Certification sevices

Certification sevices 

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Certification sevices

DOF has the policy to issue health certificates only to fish processing plants registered and

approved by the Department. Health Certificates are issued to accompany exported

shipments which meet standards and requirements of DOF or importing countries. The

Certificates can be obtained from the National Center, Fish Inspection and Quality Control

Division and Songkhla Fish Inspection and Research Center.

DOF normally issues health certificates to approved processors based on the plant performance

and product compliance history. When a product is found to be compliant with importing

country regulation, a certificate is prepared by the certification unit, verified by the officer and

then submitted for the approval of a FIQD director. The director or a designated authorized

officer may sign the certificate.

At the time of a request for a health certificate for fish and fishery products exported to the

Russian Federation, the processors will provide valid proof, such as test result, BMD (for bivalve

mollusk product), MD (for aquaculture product), product label, etc. The FIQD officer reserves

 the right to refuse to issue a health certificate if any information given in the above-mentioned

documents is not authentic or is unverifiable.

To prevent falsified health certificate, there is a hologram sticker affixed on the back side of a

certificate close to the authorized signature. The hologram sticker is prepared using special

technique which is hardly imitated. Each sticker has a specific number which is traceable. Once

peeled, the sticker will fall apart or deform which makes it not reusable. The sticker has special

characters hidden read “Department of Fisheries” which will be revealed only when it is warmed

up by heat. If there is a suspicious practice regarding fraudulent health certificate, DOF should

be informed soonest for immediate check on the health certificate database. Measures are taken

on processor involved in such fraud if found guilty.

If a fake health certificate is found to have been issued by the processor, the processor will be

immediately suspended for export. DOF will pursue legal action against such processor. Once

found guilty by the court of justice, the processor will subject to appropriate legal charges and

withdrawn from DOF approval list.

 

Withdrawal or replacement of the certificate

Withdrawal or replacement of the certificate is under the decision of the supervision for health

certificate issuance.

In case of withdrawal of health certificate, which has already been processed by the importing

country authority, the authority or importer or processing establishment will informed that DOF

has issued a new certificate with a new date and reference number. There will be a statement in

the new certificate that “This new health certificate replaces and canceled the health certificate

reference number ……………., issued on …………….”

If a health certificate needs a replacement due to some errors in the certificate document but the

certificate has not reached the importing country authority or importer yet, a new health will be

issued using the same reference number. The old health certificate will be returned to the FIQD

before the new document is issued.