Cancellation of food product certification
The Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine adopted Law No. 451 “On Amendments to the List of Products Subject to Mandatory Certification in Ukraine and Recognition of Certain Orders of the State Committee of Ukraine for Standardization, Metrology and Certification as Invalid”, which abolished mandatory certification of food products in Ukraine! According to the law, from 09/20/2015, the registration of certificates for food products in the state certification system is canceled, and the issuance of sanitary and epidemiological conclusions (SEV) is also suspended.
What should manufacturers do without mandatory certification?
It would seem that in the absence of mandatory certification (and according to the order of the Ministry of Economy - the registration of voluntary certificates of food products in the System is also suspended) producers have no opportunity to prove to the consumer that the products are of high quality and safe. However, there are still requirements for the safety of food products:
- HACCP. According to the Law of Ukraine No. 1602 "On the Basic Principles and Requirements for the Safety and Quality of Food Products", all food market operators are obliged to apply HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points System). HACCP requirements are mandatory and are checked by inspectors of the State Service for the Protection and Safety of Food and Consumer Protection. If any non-compliance is detected, a significant fine may be imposed! It is worth noting that the HACCP certificate is not issued either on a mandatory or voluntary basis.
- Law of Ukraine "On Information for Consumers on Food Products". This Law establishes the legal and organizational principles for providing consumers with information about food products in order to ensure a high level of protection of citizens' health and meet social and economic interests. This Law does not require the issuance of certificates or declarations.
This means that now the food manufacturer must apply the appropriate labeling and comply with the HACCP requirements. In case the company wants to certify its food-related activities, there is the ISO 22000 standard, which is based on the principles laid down in HACCP, has more requirements, which provides even greater control, but at the same time provides more trust from consumers and counterparties.
Voluntary certification – yes!
At the same time, the cancellation of the registration of certificates of conformity in the state certification system does not mean that the manufacturer cannot conduct a conformity assessment of its products and obtain a certificate. Certification, as a rule, takes place according to the same procedures as in the UkrSEPRO System, can be carried out in an accredited certification body, and differs only in the sign that is marked on the packaging and in the fact that the certificate number is registered in the relevant register of the voluntary certification system.
It should be noted that the cancellation of UkrSEPRO has a positive effect for manufacturers! Since now not all manufacturers will have product certificates, but only those who really want to confirm the quality and safety of their products. A voluntary certificate is able to demonstrate compliance with the requirements of standards (including European ones), which undoubtedly gives a competitive advantage over those who do not have such a certificate.
Obtain a voluntary certificate for food products Get ISO 22000 GET HACCP