Food Services
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) was established under the Food Safety Authority of Ireland Act, 1998 (No 28 of 1998). The Act was enacted in July 1998 and came into effect on 01 January 1999. The FSAI is the competent authority with overall responsibility for the enforcement of food legislation in Ireland. Please find link to Food Safety Authority of Ireland website below.
The principal function of the FSAI is to take all reasonable steps to ensure that food produced, distributed or marketed in the State meets the highest standards of food safety and hygiene reasonably available and to ensure that food complies with legal requirements, or where appropriate with recognised codes of good practice.
The responsibility for enforcement of food legislation is managed through contractual arrangements (service contracts) between the FSAI and the competent authorities (official agencies) involved in the enforcement of food legislation (official agencies are listed in the second schedule of the FSAI Act, 1998), i.e.
- Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food (DAFF)
- Health Service Executive (HSE)
- Local authorities (27 County Councils and four City Councils) Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA)
- Marine Institute
- National Consumer Agency
- National Standards Authority of Ireland.
Procedures for Food Services Providers in Ireland
EC legislation requires that all food business operators must notify the appropriate competent authority, of each establishment in Ireland under its control that carries out any of the stages of production, processing and distribution of food, with a view to the registration of each such establishment.
Regulation (EC) No. 852/2004 of 29 April 2004 on the hygiene of foodstuffs which is transposed via the European Communities (Hygiene of Foodstuffs) (S.I. No. 369 of 2006) requires that all food businesses must register their food business operation with the competent authority (generally the HSE).
Regulation (EC) No. 853/2004 of 29 April 2004 on specific hygiene rules for food of animal origin which is transposed via European Communities (Food and Feed Hygiene) Regulations 2005 ( S.I. No. 910 of 2005 ) requires that certain food businesses must be approved by the competent authority (can be with DAFF; the HSE; a Local Authority or the SPFA ).
The table below lists the activities which the FSAI are directly involved in with regard to certification, permits and authorisations. These apply to food business operators in Ireland, or in the case of foods for particular nutritional uses, food supplements if a food business wishes to place such a product on the Irish market for the first time .
Activity |
FSAI role |
Certificates for free sale |
The FSAI provides, on request, certificates of free sale for exported foods of non-animal origin based on analysis of the food, a positive inspection of the food business by the relevant Competent Authority (Official Agency) and where necessary an examination of the labelling. This activity is carried out in accordance with a standard operating procedure which is part of the FSAI Quality Management System (QMS). |
Permits for food irradiation facilities |
In order to operate a food irradiation facility the operator requires a licence from the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland and a permit from the FSAI. These activities are carried out in accordance with the requirements of S.I. No. 297 of 2000 which gives effect to Directive 1999/2/EC. |
Assessment of novel food applications |
This activity is carried out in line with the requirements of Regulation (EC) No. 258/1997and in accordance with a standard operating procedure which is part of the FSAI QMS. |
Assessment of genetically modified food applications |
This activity is carried out in accordance with the requirements in Regulation (EC) No. 1829/2003 and Regulation (EC) No. 1830/2003. |
Assessment of foods for particular nutritional uses (PARNUTs) |
This activity is carried out in accordance with the requirements of S.I. No. 579 of 2006 which gives effect to Council Directive 89/398/EEC, as amended. Notification forms are available on the FSAI website and can be emailed back to the FSAI. http://www.fsai.ie/legislation/notification_forms/parnuts.html |
Assessment of food supplements |
Food supplements are assessed in line with the requirements of S.I. No. 539 of 2003 which give effect to Directive 2002/46/EC. This activity is carried out in accordance with a standard operating procedure which is part of the FSAI QMS. Notification forms are available on the FSAI website and can be emailed back to the FSAI. http://www.fsai.ie/legislation/notification_forms/food_supplements.html |
Assessment of Dietary Foods for Special Medical Purposes (Medical Foods) |
Dietary Foods for Special Medical Purposes are assessed in line with the requirements of S.I. No. 64 of 2001, which gives effect to Directive 89/398/EEC56, Directive 1999/21/EC, and Directive 2001/15/EC. This activity is carried out in accordance with a standard operating procedure which is part of the FSAI QMS. Notification forms are available on the FSAI website and can be emailed back to the FSAI. |
Authorisation of Food Additives |
Provisional national authorisation is granted in line with the requirements in S.I. 437 of 2000 (as amended) and S.I 58 of 2004 (as amended) which give effect to Article 5 of Directive 89/107/EC, as amended. This activity is carried out in accordance with a standard operating procedure which is part of the FSAI QMS. |
Notification of substances for approval for use in materials and articles intended to come into contact with foodstuffs |
Notification to the European Food Safety Authority of substances for approval for use in materials and articles intended to come into contact with foodstuffs in accordance with the requirements of Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004. |
If you are a food services provider looking to provide services in Ireland, you may obtain more information in the section starting a food business of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland website, the section advice for those opening a new food business of the HSE website, and the section setting up a café/restaurant on the BASIS website in the links below.
Advice For Those Opening a New Food Business
Please find contact details for the Food Safety Authority in the link below.
