Hygiene Code for the Hospitality Industry
The hygiene code for hospitality is the practical handbook that helps restaurants, cafés and other food businesses in the Netherlands comply with legal food safety requirements. It is published by Koninklijke Horeca Nederland and approved by the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA). By using the hygiene code, entrepreneurs do not have to create a complete HACCP plan themselves. Instead, they can rely on a nationally recognized system that applies HACCP principles to the daily practice of hospitality operations.
What’s included in the hygiene code?
The code outlines all essential steps for handling food safely, such as:
- personal hygiene of employees,
- cleaning and disinfection procedures,
- receiving, storing and preparing food,
- temperature control during cooling and hot preparation,
- allergen information and preventing cross-contamination.
By systematically following and recording these procedures, businesses meet HACCP requirements and can demonstrate that they take food safety seriously.
How does it relate to HACCP?
The HACCP method itself is quite abstract: businesses are expected to analyze risks, define critical control points and describe measures. For many hospitality businesses, this is complex and time-consuming. The hygiene code translates these principles into concrete, practical instructions that can be applied immediately. In practice, the code acts as a ready-to-use HACCP plan. The major benefit is that entrepreneurs don’t need to reinvent the wheel but can follow an NVWA-approved approach, bridging the gap between theoretical regulations and the day-to-day reality of the kitchen.
Why digital compliance is becoming essential
In many restaurants and cafés, records are still kept on paper. While this is technically allowed, it increasingly creates challenges. NVWA inspections demand quick and reliable access to data and modern food chains require full traceability and transparency.
Digital systems solve these issues. Automated temperature logging, digital cleaning checklists and centralized allergen information make records up-to-date and always accessible. During an inspection, an entrepreneur can instantly show compliance with the hygiene code. Digital compliance is therefore not only more efficient, but also more transparent and future-proof.
What does this mean for your business?
If you operate in hospitality, the hygiene code is unavoidable. It forms the foundation of food safety and guarantees compliance with HACCP regulations. Supporting this process digitally makes compliance easier and strengthens your ability to demonstrate control over your operations. In doing so, the hygiene code provides assurance to the NVWA and builds trust with your guests and customers.