Food and feed hygiene for farmers and growers

Farmers and growers must follow basic food hygiene rules as primary producers. These form the first link in the 'farm to fork' chain under European regulations that apply in Northern Ireland.

Key food hygiene requirements for primary producers

Primary producers (farmers and growers) in Northern Ireland do not have to follow full Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) systems.

Legislation sets general hygiene rules instead, requiring you to:

• use clean water for cleaning and handling produce/livestock
• maintain clean premises, equipment and transport
• ensure personal hygiene (handwashing, protective clothing)
• control pests and waste
• keep basic records for traceability (eg who you supply, inputs used)

Exceptions exist for certain types of businesses that require HACCP-like systems, including:

• dairy/egg producers
• wild game primary producers supplying meat
• feed businesses (separate rules apply)

Regulations you should be aware of include:

• Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 – basic hygiene rules for all farms and growers
• Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 – extra rules for dairy, eggs, meat and fish producers
• Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 – general food safety and traceability
• Food Hygiene Regulations (NI) 2006 – local enforcement rules
• Regulation (EC) No 183/2005 – feed hygiene (if you produce or use animal feed)

You must also comply with separate rules on veterinary medicines and pesticides, alongside food hygiene laws.

Registration and enforcement

If you are a primary producer in Northern Ireland, you must register your holding with the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) in Northern Ireland.

DAERA maintains the national register of approved and registered holdings. You must register if you produce:

• raw milk for sale
• eggs for supply to other businesses
• meat (directly supplying slaughterhouses or cutting plants)

DAERA carries out farm approval inspections and ongoing hygiene checks. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) works alongside DAERA on enforcement, while local councils can investigate complaints about farm produce entering their area.

Read more about primary production hygiene for food and feed.