing and formally assessing the documents and records, the assessment expert must prepare an assessment report on the documentation and send a copy to the enterprise.
The enterprise receiving the assessment report on the documentation is responsible for reviewing and correcting it.

Step 5: Formal Assessment. On-site Inspection and Audit

The assessment team will visit the site for inspection and audit, review the conformity of the documentation with the actual situation, and recommend corrective actions for non-conformities.
The effectiveness of the HACCP system will be determined during the on-site certification audit.
The role of the enterprise during the inspection is to present the actual application of the HACCP program procedures.
At the end of the on-site inspection, the assessment team will hold a closing meeting, and the enterprise will have the opportunity to comment on the findings of the inspection.

Step 6: Issuance of HACCP Certificate

The establishment will be granted HACCP certification if all documentation is in compliance with the actual situation and all non-conformities have been adequately addressed and confirmed by the assessment team leader.

The file for consideration of HACCP certification includes:

Request (registration) letter
HACCP certification contract
Pre-audit report
Report on HACCP documentation review
Inspection plan
Deviation report
Inspection report
HACCP audit questionnaire (audited on-site)
List of on-site documents
Final inspection report
The certification body will issue the HACCP certificate to the client.

9. Validity of HACCP Certificate

The validity period is the time span from the date of issuance to the expiration date specified by law. The validity of a HACCP certificate is 03 years from the date of issuance.

However, during this period, the certification organization will still conduct annual periodic surveillance to ensure that the enterprise maintains the system, ensuring the value of the HACCP certificate. Conversely, if the enterprise fails the inspection and does not have corrective measures, the certificate will be revoked or invalidated.

10. Cost and Time for Issuing HACCP Certificate

10.1. Time for Issuing HACCP Certificate

TIME TO BUILD AND APPLY HACCP STANDARD

Each enterprise will build and apply the HACCP standard suitable for its own unit. The time required can vary depending on the progress of each enterprise. In some cases, this time may be longer than expected.

TIME TO ISSUE HACCP CERTIFICATE AT THE CERTIFICATION BODY

Once all information from the enterprise has been received, the food safety management system will be assessed according to HACCP standards.

If the enterprise meets all requirements, the certification body will issue the certificate within a week. Otherwise, the enterprise must improve its weaknesses to be re-evaluated and issued a certificate.

10.2. Cost of Issuing HACCP Certificate

HACCP certification cost: The certification assessment cost depends on the scale and field of each enterprise and the organization that the Customer wants to apply for certification.
HACCP application and construction guidance cost: This cost also depends on the specific characteristics of each enterprise, industry, and application ability. Please contact Thien Di Company to be consulted for the most effective solution to obtain HACCP certification at the most economical cost.

11. HACCP for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)

HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) is a quality management system based on the analysis of hazards and critical control points. It is a widely applied standard with seven fundamental principles.

- Hazard Analysis and Preventive Measures:

Prepare a process flow diagram of the production process, including all steps involved.
Identify hazards by creating a list of potential dangers.
Specify preventive measures for each hazard.

- Identify CCPs in the process by analyzing hazards using a decision tree.

- Set critical limits and acceptable deviations to ensure CCPs are under control.

-Establish a monitoring system to ensure control of CCPs through testing and measurement procedures.

- Establish Corrective Action: Implement corrective actions when monitoring indicates that a CCP is out of control.

-Establish a Verification System:Conduct verification procedures to confirm that the HACCP system is effective.

- Establish documentation and record keeping:Document all procedures and related records.

The requirements, principles, and implementation process of HACCP certification are relatively simple and easy to follow, yet still ensure optimal control by focusing on key points. Therefore, the standard is very suitable for small and medium enterprises.

Moreover, HACCP helps establish a basic process that helps small businesses become familiar with quality management standards. This makes it easy for them to gradually develop towards other high-level standards in the future, such as ISO 22000, FSSC, BRC, GMP, etc.

12. Reasons Why You Should Choose Thiên Di for HACCP Certification

Commitment to Quality and Service at Thiên Di

Thiên Di is proud to be a consulting firm for HACCP certification with a team of professional experts and staff, a precise and systematic consulting and customer care process.

Prestige - Professionalism - Efficiency. These are the factors that Thiên Di always emphasizes in each of its services when providing to customers.

Thiên Di always strives to bring Customers a great and happy experience when working with Thiên Di Company.

Not simply helping businesses achieve certification, at Thiên Di, what we really care about is the value of benefits and the effectiveness that businesses receive afterwards.

Choosing Thiên Di, businesses can be completely assured of the quality of our services, because:

Diverse and flexible consulting methods, integrating many services at the same time, ensuring suitability for all types, sizes, needs and purposes of businesses.
Reasonable, competitive, clear and transparent costs, ensuring suitability for the scale and type of production and business of the enterprise.
Many experts with high qualifications, rich experience, working in many different fields.
Professional working style, accurate, specific and easy-to-understand consulting.
Clear process, ensuring on-time delivery, focusing on long-term effectiveness.
Reports are always provided fully, accurately and timely so that businesses can track accurately and build and implement the most effective management system.
Ensure that businesses can easily apply and achieve HACCP certification in the fastest time.
Be ready to receive all feedback from customers, enthusiastically support and answer questions when needed.
Free of charge for preparing business registration dossiers, changing business licenses
Support and accompany Customers when inspected by specialized functional agencies