Fast Food - Takeaway

Fast food and takeaway establishments serve meals in disposable or reusable packaging for consumption on-site or to take away. This covers fast-food restaurants, pizzerias with takeaway sales, sandwich shops, chip shops, and similar outlets. Before opening, you must register your establishment with the DDPP (direction départementale de la protection des populations) and file an opening declaration with your mairie.

At least one person in the establishment must hold a certificate in food hygiene (formation HACCP, 14 hours). If you serve alcoholic beverages, you also need a permis d'exploitation and the appropriate restaurant or takeaway liquor license (petite or grande licence). All fast-food operators must comply with waste sorting obligations and restrictions on single-use plastic packaging.

Requirements

  • Food hygiene training: At least one staff member must have completed 14 hours of food hygiene training adapted to commercial catering activity, unless they have 3 years of professional experience or a level V RNCP diploma in the food sector.
  • Nationality (if selling alcohol): The restaurateur must be French, an EU/EEA national, or from a country with a reciprocity treaty with France.
  • Honorability (if selling alcohol): Must not have been convicted of certain crimes or offenses (pimping, theft, fraud, narcotics, etc.). Unemancipated minors and adults under guardianship cannot operate.
  • Exploitation permit (permis d'exploitation) (if selling alcohol): Mandatory 20-hour training (or 6 hours with 10 years of experience) resulting in a permit valid for 10 years.
  • License (if selling alcohol): Small restaurant license (petite licence restaurant) for group 3 beverages or full restaurant license (licence restaurant) for all authorized groups, depending on beverages served.

Procedure and Formalities

  • Business registration: Formalities depend on the legal structure of the business.
  • Declaration for establishments handling animal products: Complete form Cerfa 13984*03 and submit to the departmental prefect before opening.
  • Opening declaration (if selling alcohol): Form Cerfa 11542*05 to be filed at the town hall at least 15 days before opening, accompanied by the exploitation permit, license, and proof of nationality. A receipt is issued immediately.
  • ERP compliance: The establishment must comply with regulations for establishments receiving the public (établissements recevant du public).
  • Sanitary and hygiene standards: Application of EC Regulation No. 852/2004 and orders of December 21, 2009 and October 8, 2013 regarding sanitary rules and storage temperatures.

Regulatory Obligations

  • Price display: Visibly display from outside the prices of commonly served beverages and food items (coffee, beer, juice, sandwich, daily special, etc.) with letters and numbers at least 1.5 cm high.
  • Menus and cards: Display menus and cards with mention "beverage included" or "beverage not included" and indicate "homemade" (fait maison) where applicable.
  • Origin of beef: Indicate origin by display, on cards or menus.
  • Allergens: Inform consumers in writing of ingredients causing allergies or intolerances.
  • Protection of minors (if selling alcohol): Prohibition on selling alcohol to minors. Mandatory display of at least 10 non-alcoholic beverages. Display provisions on public drunkenness and protection of minors.
  • Smoking ban: Prohibition in all closed and covered spaces, with visible signage.
  • Music broadcasting: Authorization from Sacem required with payment of author rights and equitable remuneration.