Can I legally sell home-cooked food online?
Selling home-cooked food online is legally possible in Romania, but requires a few mandatory authorisations. Without them, you risk fines and a shutdown at the first DSVSA inspection. The process is not complicated, but must be completed before your first delivery.
Short answer
- Yes, you can sell home-cooked food online, provided you have a DSVSA sanitary-veterinary authorisation for your kitchen.
- You register the company with activity code 1089 (other food products) or 5621 (contract catering), depending on the activity.
- The preparation space must be inspected and approved by DSVSA — a home kitchen can be authorised if it meets the regulations.
- You display the 14 mandatory allergens on each product (EU Reg. 1169/2011) and label accordingly.
- You issue a fiscal document (receipt or invoice) on every order — a cash register or invoicing solution is mandatory.
What the law says
- DSVSA sanitary-veterinary authorisation: mandatory for any space where you prepare food for sale, including a home kitchen.
- Activity code: 1089 for diverse food production (confectionery, preserves, condiments), 5610 for restaurants, 5621 for catering, 4729 for food retail.
- Labelling: product name, ingredients, the mandatory 14 allergen groups, net quantity, best-before date, storage conditions and the producer.
- Mandatory fiscal document on every sale: fiscal receipt (ANAF-registered cash register) or invoice.
Practical example
Example: a home-based patisserie in Iași sells cakes to order online. The steps: register an SRL with code 1089, apply for DSVSA authorisation for the renovated kitchen (area separate from living space, ventilation, washable surfaces), label each box with allergens, connect a cash register to ANAF. After authorisation, they launch the shop on 4salefood with a digital menu, photos and online orders — first deliveries in the same week.
Common mistakes
- Selling without DSVSA authorisation — the first complaint or inspection leads to a suspension and fine.
- Thinking that selling "a few cakes" carries no legal risk — any food sale, even occasional, falls under the law.
- Not showing allergens on labels — mandatory and the most common reason for complaints from allergic customers.
How 4salefood helps
- Digital menu with an allergen field per product — you display the legal requirements without touching any code.
- Online orders with card payment or cash on delivery, automatic invoice on every order.
- You open your food shop quickly, with no developers, SEO + GEO optimised to be found locally.