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Register as FBO (Food Business Operator)
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Published on
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People involved in the production of primary products must be registered as Food Business Operators. This is because of European Union food safety regulations. You will not be able to sell your produce legally without this registration.
Food Business Operators are responsible for ensuring food laws are complied with in the food business under their control.
Primary producers are involved in the production, growing or harvesting of primary products. It also includes the harvesting of wild products.
Primary products include:
- grains, fruit, vegetables, herbs, mushrooms
- mushrooms and berries which are harvested in the wild
Food businesses involved in any stage of production, processing or distribution of food must register.
To comply with food safety regulations, food producers must take the following steps:
- keep clean and where necessary disinfect facilities, equipment, containers, crates, vehicles and vessels
- ensure hygienic production, transport and storage of plant products
- use clean water whenever necessary to prevent contamination
- ensure that staff handling foodstuffs are in good health and undergo training on health risks
- prevent animals and pests from causing contamination
- store and handle waste and hazardous substances to prevent contamination
- take account of the results of any relevant analyses carried out on samples taken from plants or other samples that have importance to human health
- use plant protection products and biocides correctly as required by the relevant legislation
- keep records relating to the measures put in place to control hazards
Food business operators producing or harvesting plant products must keep records on:
- use of plant protection products and biocides
- occurrence of pests or diseases that may affect the safety of products of plant origin
- results of any relevant analyses carried out on samples taken from plants or other samples that have importance for human health
As well as affecting primary producers, these requirements also apply to:
- transport, storage, and handling of primary products at the place of production
- transport of products of plant origin
- transport operations to deliver primary products from place of production to an establishment
Full details of the requirements that are relevant to producers of edible plants and fungi, including fruit, vegetables, herbs and mushrooms, are set out in EU regulations .
Your completed form should be returned to:
Food Safety and Authenticity Section
Address:
2nd Floor Administration Building, Backweston Administration Building, Stacumny Lane
, Co. Kildare, Celbridge
, W23 X3PH
