HACCP Certification for Food Businesses That Need Stronger Food Safety Controls and Market Access
If you need HACCP certification, you need more than a definition of standard. You need a clear path to identify hazards, control critical points, address gaps, and show customers or regulators that your food safety system is working.
QIMA supports food businesses seeking HACCP certification by helping evaluate food production processes, identify inconsistencies, and guide the certification journey through HACCP Codex or HACCP Plus options.
What are the Benefits of HACCP Certification?
HACCP certification helps you build a documented food safety management approach around hazard analysis, control measures, monitoring, corrective actions, recordkeeping, and verification.
For many businesses, that supports inspection and audit readiness, buyer confidence, and access to markets where HACCP-based controls are expected or required. It can also help you improve process consistency and show a stronger commitment to food safety.
What are the HACCP Certification Requirements?
HACCP certification requirements center on identifying hazards, control critical points, setting limits, monitoring performance, taking corrective action, keeping records, and verifying that the system works.
The seven principles apply across food production, packaging, distribution, retail, and food service operations.
Conduct a Hazard Analysis – Know the biological, chemical or physical risks likely to occur in your processes which will cause illness or injury if not controlled.
Determine the Critical Control Points (CCP) – Identify the point/step/procedure at where a control can prevent, eliminate, or reduce to acceptable levels a food safety hazard.
Establish Critical Limits – Define the maximum or minimum value to which a parameter (e.g., temperature, time, physical dimensions, presence of pathogens) must be controlled to prevent, eliminate, or reduce the food safety hazard.
Establish Monitoring Procedures – Establish planned observations or measurements to determine and record whether a hazard is under control at a CCP.
Establish Corrective Actions – For each CCP where a CL is not met, identify the actions to be taken (eliminating the cause, ensuring future control, disposing of the product).
Establish Record Keeping Procedures – Ensure that all measurements taken at a CCP and any corrective actions are documented and records are retained for verification.
Establish Verification Procedures – Validate that controls are sufficient to manage likely hazards, ensure that the HACCP system is working, and reassess the plan periodically.
Applying these principles helps you build a food safety system that supports HACCP certification and demonstrates your commitment to food safety.
Which HACCP Certification Options Does QIMA Offer?
QIMA offers two HACCP certification options to match different business needs: HACCP Codex and HACCP Plus.
HACCP Codex
HACCP Codex is based on Codex Alimentarius 2020 and supports food manufacturers working toward compliance through core food safety practices such as HACCP or risk management, a safe processing environment, traceability, trained personnel, a risk assessment program, and management of nonconformities.
HACCP Plus
HACCP Plus is based on Codex Alimentarius 2020 and GFSI 2020. It adds broader food safety requirements such as food defense, plant security, and complaint management. QIMA HACCP Mark available.
Need more information?
By contacting QIMA you agree to our privacy policy and terms and conditions.
Who Needs HACCP Certification?
HACCP certification can be relevant for food businesses that need a structured approach to food safety and want to meet customer, buyer, or market requirements. This includes:
Food manufacturers
Food packaging businesses
Distribution and storage operations
Retail food operations
Food service businesses
Producers supplying markets where HACCP-based controls are expected
How does HACCP Certification Work?
The exact certification path depends on your operations and current level of readiness, but the process generally includes these stages:
Define the scope of certification for your site, products, and operations
Review your current food safety processes and HACCP controls
Identify gaps, inconsistencies, or missing documentation
Implement corrective actions and strengthen your food safety system
Complete the certification assessment for the selected HACCP option
What Can HACCP Certification Help You Achieve?
Add value to your products, access new markets, and increase business opportunities by complying with globally recognized food safety standards.
Reduce your exposure to risks impacting brand reputation associated with food safety failures leading to illness or injury.
Improve food safety reliability by correcting identified non-conformities.
Continuously improve the efficiency of your production processes and management systems while ensuring food safety.
HACCP Certification can complement GFSI-benchmarked Standards as part of a broader food safety approach.
Why Choose QIMA for HACCP Certification?
Work with one partner across food safety, organic, and sustainability certification needs
Get responsive support throughout your certification journey
Reduce audit fatigue with combined audits where applicable
Use QIMA Click & Pay for instant quotes and secure online payments
HACCP FAQs
What is HACCP certification
HACCP certification shows that your food safety system is built around hazard analysis and critical control measures designed to prevent, eliminate, or reduce food safety hazards.
What are HACCP certification requirements?
HACCP certification requirements focus on the seven HACCP principles: hazard analysis, critical control points, critical limits, monitoring, corrective actions, recordkeeping, and verification.
Who needs HACCP certification?
Food manufacturers and other businesses involved in packaging, distribution, retail, or food service may need HACCP certification to support food safety controls or access certain markets.
What is the difference between HACCP CODEX and HACCP Plus?
HACCP Codex is based on Codex Alimentarius 2020. HACCP Plus is based on Coded Alimentarius 2020 and GFSI 2020 and includes additional requirements such as food defense, plant security, and complaint management.
Can HACCP certification help with market access?
Yes. HACCP requirements are included in food safety regulations in multiple markets, and businesses outside those areas may also need HACCP certification to access them.
Can QIMA support businesses outside the US, Canada, Mexico, the UK, and the EU?
Yes. Wherever you are located, QIMA can help evaluate your food production processes, address inconsistencies, and support your path toward HACCP certification.
