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Act: Public Health Act
Regulation: Various

To Whom Does This Apply?

Under the guidance of the Public Health Act, Food and Food Establishments Regulation all businesses within Alberta which sell, produce, manufacture or store any type of food or drink for distribution will require a food establishment permit.

The Public Health Act, Food and Food Establishment Regulation, hereafter referred to as the Food Regulation defines a food establishment as “premises where food that is intended for consumption by the public is served, offered for sale, displayed, processed, packaged, stored or handled...”.

The Public Health Act, Swimming Pool Regulation also states that a license is required and issued by the local Regional Health Authority for the operation of a public or semi-public swimming pool. A business license may also be required by the community in which the business is operating.

Summary

The first step to developing your food business is to check with your local regional health unit for the requirements in opening and operating a food establishment. Operators of all food establishments are required to obtain a Food Establishment Permit from the Regional Health Authority in accordance with the Food Regulation, prior to opening. It is the sole responsibility of the operator to obtain approvals, licenses, and permits from all other approval agencies. Contact your local Health Inspector with any questions regarding your Food

Establishment.

The following documentation must be submitted and approved by an Executive Officer prior to
operation:

• Food Establishment Permit Application
• Plans of premise including details showing layout of equipment & site plan
• Proposed menu

Permit Classification

The Minister of Health and Wellness has established a classification of facilities and a schedule of fees based on the type of foods and the extent of food handling involved in the operation.
The classifications are as follows:
· Classification 1 - Establishments that process, sell or manufacture non-perishable or
prepackaged products with minimal food handling and processing (e.g. confectionery and
warehouses.)
· Classification 2 - Establishments that are only involved in limited handling, processing,
manufacturing, selling, or packaging of raw ingredients and are cooked or prepared to order.
Hot and cold holding of potentially hazardous foods is restricted to single meal services (e.g.
food establishments with limited menu.)
· Classification 3 - Establishments that are involved in extensive handling of raw ingredients,
and the processing, manufacturing, selling, or packaging of potentially hazardous food
(including beef, poultry, foods of animal origin eaten raw or lightly cooked), extensive food
handling, or dealing with high risk clientele (e.g. full service restaurants, hospitals, caterers,
and commissaries.)
· Classification 4 - Establishments that have greater than three categorizations in one
building (e.g. mega food stores, large hotels with multiple facilities.)

Under the Regional Health Authority Act the Regional Health Authorities are required to "promote and protect the health of the population within the region to prevent disease and injury" within the Province of Alberta.

It is advisable to contact the Regional Health unit early in the planning stages of your business to ensure that your facility will meet the standards of the Food and Food Establishments Regulation. This may require a physical inspection of the premises. The authority will be able to provide you with information on what standards or changes are required prior to the issuance of a permit or a license. This will ensure that you can safely store, sell or manufacture food or operate a swimming pool. Check first with the regional health authority in the area that you are planning to process or sell a food product:

If you are not sure which Regional Health unit covers your community, the contact information for each authority is available at the Environmental Health website www.ephs.ca.

For more information on food businesses see the following web page: So... You Want To Open A Food Business?

• Food Permit application
• Starting a Restaurant, Bar or Coffee Shop in Alberta
• Food Safety Tips
• Food Recalls - Importers' Guide
• Food Recalls and Allergy Alerts

DISCLAIMER
Information contained in this section is of a general nature only and is not intended to constitute advice for any specific fact situation. For particular questions, the users are invited to contact their lawyer.

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