{"id":2339,"date":"2026-10-03T10:17:38","date_gmt":"2026-10-03T07:17:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/linden.lt\/tinklarastis\/food-business-registration-vs-approval-vmvt-lithuania\/"},"modified":"2026-10-03T10:17:38","modified_gmt":"2026-10-03T07:17:38","slug":"food-business-registration-vs-approval-vmvt-lithuania","status":"publish","type":"irasas","link":"https:\/\/linden.lt\/en\/blog\/food-business-registration-vs-approval-vmvt-lithuania\/","title":{"rendered":"Food business registration vs approval by VMVT in Lithuania"},"template":"","kategorija":[],"class_list":["post-2339","irasas","type-irasas","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":{"visi_puslapiai_cta_statusas":false,"visi_puslapiai_cta_antraste":"","visi_puslapiai_cta_formos_id":"","visi_puslapiai_cta_papildomas_tekstas":"","visi_puslapiai_cta_nuotrauka":null,"tinklarastis_1_autorius":null,"tinklarastis_1_iraso_tipas":false,"dinamiski_blokai":[{"acf_fc_layout":"tekstas","tekstas":"<p>Only food business operators registered or approved by the State Food and Veterinary Service (<em>Valstybin\u0117 maisto ir veterinarijos tarnyba<\/em>, VMVT) may handle food, and only at the places stated in their registration or approval (Article 4(3)(4) of the Law on Food of the Republic of Lithuania (M\u012e)). Approval is mandatory for operators handling food of animal origin, except butcher's shops, fishing vessels (primary production), small-quantity production of food of animal origin and the handling of live fish in trade, and for businesses growing sprouts (M\u012e Article 4\u00b2(1)). All other food business operators are registered (M\u012e Article 4\u00b9(1)). Caf\u00e9s and restaurants are registered (Annex 1 to the Procedure for the Approval and Registration of Food Business Operators, the \"Registration Procedure\"). An approved operator receives an approval number (M\u012e Article 4\u00b2(4)). Approval must be granted within 20 working days of receipt of all duly completed documents. If the infrastructure is adequate but other requirements are not yet met, a conditional approval of up to 6 months is granted (M\u012e Article 4\u00b2(3)).<\/p>\r\n<p>How a caf\u00e9 or restaurant is registered, and the registration time limits, are covered on our page <a href=\"https:\/\/linden.lt\/en\/services\/regulatory-services\/cafe-restaurant-licences-2\/\">Caf\u00e9 and restaurant licences<\/a>. This article covers approval, changes, and what can happen to a registration or approval later.<\/p>\r\n<h2>What decides whether you need approval<\/h2>\r\n<p>It depends on what food you handle, what activity you carry on and whom you supply.<\/p>\r\n<p>EU law. Establishments handling products of animal origin for which Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 853\/2004 lays down requirements may not operate until the competent authority has approved them (Article 4(2) of Regulation (EC) No 853\/2004). Exceptions apply to primary production, transport, storage that needs no temperature control, and retail. The Regulation does not apply to retail unless expressly stated. However, it does apply in certain cases where a retailer supplies food of animal origin to another establishment (Article 1(5) of Regulation (EC) No 853\/2004).<\/p>\r\n<p>Lithuanian procedure. The Procedure for the Approval and Registration of Operators Handling Food of Animal Origin (the \"Animal Food Procedure\") provides that approval is mandatory for operators handling the products of animal origin defined in point 8.1 of Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 853\/2004 and for operators carrying on the activities listed in its Annex 5 (point 7 of the Animal Food Procedure). That Annex lists, for example, slaughterhouses, cutting plants, minced meat and meat product plants, cold stores that are not part of a production plant, wholesale businesses, dairy processing plants and egg packing centres (Annex 5 to the Animal Food Procedure). Butcher's shops, trade in live fish and suppliers of small quantities of animal products are registered (point 12 of and Annex 6 to the Animal Food Procedure).<\/p>\r\n<p>The Registration Procedure applies to food business operators other than operators handling food of animal origin to whom the Animal Food Procedure applies (point 2 of the Registration Procedure). Its Annex 1 lists, among the activities registered without an on-site inspection, caf\u00e9s, snack bars and restaurants, and the sale of drinks for consumption on the premises (Annex 1 to the Registration Procedure). Under it, only businesses growing sprouts are approved; all others are registered (point 5 of the Registration Procedure).<\/p>\r\n<h2>How approval works<\/h2>\r\n<p>When you apply, you must show that you meet the food handling requirements and file documents on your right to use the premises, the infrastructure, the equipment, hygiene, the scale of activity and the own-check system (M\u012e Article 4\u00b2(2)). For food of animal origin you file an application in the set form, a plan of the premises showing the layout of equipment, and a description of the production process with the design capacity (point 17 of the Animal Food Procedure).<\/p>\r\n<p>The steps under the Animal Food Procedure:<\/p>\r\n<ul><li>Within 3 working days VMVT confirms receipt and states the time limit for examination. No answer within the time limit does not count as approval (point 18 of the Animal Food Procedure).<\/li><li>Within 5 working days VMVT assesses the documents and tells you if anything is missing (point 19 of the Animal Food Procedure).<\/li><li>At the inspection you must have the water supply and waste water plan, a description of how animal by-products are handled, a description of procedures based on hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP; in Lithuanian, RVASVT) principles, a description of good hygiene practice and a document proving your right to use the premises (point 20 of the Animal Food Procedure).<\/li><li>Within 10 working days of receiving all documents VMVT inspects the operator, and within 3 working days of the inspection it decides on approval or refuses it with reasons (point 21 of the Animal Food Procedure).<\/li><\/ul>\r\n<p>Conditional approval. If the infrastructure and equipment meet the requirements but you cannot yet show that you will meet the other hygiene requirements, you receive a conditional approval valid for no more than 6 months (point 8 of the Animal Food Procedure). Within 3 months VMVT inspects you again and, if you comply, grants full approval (point 9 of the Animal Food Procedure).