Licenses for Trade Alcohol and Tobacco Products

The conditions for the operation of organizations in the field of consumer services, retail trade, and public catering often include:

1. inclusion of the facility in the Trade or Consumer Services Register;
2. submission of a notification of the commencement of activity (not for all types of activities);
3. passing a sanitary inspection.

Passing inspections and obtaining the necessary conclusions from the sanitary-epidemiological service (commonly known as the “sanitary station”) is one of the most difficult but mandatory stages for the operation of your business in Belarus.

Who must obtain a conclusion in the field of trade and services?

In Belarus, there is a separate list of areas that pose a potential danger to life and health. From the field of trade and services, the following can be distinguished:

1. retail trade;
2. wholesale trade;
3. activities of public catering facilities (restaurants, bars);
4. event catering;
5. hotel business;
6. consumer services (hairdressers, beauty salons, spa services, manicure, pedicure, etc.).

Our law firm offers comprehensive support on all matters related to interaction with the sanitary station, ensuring your catering facility or service establishment operates smoothly.

Key stages of interaction with the sanitary station

It is possible to open and launch a catering facility, retail outlet, or beauty salon without initially passing a sanitary inspection. However, within 1 month after the official opening, the company must independently apply to the sanitary station and obtain a sanitary-hygienic conclusion.

Stage 1. Inspection of the facility.

First of all, it is necessary to check the condition of the premises before signing a lease agreement or before purchasing the property. We recommend checking the serviceability of communication systems, engineering systems and equipment, and the serviceability of the ventilation system.

Also, before signing the contract, we recommend coordinating with a technologist the possibility of installing equipment and implementing the technological scheme specifically in this facility. For example, your catering or salon concept may not always be realizable in a given premises.

Stage 2. Preparation of the facility for launch.

After the completion of construction or renovation work, the facility must be fully ready for operation. This includes, among other things:

• installation and connection of all technological and refrigeration equipment;
• provision of necessary inventory, utensils, first aid supplies;
• organization of water supply, sewerage, ventilation, and lighting systems;
• carrying out disinfection, disinsection, deratization and concluding contracts with relevant services;
• arrangement of areas for collection and storage of waste, staff clothing, etc.;
• conducting laboratory tests (for example, monitoring microclimate parameters, monitoring materials that come into contact with raw materials and food).

It is also necessary to comply with all legal formalities and requirements for opening your business:

• include the company in the relevant Register;
• submit notifications;
• obtain licenses;
• formalize the employment of workers;
• set up a consumer corner.

Stage 3. Sanitary-hygienic examination.

Who conducts it? The Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology of the district where your establishment is located. For example, if you have 2 restaurants (in the Central and Sovetsky districts of Minsk), the examinations will be conducted by the Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology of the Central and Sovetsky districts.

What is checked? Specialists from the Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology conduct an inspection of the facility for compliance with sanitary standards. The following are assessed: technological processes, the procedure for processing and storing products, the presence of an implemented production control program, the presence of medical certificates for employees, the presence of sanitary-hygienic training, the ventilation system passport and reports on aerodynamic tests performed, etc.

The full list of documents and requirements depend on the specifics of your business. For example, if the catering facility also has hookahs: the ventilation system must be separate from the ventilation system of the residential building; the ventilation shaft (duct) must extend 1m above the surface (ridge) of the roof, and much more.