Do I need a food license to sell coffee beans?

Do I need a food license to sell coffee beans?

In China, whether a food license is required to sell coffee beans has always been a hot topic. According to relevant laws and regulations, food businesses must obtain the corresponding license to operate legally. However, does the same requirement apply to non-processed foods such as coffee beans? The following will analyze from different angles.

1. Are coffee beans a processed food or a non-processed food?

First of all, we need to clarify whether coffee beans are processed or non-processed food. According to the definition in Article 3 of the "Order No. 10 of the Ministry of Health of the People's Republic of China": agricultural products, livestock and poultry products and other natural products that are "not processed or only processed" are raw agricultural products, livestock and poultry products and other natural products; agricultural products, livestock and poultry products and other natural products that are "processed more than twice" are deep-processed agricultural products, livestock and poultry products and other natural products.

From this we can conclude that coffee beans are raw agricultural products, not deep-processed agricultural products. Therefore, from this perspective, it is not necessary to apply for a food license to sell coffee beans.

2. Are coffee beans considered special foods?

However, in actual operation, some places still require a food license for the sale of coffee beans. This is because some places classify coffee beans as special foods and stipulate corresponding management measures.

According to Article 4 of "Order No. 10 of the Ministry of Health of the People's Republic of China": The so-called "special food" refers to food that has health functions, is suitable for patients with certain diseases or has other health purposes; or refers to traditional specialty snacks that are made using traditional methods and have a certain historical evolution, are used in a certain area and conform to local customs.

Based on the above definition, we can conclude that coffee beans are not special foods. Therefore, before there are clear laws and regulations, no license is required to sell ordinary coffee beans.

3. Requirements for selling coffee beans in different regions

Although according to the definition of laws and regulations, the sale of ordinary coffee beans does not require a food license, different regions have different requirements. Some places may require relevant supporting documents such as health licenses, food business licenses, etc. when selling coffee beans.

This is mainly because some places have taken stricter measures to strengthen supervision of food safety. Although this practice has no legal basis, it still exists in practice.

4. How to operate in compliance?

If you plan to sell coffee beans and want to avoid any disputes and violations, here are some suggestions:

1. Understand local policies: Before starting your business, you should first find out whether your region has any special requirements for selling coffee beans.
2. Communicate with relevant departments: If necessary, before starting operations, you can communicate with local health, market supervision and other departments and obtain their opinions and suggestions.
3. Maintain a good sanitary environment: Regardless of whether a food license is required, operators should maintain a good sanitary environment to ensure the quality and safety of coffee beans.
4. Cooperate with suppliers: Choose qualified and reputable suppliers, and ensure that the coffee beans sold meet the relevant standards and requirements.

In conclusion, on the question of whether a food license is required when selling coffee beans, we can conclude that according to the definition of laws and regulations, ordinary coffee beans do not belong to processed foods or special foods, so in most cases no license is required. However, in actual operation, it may be affected by factors such as local policies. In order to avoid disputes and violations, it is recommended that operators understand the relevant local policies before starting operations and communicate with relevant departments.