How to Appoint a Food Business Operator (FBO) in Italy and EU: Legal Framework for Foreign Companies

Bringing Food Supplements to the European Market

With the rise of e-commerce platforms like Amazon, Shopify, and specialized wellness stores, international companies are increasingly looking to launch food supplements and functional products in the European Union. However, entering the EU market—especially Italy, one of the most regulated and strategic entry points—requires strict compliance with food law, starting with the appointment of a Food Business Operator (FBO). Here, we’ll guide you on how to appoint a Food Business Operator (FBO) in Italy and the EU.

If you’re a non-EU company aiming to distribute or sell your products in Europe, understanding the role, legal responsibilities, and practical setup of an FBO in Italy is essential.

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What Is an FBO? The Legal Definition in the EU and Italy

A Food Business Operator (FBO) is defined under Regulation (EC) No. 178/2002 as:

“The natural or legal persons responsible for ensuring that the requirements of food law are met within the food business under their control.”

In Italy, Legislative Decree No. 27/2021 further governs this role, implementing EU food safety rules at the national level.

The FBO must:

• Be established within the European Union;
• Be legally responsible for placing the product on the EU market;
• Ensure the product is manufactured and packaged in an authorized facility;
• Be subject to inspections by the Italian Ministry of Health and local health agencies (ASL);
• Maintain complete traceability and compliance documentation.

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Can a Non-EU Company Act as Its Own FBO?

No. A company outside the EU cannot legally act as the FBO unless it has:

• A registered company within the EU, and
• An approved facility where the food or supplement is manufactured, labelled, and packaged.

If these conditions are not met, the company must appoint an independent EU-based FBO that assumes legal responsibility for the product’s safety and regulatory compliance.

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Key Responsibilities of an Italian or EU-Based FBO

• Product manufacturing or processing in its laboratory;
• Ensuring compliance with EU and national food safety regulations;
• Acting as the contact point for authorities;
• Maintaining detailed records for traceability and audits;
• Registering the product with the Ministry of Health (when required);
• Providing labelling compliance review.

The FBO is not merely a mailing address or an administrative figure—it must assume full legal and operational responsibility for the product.

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Solutions for Foreign Companies: Appointing a Compliant FBO in Italy

At our firm, we assist non-EU companies in identifying and onboarding a fully compliant FBO entity in Italy. This entity operates through its own certified laboratory and has extensive experience with international partners.

This approach allows your company to:

• Remain the distributor/seller without assuming regulatory risk;
• Entrust the FBO duties to a specialized partner, including product manufacturing;
• Receive legal supervision and support from our team for all contractual and compliance steps.

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Production and FBO Costs in Italy

The cost of FBO services in Italy depends on various factors, primarily the estimated quantity to be produced. Since the FBO must manufacture the product in-house, production volumes, formulation complexity, packaging, and regulatory services all influence pricing.

We recommend providing a preliminary estimate of your production needs to receive an accurate and customized quote.

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Why Choose an Italian FBO Partner?

Italy has one of the most structured and transparent food safety regulatory systems in the EU. Working with an Italian FBO offers:

• Strong regulatory credibility with EU authorities;
• Skilled manufacturers specializing in food supplements and herbal products;
• Competitive production and compliance costs;
• Seamless integration with Ministry of Health procedures.

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Italy: A Key Entry Point for Food Supplements

Italy is not only one of the most active EU countries in terms of food supplement consumption but also boasts rigorous and well-defined food safety regulations. Any product intended for the Italian market must be notified through the Ministry of Health’s NSIS system and comply with national rules on:

• Labelling and nutritional claims;
• Ingredient safety and dosage limits;
• Marketing communications and packaging standards.

This makes Italy both a challenging and rewarding jurisdiction for non-EU brands.

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Our Legal and Operational Support: A Complete FBO Solution in Italy and EU

At Iacovazzi Global Business Lawyers, we provide a turnkey legal solution for non-EU clients seeking to enter the Italian and EU food markets.

We collaborate with a certified and highly experienced Italian FBO partner, who:

• Produces food supplements in its authorized laboratory;
• Takes formal responsibility as the EU-based Food Business Operator;
• Complies entirely with EU and Italian health regulations;
• Maintains production records, lot traceability, and documentation in case of regulatory audits or inspections.

Our FBO partner has successfully worked with international clients, including from the U.S., Asia, and the Middle East, helping them launch single or multiple products in compliance with Italian law.

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Our Comprehensive Range of Services

As part of our legal services, we:

✅ Draft and negotiate FBO mandate and production agreements
✅ Supervise the entire compliance process, from formulation to labelling
✅ Coordinate with the FBO and health authorities in case of inspections
✅ Assist with ingredient evaluations, dosage reviews, and packaging checks
✅ Ensure legal protection of your client’s business and brand

This allows your company to focus purely on marketing and distribution while the Italian FBO takes full regulatory responsibility.

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Product Manufacturing: Required for Legal FBO Status

It’s important to understand that the FBO must physically manufacture or process the product on its premises. Merely acting as a paper representative does not comply with Italian or EU law.

Therefore, if your client wishes to avoid being the FBO, they must:

• Authorize a compliant third-party FBO and
• Have their product manufactured in the FBO’s certified facility.

This guarantees compliance and satisfies the legal requirement of production traceability and accountability.

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Why Work with Iacovazzi Global Business Lawyers?

For non-EU companies looking to expand into the European market with food supplements or wellness products, appointing a reliable and compliant Food Business Operator (FBO) in Italy is not only a legal requirement—it is a strategic necessity.

Our firm offers end-to-end legal support, from identifying the right FBO partner to drafting all necessary agreements and overseeing compliance, labelling, and production.

🔹 We combine legal expertise with hands-on experience in food business operations
🔹 We work exclusively with certified FBO laboratories and suppliers
🔹 We understand both international client expectations and Italian regulatory realities
🔹 We speak your language—legal, regulatory, and commercial