Food hygiene in Lithuania: implementing Reg. (EC) 852/2004

This page is the hub for Lithuania's implementation of Reg. (EC) 852/2004. It gives the overall picture and links to the detail pages and the other jurisdictions covered in the countries pillar.

The division of powers

The most distinctive feature of the Lithuanian case is a single integrated authority: the VMVT (State Food and Veterinary Service, Valstybinė maisto ir veterinarijos tarnyba) brings competence over food and competence over products of animal origin together in one body. The VMVT handles registration, approval and official controls across the whole territory, operating through its territorial units. In our view it is this integration that sets the Lithuanian model apart: the Netherlands also has a single national authority, but one focused on food safety alone; in Spain the actual counterpart depends on the Autonomous Community and in Italy on the regional health authorities. In Lithuania the business deals with a single national body that also absorbs the veterinary function.

Registration and approval with the VMVT

Reg. 852/2004 requires every food business operator to notify each establishment to the competent authority for registration Article 6(2) of Regulation (EC) No 852/2004. In Lithuania this notification is made to the VMVT, through the competent territorial unit. Most businesses — bars, restaurants, retail shops — are subject only to registration. Establishments handling products of animal origin (slaughterhouses, cutting plants, dairies, fishery-product establishments) may instead be subject to approval under Reg. (EC) 853/2004 Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 853/2004: an express decision by the VMVT that verifies the requirements before start-up. The difference between the two is explained in the concept registration vs approval.

Self-checking, training and guides to good practice

Every food business must put in place self-checking procedures based on HACCP principles Article 5(1) of Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 and ensure the training of staff who handle food Annex II, Chapter XII, point 1 of Regulation (EC) No 852/2004. To apply the hygiene requirements and HACCP principles with the flexibility the regulation allows Article 5(5) of Regulation (EC) No 852/2004, the business can rely on national guides to good hygiene practice: the regulation itself encourages the development of such guides Article 8(1) of Regulation (EC) No 852/2004. They remain voluntary support tools: they do not replace the business's responsibility. The operational picture for training is covered in HACCP training in Lithuania.

Official controls and competent authorities

Official controls are organised under Reg. (EU) 2017/625 Article 4 of Regulation (EU) 2017/625, which repealed the earlier Reg. (EC) 854/2004 and 882/2004. In Lithuania enforcement falls entirely to the VMVT, which schedules inspections and verifications on a risk basis through its territorial units; administrative measures for breaches are provided under national food law. For a comparison between the integrated Lithuanian model and the others, see the countries pages and the country-comparison tool.