Operating permit application for wholesale trade activities
Food information
Operating permit applications for wholesale food businesses must specify the types of food to distribute and their countries of origin. For example: Alcohol, non-alcoholic beverages, refrigerated goods, frozen goods, dry goods, candy, dietary supplements.
Applications must explain how the food business will ensure distributed food meets food laws and regulations.
Food safety system (internal control)
All food businesses need a food safety system based on HACCP principles. This is an operating permit requirement. The food safety system must be adapted to each business.
Information on food safety systems is available on the Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority website.
Warehouse
The operating permit application must specify the company's warehouse location and provide food safety system information (internal control). Two warehouse options are available:
The company manages its own storage and distribution
Food may only be stored in premises approved for this activity by the Building Commissioner (commercial premises). Storing food in homes is not permitted. The premises must meet food legislation requirements and be easy to clean, pest-proof, with an enclosed ventilated cleaning area with a sink, toilet, and staff facilities (changing area, toilet, and break room with sink). Food must not be stored on the floor.
The public health authority will issue an operating permit for wholesale food distribution. Operating permits are valid for 12 years. Fees follow the current health inspection fee schedule, available on the Reykjavík Public Health website. A health inspector examines the company's operations and food safety system before approving the operating permit application. After receiving an operating permit, health inspectors conduct regular inspections based on risk assessment. All health inspector visits (e.g., assessments and regular inspections) are charged according to current fees. Health inspectors charge for addressing issues with products on the market according to the fee schedule.
The company contracts with a licensed storage and distribution provider
Examples include fulfillment centers, Parlogis, DHL, and Íslandspóstur Warehousing. If chosen, a copy of the contract or written confirmation from the provider must accompany the operating permit application. The public health authority will issue an operating permit for wholesale food distribution without storage.
Operating permits are valid for 12 years. Fees follow the current health inspection fee schedule, available on the Reykjavík Public Health website. Regular inspections are not conducted at the company; instead, the provider is inspected and products are monitored in the market. Health inspectors charge for addressing issues with products on the market according to the current fee schedule. See "Tengd skjöl" (Related Documents) for more information.
Application attachments
Operating permit for wholesale food distribution without storage
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Copy of signed contract with provider for food distribution or written statement from provider confirming food distribution for the applicant. The provider must have a public health authority operating permit to distribute food.
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Written procedure for food recall. See the Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority's guidance page on recalling food, feed, and food contact materials, chapter 2.13 in Guidelines for Good Practices for Food Businesses, and chapter 10.6.2 in the Municipal Health Authority's Inspection Manual.
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Written procedure for food traceability. See chapter 2.12 in Guidelines for Good Practices for Food Businesses and chapter 10.6.1 in the Municipal Health Authority's Inspection Manual.
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Information on food packaging label languages and relabeling procedures, if applicable. Food must be relabeled if information is not in English, Icelandic, Danish, Norwegian, and/or Swedish. Food originating outside the European Economic Area must be relabeled if not originally labeled to meet European food legislation requirements. The applicant must specify who will relabel food, where, and how they ensure food information complies with food laws and regulations.
The operating permit application will be processed when all required documents are received.
Laws and regulations
Food is governed by the Food Act No. 93/1995, as amended. The Act prohibits importing or marketing food, including food supplements, containing drugs as defined by pharmaceutical legislation. The Icelandic Medicines Agency determines if compounds are considered drugs in case of doubt.
Regulation No. 624/2004 on Dietary Supplements, as amended, applies to food supplements and includes provisions for special labeling. Dietary supplements are food and are subject to general food labeling rules. Marketing of dietary supplements must be reported to the Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority according to dietary supplement regulations.
General labeling rules for food (including dietary supplements and alcohol) are in Regulation No. 1294/2014 on providing food information to consumers, as amended. This regulation implements EU Regulation No. 1169/2011 on the same subject in Iceland. Valid languages for food labeling in Iceland are Nordic languages other than Finnish and English.
Rules on nutrition and health claims for food are in Regulation No. 406/2010 on the implementation of EU Regulation No. 1924/2006 on nutrition and health claims for food, as amended.
These are examples of regulations to review. Laws and regulations on food are available from the Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority. It is important to review both the Food Act (No. 93/1995) and related regulations before beginning food distribution. The food business is always responsible for ensuring food complies with the law and regulations.