Notification concerning food premises

When establishing or making substantial changes to food premises, report to Environmental health four weeks before the start of operations or the planned change.  

The notification must also be made in connection with a change of operator. The obligation of notification also applies to mobile food premises. 

The placement of the activity in premises must be approved by the Building supervision authority. If the premises have not previously held similar food activities or you are planning a renovation, contact the Building supervision of your own municipality.  

There is no need to file a notification concerning food premises if 

• the risks to the food safety of the operations are minor AND 
• the food activities are carried out as part of other business activities (e.g. small sales of sweets in connection with clothing sales), or 
• the operator is a private person (e.g. selling home-made sweet buns at a market place) or 
• the activity is not a business activity (e.g. operating a cafe at a sports club in connection with a game event) 

Application for approval  

If you handle food of animal origin in specific food premises before it is delivered for retail sale, apply for the approval of the premises from the municipal supervisory authority before starting or substantially changing the activity. In connection with the application, a written self-monitoring plan shall be submitted to the supervisory authority. 

The activities may not be started or substantially altered without the approval of the supervisory authority. Slaughterhouses and game handling establishments are approved by the Finnish food authority. 

Contact a hygienist veterinarian if you are setting up a food apartment that requires the approval of a municipal supervisory authority.