Approval of an establishment under the supervision of a Veterinary Inspection

Do you want to open a slaughterhouse or meat processing plant? Or do you want to run a dairy, egg or fishery business? If so, obtain approval for your establishment. Such approval is also necessary when you want to introduce products of animal origin not only to the Polish market, but also to the European Union and third country markets. See below how you can do this.

How to handle a matter

What you should know and who can benefit from the service

You must first obtain approval (also conditional) from a district veterinarian if you want to run:

• the slaughter of domesticated ungulates, poultry, lagomorphs and farmed game;
• cutting and processing of meat, including mincing and mechanical separation, production of raw meat products, production of edible fats and greaves, processed stomachs, bladders and intestines;
• handling and processing of game meat;
• milk collection and processing points;
• packing and processing eggs;
• processing of fishery products (fish, molluscs, crustaceans, etc.);
• factory vessel, cold store vessel, freezer vessel;
• cold storage or repackaging of products of animal origin;
• production of live bivalve molluscs;
• production of gelatine and collagen;
• processing of frogs' legs and snails;
• the production of composite foods consisting of both non-animal foodstuffs and unprocessed products of animal origin;
• production of highly refined chondroitin sulphate, hyaluronic acid, other products from hydrolysed cartilage, chitosan, glucosamine, rennet, isinglass and amino acids.

Before you start operating- before you obtain a permit for the construction of an establishment, obtain approval for the technological design of the plant.

Note: you do not need approval of a technology design if you have a cold store, freezer vessel, freezer vessel or factory vessel.

When should you handle the matter

Application for approval of establishment shall be submitted at least 30 days before the date of commencement of the planned operation.

Where you can handle the matter

The service can be handled at:

• District Veterinary Inspectorates

What to do step by step

1. Submit an application for approval of establishment

Documents

Time limit

Application for approval of establishment shall be submitted at least 30 days before the date of commencement of the planned operation.

2. The Authority will formally assess your application

The authority will check whether your application is correct and contains all the necessary documents.

If your application contains formal deficiencies (e. g. you have made a mistake in the application or if you have not attached the necessary documents), the office will call you to correct the errors. You have at least 7 days from the date of receiving the request for correction. If you do not correct the errors within the time limit set by the office, your case will not be resolved.

3. The Authority will inspect and approve your establishment

If the inspection shows that your establishment meets all the requirements of food law (in case of slaughterhouses additionally animal welfare requirements), the authority will issue a decision approving the establishment and assign an approval number to the establishment. In addition, your establishment will be registered in the district veterinarian's register.

Remember that your establishment should not only meet the requirements of food law. Develop and implement corporate governance procedures (e. g. GHP, GMP and HACCP). Only then will your establishment be approved.
However, if the control turns out to be unsuccessful for you, the office will decide on:

• refusal to approve establishment - if there are serious deficiencies, where your establishment does not meet the infrastructure and equipment requirements;
• conditional approval of the establishment for 3 months - if there are small imperfections, but the establishment meets all requirements for infrastructure and equipment. In addition, corporate governance procedures are being developed or already implemented in the company. In addition, the office will give your establishment a veterinary number and enter it in the district veterinarian's register.

After this time, reapply for approval. If, during a new inspection that takes place within 3 months, it turns out that:

• your establishment meets the requirements, you will receive an approval decision (unconditional);
• although the deficiencies have been rectified, your establishment still does not meet all the requirements, the authority will issue a decision to extend your conditional approval for the next 3 months. After this time, resubmit an application for approval of the establishment. Please note, however, that the total duration of conditional approval may not exceed 6 months.

If a subsequent inspection reveals that your establishment meets all the relevant requirements, you will receive an approval decision (unconditional).

However, if your establishment still does not meet the requirements, you will receive a decision refusing to approve your establishment. In addition, the district veterinarian will remove you from the register.

Documents

Time limit

The authority will carry out an inspection in your establishment within 30 days of receiving your application.

How much will you pay

10 zł

The office charges a stamp duty of PLN 10 for issuing a decision on the approval of establishment and assigning a veterinary identification number

How long will you wait

Your case will be settled within one month. This period may be extended to two months, subject to notification by the official.

How can you appeal

If you are dissatisfied with the decision you received, you can appeal against it. Submit appeal to the voivodship veterinarian via a district veterinarian who gave you a decision. You have 14 days from the date of its receipt.

Please also note that you may opt out of appealing against your decision and forward this information to the district veterinarian who issued the decision. If all parties involved in the proceedings do so, the decision will become legally binding sooner.

It is good to know

Inform the office of changes

It is your responsibility to ensure that the office has up-to-date information about your establishment. Therefore, inform the Authority of any change in activity and of any suspension or closure of an existing establishment within 7 days of the change.

Penalties for infringements

If you produce food in an establishment of approval or conditional approval, the district veterinarian can impose the following penalties on you:

• from PLN 1000 PLN to PLN 10 000 - if the infringement lasts up to 30 days,
• over PLN 10,000 to PLN 33,000 - if the infringement lasts over 30 days up to 6 months,
• over PLN 33,000 to PLN 66,000 - if the infringement lasts longer than 6 months.

If you are selling products from an establishment without approval or conditional approval, the district veterinarian can impose a fine from PLN 1000 PLN to PLN 20 000 on you.