HACCP Certification — HACCP Certification

Food Safety Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points.

Who this standard is for

Food businesses that need a recognised food safety system, often as a first step before ISO 22000 or as a municipality requirement for food handling premises.

Sectors that most often certify

Restaurants and catering
Food retail
Central kitchens
Food processing
Cold storage

What the standard requires

Prerequisite programmes covering hygiene, pest control, cleaning and maintenance
Hazard analysis for each process step
Critical control points with defined critical limits
Monitoring procedures and corrective actions when limits are exceeded
Verification and record-keeping that demonstrates ongoing control

Evidence auditors typically ask for

HACCP plan with flow diagrams verified against the actual process
Temperature logs across receiving, storage, cooking and holding
Cleaning schedules and verification records
Staff health and hygiene training records
Supplier approval records

Common pitfall: Flow diagrams that were never walked through on site, so they omit a step where a real hazard is introduced.

How certification works

Choose the standard and scope
The scope statement decides what the certificate actually covers, so it is worth getting right before anything else. It names the activities, and the sites, that are being certified.
Submit your documentation
Your management system documentation is reviewed against the standard. Gaps are identified at this point rather than during the audit, which is where most delays otherwise occur.
Stage 1 audit
A readiness review. The auditor confirms that the system is documented, that internal audits and management review have taken place, and that you are ready to be assessed against practice.
Stage 2 audit
The implementation audit. The auditor tests whether the system described is the system being operated, by examining records and interviewing the people who do the work.
Certification and surveillance
Once any findings are closed, the certificate is issued and listed for verification. Certificates run on a three-year cycle with annual surveillance audits to keep them valid.

Pricing

Annual certification	Three-year term
$1,300 / AED 4,774 per year	$3,510 total for three years

Published prices, billed as a subscription. Certifying more than one standard together reduces the combined price. Final scope may affect the price where multiple sites or high headcount are involved.

Accreditation and verification

What gives a certificate its value is the body standing behind it. A certificate issued by a body accredited by an International Accreditation Forum member is listed on the IAF CertSearch global registry, where any client or procurement team can confirm it in seconds. Always ask which accreditation body sits behind a certificate, not just who issued it.

Frequently asked questions

How long does HACCP certification take?

It depends on how ready your management system is and on the scope being certified. Once documentation is complete and reviewed, the two audit stages usually move quickly — gaps found at Stage 1 are the most common cause of delay.

Is HACCP certification internationally recognised?

A certificate issued by a body accredited by an International Accreditation Forum member is internationally recognised, and anyone can confirm it on the IAF CertSearch global registry.

How long does the certificate stay valid?

Certificates run on a three-year cycle, subject to passing an annual surveillance audit. If surveillance is not carried out, the certificate can be suspended or withdrawn before the cycle ends.

Do we need a consultant?

Not necessarily. Many organisations prepare their haccp certification system in-house, particularly where processes are already documented. A consultant helps when time is short or the scope is complex, but is not a requirement for certification.