Order No. 523 on the entry into force in Greenland of the Food Act, etc.

This Order, issued by the Danish Government, extends Denmark’s food act (Act No. 471 of 1998) to Greenland, establishing a comprehensive framework for food safety, composition, marketing, labeling, production, and control. Its objectives are to ensure consumers have access to safe, high-quality food, protect them from misleading practices, provide fair conditions for producers and traders, and support Greenlandic food exports. The law applies to the sale and treatment of foodstuffs that are wholly or partly of animal origin, excluding products made solely for the domestic Greenlandic market and private household production.
The law regulates a wide range of matters: food hygiene, contamination, additives, labeling, and marketing standards to prevent consumer deception. It also governs the organization of food businesses, requiring authorization or approval for production, slaughter, storage, and wholesale activities. Rules are included for primary production such as farming, fishing, and milk production, with strict requirements on hygiene and product quality. Further provisions cover import and export of foodstuffs, materials in contact with food, voluntary labeling schemes, nutrition labeling, and consumer information.
Enforcement mechanisms are detailed through inspections, sampling, sanctions, and penalties. Authorities are empowered to order recalls, destruction, or re-labeling of unsafe products, with costs borne by the companies involved. Companies must also finance inspections and approvals through fees and charges. The ordinance introduces rules on complaints, exemptions, and emergency powers in crises or war. Violations may result in fines, with stricter penalties for deliberate or negligent breaches that endanger health or yield economic gain. The Order repealed earlier Greenlandic regulations on meat, fish, and quality control.