Start a Food Business in Ireland: Registration and HACCP Route Planner

Step 1

What are you starting?

Choose the closest model. You can refine the premises and sales route below.

Step 2

Premises and customers

These answers shape the authority route and the checks to make before spending money.

Where will food mainly be prepared or stored?

Who will you supply?

Will you make or handle foods of animal origin?

Step 3

What else applies?

Tick every item that is part of the launch, even if it will happen later.

Prepacked foodProducts packed before the customer chooses them Online or social-media ordersFood information must be available before purchase Employees or regular helpersTraining, supervision and workplace duties apply Alcohol salesSeparate licensing and HSE notification route Street, market or public-land tradingLocal authority or event permission may be needed Importing or exporting foodCustoms, certificates or border controls may apply Specialist processVacuum packing, sous-vide, cook-chill, canning or fermentation I have not committed to a premises yetUseful: authority feedback can prevent an expensive mistake

Your likely route

Who to contact first

HSE Environmental Health is your likely first authority

—core actions before opening

—conditional checks for this route

—route complexity

Your tailored launch checklist

Work down the list in order. “Check if applicable” means the authority or local council makes the final call for your setup.

Useful once the route is clear

Set up the systems that keep you compliant and trading

Do not buy subscriptions or hardware until the authority and premises route are confirmed.

Kitchen OS

Digital HACCP records, checks and food-safety workflows for hospitality teams.

Explore Kitchen OS

Square for restaurants

Card payments, POS, online ordering and restaurant operations in one system.

Explore Square

FSAI Safe Catering Pack

Official food-safety management guidance and records for catering businesses.

Open FSAI guidance

HSE food-business notification

The official NEHS route used by most Irish food businesses before they start.

Open HSE notification

These are direct links today. Any approved affiliate link added later will be marked and will not affect the route or checklist.

Important limits of this planner

Is every Irish food business registered with the HSE?

No. Most are, but the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine or the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority can be the competent authority for some activities. Businesses handling foods of animal origin may need approval rather than registration.

Can I start a food business from home?

Potentially, but home businesses still have to register and meet food-hygiene requirements. Speak to Environmental Health before altering a domestic kitchen or buying specialist equipment.

Does this replace an Environmental Health Officer or food-safety consultant?

No. It organises the official requirements around your answers. The competent authority decides the final registration or approval route and whether the premises and process are acceptable.