Bringing a Dog into a Food Premises – What Does the Law Say?

Bringing a dog into a food premises, such as a shop or a restaurant, often raises questions and discussion. What does the food law say about this? Can a pet dog be brought into any food premises, or are there restrictions?

According to the Finnish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry’s Regulation on Food Hygiene (318/2021), bringing a pet animal into the customer areas of a registered food premises is permitted if the operator allows it. However, the operator may limit what types of pets are allowed – for example, allowing only dogs or restricting the size of the animal. Any decision and related restrictions must always be clearly indicated at the entrance.

Anja Pouttu, food hygiene test examiner and trainer at Hygienepassport.fi, explains that this practice is important not only from a legal perspective but also for customer safety: “The decision is always made by the operator, but customers must be informed at the door whether pets are allowed. Not everyone reacts the same way to animals – some may have allergies or fear dogs – and that’s why clear communication is essential.”

While allowing pets can create a cozy and customer-friendly atmosphere, it also involves risks. Pouttu reminds us that animals can shed hair, which can easily end up on unpackaged food items: “Buffets, salad bars, and fruit sections are especially risky because food is openly displayed. Animal hair can get into food, and even the thought of this can raise concerns among customers.”

On a practical level, shopping carts are another consideration. Some grocery stores provide separate carts for pets, but according to Pouttu, risks may still arise. “If both food and pets are transported in the same cart, it’s always a hygiene risk. In addition, animals can trigger sneezing and coughing in allergic customers, which again increases the risk of droplet transmission,” Pouttu points out.

Unlike pet dogs, assistance dogs, such as guide dogs, hearing dogs, service dogs, support dogs, and diabetes alert dogs, are not ordinary pets but trained aids that support their handlers in daily activities and enable independent living. They can, for example, open doors, pick up dropped items, and help their handler move safely.

Finnish law guarantees assistance dogs the right to enter the customer areas of food premises without any special permission, unlike pets, whose access is subject to the operator’s decision. This right is based both on food hygiene legislation and on the Non-Discrimination Act, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability.

Assistance dogs are usually identified by a vest, harness, or backpack. Although they are welcome in customer areas, bringing them into kitchens or other areas where food is processed or stored is prohibited due to food safety requirements.

From a food safety perspective, the restrictions are clear: neither pets nor assistance dogs may be taken into kitchens or other areas where food is handled or stored. Responsibility for ensuring safety always lies with the operator, who must comply with the Food Act (297/2021).

Pouttu recommends that restaurants and cafés establish clear guidelines: “It’s advisable to define not only whether pets are allowed at all, but also how many animals can be in the premises at once and what size they may be. This way, it’s easier to ensure that all customers have a safe and pleasant experience.”

Food safety is a critical part of the food industry. The hygiene passport demonstrates that a person understands the basics of food hygiene and knows how to follow good hygiene practices. Completing and complying with the hygiene passport ensures that employees know how to act in situations such as when a pet is brought into a customer area.

Food business operators must ensure that all employees are aware of potential risks and follow the practices taught in the hygiene passport. This reduces the risk of harmful bacteria spreading to food and guarantees a safe and hygienic environment for both customers and staff.