Food processing, catering and ready meals

• Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 — food hygiene
• Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 for products of animal origin
• Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 — food information
• Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 — general food law

Who has to appoint one

Anyone producing or placing processed food on the EU market. Establishments handling products of animal origin require approval rather than mere registration, and imports must come from establishments on the Commission's approved list.

Thresholds and exemptions

Registration applies to all food businesses. Approval applies to establishments handling products of animal origin, with limited exemptions for retail supply.

What must appear on the label

Full food information: name, ingredients with allergens emphasised, quantitative ingredient declaration, net quantity, durability, storage, the EU operator's details, country of origin for certain products, nutrition declaration, and the identification mark for approved establishments.

Marketplace fields

Retailers require certification to a recognised scheme in practice, and border control posts check the establishment approval for animal-origin products.

Documentation you must hold

Registration or approval, HACCP-based procedures, traceability one step back and one step forward, supplier specifications, allergen management plan, and import documentation with health certificates for animal-origin goods.

Standards and testing

Microbiological criteria under Regulation 2073/2005, contaminant testing under Regulation 2023/915, allergen verification, and shelf life validation studies.

Language requirements

The complete label in the official language of each member state of sale.

When it applies

Registration or approval before starting. Import controls apply per consignment.

How long records are kept

Traceability and testing records per national law, generally shelf life plus a defined period and at least five years for import documents.

What happens if you do not comply

Closure of the establishment, withdrawal and recall, and criminal prosecution where undeclared allergens cause harm. Allergen incidents are prosecuted vigorously across the Union.

Who enforces it

National food safety authorities and border control posts.

Where the boundary lies

An EU representative cannot hold this role: food law requires an operator established in the Union with substantive duties. Products of animal origin add approval and border control requirements that no product law appointment addresses.

Questions we are asked

Can a responsible person cover food production?

No. Food law requires a registered or approved food business operator established in the Union.

What is an identification mark?

The oval mark on products of animal origin identifying the approved establishment, which is mandatory and checked at the border.