Butcher and meat products licence

A butcher and meat products licence is required to open a butcher’s shop or specialised butchery. This licence is required to sell, display, or carve with the intent to sell any fresh, prepared or preserved meats.

For whom?

The operator of any butcher’s shop or specialised butchery. The professional manager of any butcher’s shop or specialised butchery.

Conditions

1. The professional manager must show proof of professional abilities:
   • with a diploma from a professional school;
   • with an apprenticeship certificate;
   • or with three years of full-time professional experience or four years if part-time, certified by an NSSO certificate or proof from a social insurance fund for self-employed workers or any other relevant document.
2. Non-European merchants must, unless exempted, hold a professional card for foreigners, in addition to the butcher and meat products licence.

Duration of validity

This licence remains valid as long as the required conditions are still met and not modified. A new licence must be requested for the following situations:

• When changing the shop’s professional manager or operator, legal operating form or address.

Steps to take afterward

• Obtain authorisation from the Food Inspection section of the FPS Social Affairs, Public Health and Environment;
• Register with the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises via un accredited enterprise counter;
• Meet all VAT obligations;
• Register with a social insurance fund and a mutual insurance fund.

When?

Obtain the butcher and meat products licence before starting to work.

How?

Using the request form for butcher and meat products licences (DOC, 54.5 Kb).

You must also attach the following documents to the request form:

• Proof of professional abilities for professional managers;
• If need be, the company status;
• If need be, the original of the butcher and meat products licence already issued for the concerned shop or a sworn declaration (in case of loss or theft of this licence).