About the Public Health Authority
Reykjavík Public Health's role is to handle hygiene, food, and pollution control inspections in the city, promote robust environmental monitoring, and provide public education in Reykjavík. Reykjavík Public Health issues operating permits for businesses that need them and provides certification for businesses that must register with the City.
Service
Reykjavík Public Health provides services and education to licensed businesses and residents regarding public health inspections and environmental monitoring. A record of inspections and results for licensed businesses and other inspections is maintained.
Reykjavík Public Health is divided into food inspection, environmental inspection, and monitoring units
Reykjavík Public Health operates on behalf of Reykjavík City's Public Health Committee. It enforces the Act on Hygiene and Pollution Prevention, No. 7/1998, Act on Foodstuffs, No. 93/1995, and other relevant laws and regulations. All municipalities in Iceland must operate public health authorities. However, municipal public health authorities are professionally independent administrative institutions with operational links to municipalities.
Legislation, Regulations and Ordinances
Main laws, regulations, and approvals followed by Reykjavík Public Health.
Decisions
The Environment and Resource Appeals Committee and the Ministry of Industries and Innovation handle cases involving public health authorities and public health committees.
Decisions related to Reykjavík Public Health — including appeals, opinions, and official statements — are available below.
Public disclosure
Public information related to Reykjavík Public Health activities, such as advertisements for polluting activities, valid operating permits, public health inspection results, air quality, and drinking water samples.
Annual reports
According to an addition to Article 46 of Act No. 7/1998 on Hygiene and Pollution Prevention from June 11, 2019, the public health committee must publish a report on main projects from the past year along with annual accounts.
Public Health Committee
The Reykjavík City Public Health Committee operates under the City Council in accordance with Resolution No. 908/2026. It carries out its work as set out in more detail in that bylaw, in the Bylaw on the Governance of Reykjavík City and the City Council's Rules of Order, No. 1020/2019, and as required by law.
