Primary Production and Sprout Cultivation
If you produce food through primary production, you must register your facility with the County Administrative Board (Länsstyrelsen). Primary production includes growing and harvesting vegetables, raising livestock for food, milk and egg production, beekeeping, fishing, hunting, and aquaculture.
Sprout cultivation carries specific health risks due to the warm, moist growing conditions that can promote bacterial growth. Because of this, sprout producers need approval from Länsstyrelsen before starting operations, rather than just a registration. The approval process includes assessment of your production facilities, hygiene routines, and testing procedures for pathogens such as salmonella and E. coli.
Requirements for Registration and Approval
- Primary production: Registration with Länsstyrelsen required for cultivation of vegetables, animal husbandry, milk and egg production, beekeeping, fishing, hunting, fish/mussel farming, collection of berries, mushrooms, seaweed, algae, and crayfish.
- Sprout cultivation: Requires approval from Länsstyrelsen before the activity starts.
- Facility information: Details about the scope of operations, type of production, and hygiene procedures.
Registration and Approval Procedure
- Application: Contact your Länsstyrelse for information about registration and application.
- Documentation: Description of the activity, hygiene procedures, self-monitoring program.
- Sprout cultivation: Approval required before start due to specific health risks.
- Processing time: Varies depending on county and complexity of the case.
- Supervision: Länsstyrelsen supervises registered and approved facilities.