Venheim
Food hygiene training · As of 23 September 2026 · all sources checkedNo account · your answers stay on your device

08Chapter 8 of 8 · 5 min

What inspectors want to see

You know what food inspectors may check, which documents should be ready and how to behave during the visit.

Legal basis: From practice · Reg. 2017/625

Ch. 8 · Question 1/6

Entrance · 10:05Inspection

Food inspectors are at the door unannounced. The boss is not in. What do you do?

Choose an answer.

Background reading

What applies, and where it comes from

Food inspectors check documents and readings, talk to staff and look at cleaning and procedures (Regulation 2017/625). The business gives access to rooms, goods and documents. In Austria, inspections usually come unannounced. The cleaning schedule, pest control records, cooling logs and training records should be ready.

Official controls examine documents and records, include interviews with the operator and staff, and check the business’s own measurements.1

On request, the business gives the authority access to rooms, goods and documents.2

AT — applies in AustriaInspectors may enter rooms, request information, question staff, inspect documents, take samples and take photographs. Inspections usually come without notice, and the business supports them.34

AT — applies in AustriaIf there are infringements, the authority can order a range of measures, up to closure. For minor shortcomings, a written request may come first.5

DE — applies in GermanyInspectors may enter business premises, inspect records, take pictures, request information and take samples. The business allows this and helps.6

DE — applies in GermanyThe certificate under § 43 (1) IfSG and the latest documentation of the follow-up instruction are kept by the employer. Anyone handling highly perishable food proves the specialist knowledge from training on request.78

AT — applies in AustriaThe Austrian Economic Chamber (WKO) lists documents that are expected, including the cleaning schedule, pest control records, cooling logs, training plan and corrective action plan. According to the WKO, training records are kept for at least three years. No law sets this period.910

Training applies EU-wide: anyone handling food is supervised and instructed or trained in food hygiene in line with their work.11

Sources

We read every source in the original on the date shown and checked it against the text: EU law in its German-language version, the links lead to the English one. All sources and what has changed (in German)

  1. 1Regulation (EU) 2017/625 on official controls, Art. 14(e), (f), (g) · checked 23 September 2026
  2. 2Regulation (EU) 2017/625 on official controls, Art. 15(1) · checked 23 September 2026
  3. 3AT — applies in AustriaLebensmittelsicherheits- und Verbraucherschutzgesetz (LMSVG), the Food Safety and Consumer Protection Act, Austria, § 35 (2) and (3) · in German, checked 23 September 2026
  4. 4AT — applies in AustriaLebensmittelsicherheits- und Verbraucherschutzgesetz (LMSVG), the Food Safety and Consumer Protection Act, Austria, § 38 (1) · in German, checked 23 September 2026
  5. 5AT — applies in AustriaLebensmittelsicherheits- und Verbraucherschutzgesetz (LMSVG), the Food Safety and Consumer Protection Act, Austria, § 39 (1) and (2) · in German, checked 23 September 2026
  6. 6DE — applies in GermanyLebensmittel- und Futtermittelgesetzbuch (LFGB), the Food and Feed Code, Germany, § 42 (2) and § 44 (1) · in German, checked 23 September 2026
  7. 7DE — applies in GermanyInfektionsschutzgesetz (IfSG), the Infection Protection Act, Germany, § 43 (5) · in German, checked 23 September 2026
  8. 8DE — applies in GermanyLebensmittelhygiene-Verordnung (LMHV), the Food Hygiene Ordinance, Germany, § 4 (1) · in German, checked 23 September 2026
  9. 9AT — applies in AustriaAustrian Economic Chamber (WKO), handbook on hygiene in hospitality (as of July 2025), Austria, pp. 59–62 (documentation, corrective actions) · in German, checked 23 September 2026
  10. 10AT — applies in AustriaAustrian Economic Chamber (WKO), handbook on hygiene in hospitality (as of July 2025), Austria, pp. 34–35 (training) · in German, checked 23 September 2026
  11. 11Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 on the hygiene of foodstuffs, Annex II, Chapter XII, point 1 · checked 23 September 2026
  12. 12DE — applies in GermanyInfektionsschutzgesetz (IfSG), the Infection Protection Act, Germany, § 43 (1) · in German, checked 23 September 2026
  13. 13DE — applies in GermanyInfektionsschutzgesetz (IfSG), the Infection Protection Act, Germany, § 43 (4) · in German, checked 23 September 2026
  14. 14AT — applies in AustriaGuideline on the health requirements for people handling food (Ministry of Health, 13 February 2013), Austria, point 2.1 · in German, checked 23 September 2026