On 1 September 2008 was set up a new service which is to help operators of the food chain to comply with regulations.

Initially, this service is provided only to operators who sell foodstuffs directly to consumers, i.e. catering business and retail trade operators (e.g. butchers, bakers, grocers, itinerant tradesmen, …).

Food security rules are laid down in an efficient but very specific legislation, related to, e.g.:

• self-checking ;
• compulsory notification and traceability;
• approvals, authorizations and registrations;
• …

The Federal Agency wants to help operators, through this Service, to understand regulations and to put them into practice in their businesses, e.g. rules on self-checking.

Operators with a certified self-checking system are entitled to many advantages : lower contributions to be paid to the Agency, and, for catering businesses, the issue of a smiley.

What are the activities of the “Information Service” ?

The “Information Service” :

• estimates the need for information within the distribution sector;
• gives training sessions to groups of operators;
• takes part in writing publications;
• covers the educational aspect of the representation of the Agency at public events;
• gathers relevant information and develops a FAQ database (in progress) for all operators of the sector;
• ...

• By e-mail : voorlichtingvulgaris@afsca.be
• By phone : 02 211 82 25 ( Monday to Friday from 9 am to 5 pm )
• By fax : 02 211 82 15
• AFSCA - Information Service
  Centre administratif Botanique
  Food Safety Center, local 08/120157
  Boulevard du Jardin Botanique 55
  B-1000 BRUXELLES
  Route plan
  Itinerary

Your expert partners :

Martine Fretin		Koen De Roover		Stijn Hermans		Carine Verbestel