Restaurant Services
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) is the competent authority with overall responsibility for the enforcement of food legislation in Ireland. FSAI’s responsibility for enforcement of food legislation is managed through contractual arrangements (service contracts) between the FSAI and its official agencies involved in the enforcement of food legislation. FSAI’s official agencies include:
• Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food (DAFF)
• Local authorities (27 County Councils and four City Councils)
• Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA)
• National Standards Authority of Ireland
• Health Service Executive (HSE)
Restaurants are inspected on behalf of FSAI by the Environmental Health Service of the Health Service Executive (HSE).
Procedures for Restaurant Services Providers in Ireland
Restaurant operators have to comply with food safety legislation. The main legislation is Regulation (EC) No. 852/2004 on the hygiene of foodstuffs which is given additional effect in Ireland by the European Communities (Hygiene of Foodstuffs) Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 369 of 2006). This legislation sets out requirements on hygiene, including temperature control, HACCP, equipment, transport, waste, personal hygiene and training. Restaurant operators must also comply with the general food law - Regulation 178/2002/EC- according to which they must have a traceability system in place.
Registration or Approval
Restaurant operators have to notify the HSE (register) either in the case of opening a new business or taking over an existing business. In certain cases, where the restaurant supplies other businesses with foods of animal origin, a formal approval to operate, rather than a simple registration is required from the HSE.
Further information
If you are a restaurant services provider looking to provide services in Ireland, you may obtain more information in the links below.
Health Service Executive
Further information on opening or operating a restaurant including contact details for local offices of the Environmental Health Officers s available from the HSE at
Food Safety Authority of Ireland
Information on starting a food business is also available below from the FSAI
Queries to the FSAI can be made via the following link FSAI Contact details
Information on other formalities and procedures relevant for restaurant services providers in Ireland can be found in the drop down menu‘ setting up a café/restaurant’ on the link ‘how do I’ on the BASIS (business access to State services) website below.
