Outdoor sales and mobile food premises

What is a mobile food premise?

A mobile food premise is a movable point of sale or serving area, or a temporary structure for preparing or handling food. Examples of mobile food premises include various food stalls, canopy tents, or food trucks. Mobile food premises typically operate at different events such as markets and fairs. Their location may vary daily or remain the same throughout an entire operating season.

Notify the food control authorities when you operate in different municipalities

If your mobile food premise is registered in Vantaa, you are not obliged to notify food operations which are conducted within the Vantaa area. However, mobile food premises registered in municipalities other than Vantaa must notify about food operations at least four days before the activity/event begins. You may notify by filling out and sending the form below to the email address ulkomyynti@vantaa.fi.

Checklist for selling and handling food in a mobile food premises

• Protect the sales and/or food handling area from dust, moisture, excessive heat, and pests
• Display a sign with your company/business name and Oiva report visible to customers
• Position refrigeration units and food stuffs so that they are not exposed to direct sunlight
• Do not store food, utensils, or packaging materials on the ground
• Shield food handling point from at least the top and three sides
• Place food handling points a sufficient distance away from customers or use droplet shelter
• Reserve adequate space and tools for food handling
• Maintain proper hand hygiene
• Ensure sufficient refrigeration equipment, containers, or bags, and if needed, cold packs for food stuffs requiring cold storage.
• Keep a thermometer with you and follow the temperature requirements set for food. Keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold.
• Ensure you have information on allergens and intolerances present in the products you are selling
• Reserve enough covered waste containers and ensure proper disposal of wastewater if necessary
• If you have another premise for handling food such as a restaurant, prepare food stuffs there as much as possible before outdoor food handling.

If you handle only packaged food items, you may maintain hand hygiene with hand sanitizer or disposable disinfectant wipes.

If you handle perishable unpackaged food items such as loose ice cream or food portions, there must be a handwashing point in your mobile food premise. The handwashing point must be equipped with at least a water container with a tap, and it must be operational before starting operations. The handwashing point must include:

• warm water
• liquid soap
• disposable hand towels and
• wastewater collection container.

All water used must meet the quality requirements for household water.

Street and park permits in Vantaa

Commercial activities, such as selling food, on the streets and parks of Vantaa require a permit issued by the city. Check for detailed information on permits for Vantaa's streets and parks here (in Finnish).

If the area is privately owned, ensure that the landowner allows you to operate your food business on the planned area.