The Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries issued a press release announcing a change in inspection visit procedures, so that from today onwards it will be easier to operate a cafe, restaurant or grocery store, and this is what was stated in the press release:
Shops, restaurants, and cafes can expect fewer inspection visits. These relaxations are intended to make food businesses easier to run and give vendors more time to focus on their operations. On the other hand, inspections will target establishments where the risk is assessed as higher.
As of October 1st, food companies in Denmark will find it easier to keep day-to-day operations running smoothly. A follow-up inspection visit was cancelled after a note from the Danish Food and Drug Administration, meaning fewer inspections for companies and more time to focus on operations and development.
This comes as part of the implementation of the food agreement that took place in June 2024. The agreement aims to create more flexible conditions for Danish food companies, while keeping food safety at the forefront.
Bullying and bureaucracy should not stand in the way of professional enthusiasm, says Minister of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, Jakob Jensen:
”By eliminating the second follow-up inspection visit, we are saving companies time and money. This is a good example of how we can make life easier for those who produce our food. This means less disruption for companies that control things, and more focus on where it’s needed.“
Cancel the second inspection visit unless absolutely necessary.
Until now, food companies that received a disciplinary inspection automatically received two follow-up inspections. The first was to ensure that the errors had been corrected, and the second was a routine check. However, the second inspection visit has now been cancelled unless there were serious violations.
This means that companies that correct minor errors avoid further inspections and can focus on running their operations. The initial inspection will still be thorough and ensure compliance with the rules, but subsequent inspections are now a thing of the past.
In the future, food inspections will become more targeted and risk-based. Instead of focusing on quantity, the Danish Food and Veterinary Administration will concentrate on quality—that is, checking companies with the highest risk of errors or problems.
facts
If the company receives notice before October 1, 2024, it will receive the two visits as before.
The omission of the second follow-up visit as of 1 October 2024 is part of the transitional solution before the new rules come into force on 1 January 2025.
Companies that receive a tightening after October 1, 2024 will receive only one follow-up inspection, unless there is a serious violation.
