How to obtain HACCP+ certification
From application to certificate: the steps, the audit stages, how results are scored and how certification is maintained through unannounced inspections.
Executive summary
- Certification has two audit stages that must be completed within six months.
- Each requirement is scored +10 / +5 / 0 / −10; the overall result is graded A–D.
- The auditor recommends; Belevo Sp. z o.o. reviews every result and decides.
- The certificate is valid for up to three years, with unannounced inspections at least once a year.
What HACCP+ certification is
HACCP+ certification is the independent confirmation that an organisation meets the HACCP+ Standard for its declared scope. It is granted after a two-stage audit by an approved auditor and a review by the scheme owner, Belevo Sp. z o.o., and it is maintained through unannounced annual inspections.
Supervision and all activities related to the HACCP+ certification system are carried out exclusively by Belevo Sp. z o.o. Belevo assesses the activity of scheme participants against the criteria of the HACCP+ Standard and related documents such as additional modules and other standards.
Preparation: five steps
Legal requirements
Implement the food, feed and sector law that applies to you.
HACCP+ requirements
Implement chapters 3–6 and 8 of the standard.
Prerequisite programmes
GHP, GMP and sector-specific good practices.
Additional modules
Optional B1–B6 modules specific to your sector.
Certification
HACCP+ audit and, where chosen, additional systems.
Certification procedure
1. Application
Send an enquiry with your company data, sites, activities and the modules you are interested in. Use the contact form.
2. Scope qualification and offer
Belevo qualifies the basic scopes (A1–A4), sector and modules, estimates audit time and prepares the contract.
3. Audit plan (form FA002)
The lead auditor agrees the audit plan: sites, shifts, sampling for multi-site organisations, language, date and agenda. Before the audit the auditor signs the declaration of independence and confidentiality (FA003).
4. Stage I — readiness assessment
Assessment of preparation and review of documentation, evaluation of the organisation’s procedures and of its awareness of the new obligations, and selection of the sample for Stage II.
5. Stage II — on-site audit
Audit at the production or service locations against the checklist, with opening and closing meetings (attendance list FA001), interviews, observation and record review.
6. Report and corrective actions
Non-conformities are recorded with agreed corrective actions and deadlines in the audit report and checklist workbook.
7. Review and decision by Belevo
Audit results are always reviewed by Belevo Sp. z o.o.; the auditor’s recommendation may be changed as a result. The certificate is then issued and the organisation is entered in the public register.
Stage I and Stage II must be completed within six months of the start of the audit. Otherwise the audit process must be repeated. For recertification, not only procedures but also data from the previous period are audited.
How results are scored
Each requirement is assessed individually on a scale from +10 to −10:
| Score | Meaning |
|---|---|
| +10 | All aspects of the requirement are met in detail. |
| +5 | Minor non-conformities in fully meeting all aspects of the requirement. |
| 0 | Significant non-conformities in fully meeting all aspects of the requirement. |
| −10 | Non-conformities resulting in the requirement not being met. |
The final grade is the sum of the scores obtained for the individual areas assessed during the audit:
above 86 %
71–86 %
60–71 %
below 60 %
In the audit report workbook the result in % also determines follow-up: 100 % — no corrective actions required; 70–99 % — corrective and preventive actions are verified and their implementation confirmed; below 70 % or a knock-out (KO) finding — the report is sent to Belevo and an additional inspection is required.
Validity and unannounced inspections
The HACCP+ certificate is valid for a maximum of three years. Audits take place at least once a year and surveillance procedures are the same as for the certification audit. Inspections are unannounced: depending on the type of activity, the organisation is informed 48 or 72 hours before. It is not possible to decline an unannounced inspection. The next audit (recertification) must take place before the certificate expires.
The annual full-scope inspection follows the standard inspection plan and comprehensively checks compliance with current law, including Regulation (EC) No 852/2004, and other sector regulations and standards. Supervision of the correct use of the certificate is one of the core requirements of every inspection.
Governance and impartiality
Auditors sign a no-conflict-of-interest declaration before each audit, keep audit information confidential and cannot audit an organisation they advised in the previous two years. The risk assessment of each certified entity takes into account its credibility: where an entity has been listed in other certification systems (voluntary or legally required), the verified sample is increased. See Auditors and Complaints & appeals.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the certification process take?
Stage I and Stage II must be completed within six months of the start of the audit; otherwise the audit process has to be repeated. Typical timing depends on the readiness of the organisation and the number of sites.
Are all HACCP+ inspections unannounced?
Yes. HACCP+ is based on unannounced inspections throughout the three-year cycle. The organisation is informed 48 or 72 hours before the inspection, depending on the type of activity. An organisation cannot refuse an unannounced inspection.
What happens if non-conformities are found?
Each requirement is scored from +10 to −10. Non-conformities must be addressed with corrective actions agreed with the auditor and a deadline. A result below 70 % or a knock-out (KO) finding requires the report to be sent to Belevo and an additional inspection.
Who decides whether a certificate is issued?
The auditor makes a recommendation. The audit results are always reviewed by Belevo Sp. z o.o., and the recommendation may be changed as a result of that review.
Can we combine HACCP+ with ISO 22000, FSSC 22000, BRCGS or IFS?
Yes. Annex F of the standard sets out which chapters are covered by recognised certificates (ISO 9001, ISO 22000/FSSC 22000, ISCC) so that the auditor focuses on the remaining HACCP+ requirements and on integration.
Can multi-site organisations be certified?
Yes. The audit plan records whether sites run the same or different processes, and the audit can be based on a sample of sites. Group certification is also recorded in the audit report.