Food businesses

The difference between registration and approval

Registration applies to most types of food businesses such as restaurants, cafes, school kitchens, shops, wholesale businesses, bakeries and confectionery manufacturing. In Sweden, drinking water plants and snus production are also covered by the requirement for registration. Registration means that the business may start without trial two weeks after the notification has been submitted. The authority then comes out and checks after the business has started. For more information about registration, such as what requirements are set, how to register and to which authority, see below.

Approval is granted for certain types of food production. The authority makes an assessment of whether the facility meets the requirements of the law before the operation can start. There are two types of food businesses that require approval:

• Production of food from animals
  If you make, prepare or handle food that comes from animals, for example meat or dairy products, your premises may need to be approved by the Swedish Food Agency before you can undertake the activity. This applies only to companies that sell the goods to food companies. Check the Swedish Food agency for further information on approval, link below. 
  
  
• Production of sprouts
  Establishments producing sprouts requires approval. Check with the county administrative board for more information.

Mobile businesses that are already registered

Mobile businesses, i.e. food businesses that move between different locations, need only be registered in the municipality or Member State where the business is mainly conducted. If your business is registered as a mobile food facility in the EU, you may conduct your business according to the registration throughout Sweden. You do not need to make a new application in Sweden or in the respective municipality you are going to. You must, however, have your registration certificate from the home municipality or home country so that you can show it at inspection.

Requirements imposed on food businesses

You as an entrepreneur must ensure that you comply with the requirements of your business in food law.

• Facilities should be adapted to the handling you plan to have. This means that your establishment must be appropriately designed, furnished and equipped for your business, and operated in such a way that the purpose of the food legislations is achieved.
• You must have sufficient knowledge about food hygiene and the rules that apply to, for example, traceability and food information. 
• You must work to ensure that the food is safe and that your customers are not misled. You therefore need to identify the dangers and risks that may exist in your business and monitor them on an ongoing basis.
• You must ensure that the water you use in the business comes from a registered drinking water plant. If you take water from your own well, you must report the well as drinking water system separately.

It is always you as a food business operator that is responsible for compliance with applicable food legislation. More information about the requirements can be found in the link below.

Food control

Your business will be controlled by the authority after it has started. The checks can be both pre-registered and un-registered. Operations that handle high-risk foods are controlled most. This means, for example, that a company that handles unpackaged raw meat is placed in a risk class that means more control than a company that only handles packaged products. The volume of the business and whether you handle food intended for sensitive groups also affects how much control you get. You will be charged a fee for food control that depends on the risk and size of the business according to a risk classification model developed by the Swedish Food Agency.