HACCP and Pest Control: What Every Restaurant Owner in South Athens Must Know
Health inspectors knocked on your door? Learn what the law requires and how to always be prepared.
If you operate a restaurant, café, bakery, or any food business in the South Athens suburbs, compliance with the HACCP system (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) is not optional — it is a legal obligation under European Regulation 852/2004. And one of the core chapters of HACCP concerns Pest Control.
What Exactly the Law Requires
During every health inspection, the inspector will check:
- Contract with a certified pest control company — There must be an active agreement with a company employing licensed technicians.
- Layout Plan — A map of your premises with the exact positions of bait stations, insect traps, and monitoring points.
- Visit and application records — Documentation of every technician visit, what was found, what was applied, which products were used (with license numbers).
- Safety Data Sheets (SDS) — The SDS for every product used must be available on-site.
- Inspection regularity — Inspections must occur at regular intervals (typically monthly).
The Most Common Violations
From our experience across dozens of restaurants in Glyfada, Voula, Vari, and Varkiza, the most common reasons for fines are:
- Expired or non-existent contracts — Many owners forget to renew. - Gaps in records — Months without a documented technician visit. - Live cockroaches — A live specimen found during inspection means an automatic fine. - Open food near entry points — Doors without air curtains or screens.
The Fines
Fines for hygiene violations range from €1,000 to €15,000, and in serious cases can lead to temporary closure. In recent years, EFET (the Unified Food Control Body) has intensified inspections, particularly during the summer season in tourist areas.
What We Provide to Businesses
At Sakis Goulas Pest Control, our commercial program includes:
- Monthly scheduled technician visits - Complete documentation in physical (binder) and digital format - Custom layout plan for your premises - Tamper-resistant rodent bait stations - UV insect traps for preparation areas - Odorless gel bait applications safe around food - Application report after every visit - Up-to-date product certifications
Don't wait for the health inspector. Call us at 698 631 9459 to get started today.