<\/p>\r\n<p>Approval is granted for an unlimited period (point 14 of the Animal Food Procedure). Each building at a different address receives a separate approval and number, unless the buildings are within the same enclosed site belonging to you (point 11 of the Animal Food Procedure). The list of approved operators is published on the VMVT website (point 16 of the Animal Food Procedure). The legal acts use the term \"approval\" (<em>patvirtinimas<\/em>). The decision to grant it is made by order of the head of the Central Licensing Division of the VMVT Services Department (point 6 of the Animal Food Procedure).<\/p>\r\n<p>Approval is refused if you do not file the required documents and do not correct the defects, or if your operating conditions do not meet food law requirements (M\u012e Article 4\u00b2(5)).<\/p>\r\n<h2>Which changes you must deal with<\/h2>\r\n<p>A new place. Because food may be handled only at the places stated in the registration or approval (M\u012e Article 4(3)(4)), a new place needs its own registration or approval.<\/p>\r\n<p>A new activity or changed details. For food of animal origin, a change or addition to the operator's details is formalised by order of the head of the relevant division of the VMVT Services Department (point 6 of the Animal Food Procedure). An operator covered by the Registration Procedure must notify VMVT within 10 working days if it stops operating, is liquidated or reorganised, renovates its premises in a way that affects food handling, wants to change or add activities, or changes its name, legal form or code (point 11 of the Registration Procedure). To add an activity or change its details, it files an application and documents. Any on-site inspection covers only the new activity (point 12 of the Registration Procedure). Reheating, baking and serving culinary products to the final consumer needs no separate application if you already hold a VMVT permit to handle food (point 13 of the Registration Procedure).<\/p>\r\n<p>Transfer of the business. Registration and approval grant the right to carry on the activity to a specific operator (point 4.1 of the Registration Procedure, points 3 and 4 of the Animal Food Procedure). So a new operator must apply for its own registration or approval. If the previous operator loses the right to use the premises, its registration or approval is cancelled (M\u012e Article 4\u00b9(9)(5), M\u012e Article 4\u00b2(7)(5)).<\/p>\r\n<h2>When registration is suspended and approval withdrawn<\/h2>\r\n<p>VMVT suspends a registration for no longer than one year if the activity has been suspended for breaches, or at your request (M\u012e Article 4\u00b9(7)). If the registration was suspended for breaches, the suspension is lifted when you remove the breaches, file an application and a decision is taken to lift the suspension of the activity. If it was suspended at your request, it is lifted at your request or when the period stated in your request ends (M\u012e Article 4\u00b9(8)).<\/p>\r\n<p>A registration is cancelled within 3 working days if you ask for it, if you have not operated for more than one year or the activity ended on other legal grounds, if the activity has been prohibited, if it turns out that you filed untrue documents, or if you lose the right to use the premises (M\u012e Article 4\u00b9(9)). If VMVT suspects you are not operating, it notifies you of its intention to cancel the registration and gives you 20 working days to provide information (M\u012e Article 4\u00b9(9)(2)).<\/p>\r\n<p>M\u012e Article 4\u00b2 does not provide for suspension of an approval. VMVT can, however, decide to suspend the activity itself (M\u012e Article 4\u00b9(7)(1)). An approval, including a conditional one, is withdrawn within 3 working days on the same grounds, but the period of inactivity is shorter: more than 4 months, or more than 3 months for a conditional approval. Inactivity due to reconstruction, renovation of the premises or seasonal work is not counted (M\u012e Article 4\u00b2(7)). If VMVT suspects you are not operating, it notifies you of its intention to withdraw the approval and gives you 20 working days to provide information (M\u012e Article 4\u00b2(7)(2)).<\/p>\r\n<p>An operator whose registration has been suspended or cancelled, or whose approval has been withdrawn, may not handle food (M\u012e Article 4\u00b9(10), M\u012e Article 4\u00b2(8)).<\/p>\r\n<p>If you sell alcohol, a VMVT decision also affects your alcohol licence. If your registration is suspended for breaches, the licence for that outlet is suspended (Article 34\u00b9(4)(2) of the Law on Alcohol Control of the Republic of Lithuania (AK\u012e)), and if your registration is cancelled for breaches, the licence is revoked (AK\u012e Article 34(19)(6)).<\/p>\r\n<p>VMVT decisions on approval and registration, and on their suspension and cancellation, may be appealed in the manner set by law (point 58 of the Registration Procedure). The Animal Food Procedure refers to the Law on Administrative Proceedings (point 31 of the Animal Food Procedure).<\/p>\r\n<h2>How to start<\/h2>\r\n<p>Send us a short description of your activity: which products you will make or handle, whom you will supply and where the premises are. If you are already registered or approved, attach the VMVT decision and describe what is changing.<\/p>\r\n<p>Phone +370 5 212 1506, email info@linden.lt<\/p>\r\n<p>More about this service: <a href=\"https:\/\/linden.lt\/en\/services\/regulatory-services\/food-business-operator-approval-certificate\/\">Food business operator approval certificate<\/a>.<\/p>"}]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/linden.lt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/irasas\/2339","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/linden.lt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/irasas"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/linden.lt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/irasas"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/linden.lt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/irasas\/2339\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/linden.lt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2339"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"kategorija","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/linden.lt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/kategorija?post=2339"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}