Bakery and confectionery

Bakery and confectionery is a craft trade (field No. 4 of Annex No. 1 to the Trade Licensing Act) covering the production of bread, pastries, cakes, desserts and other confectionery products. To carry it on you must meet the general conditions under Section 6 and prove a professional qualification under Section 21 or Section 22 of Act No. 455/1991 Coll.

Examples of activities

• Production of bread and ordinary pastries
• Production of fine and durable pastries
• Production of cakes, desserts and confectionery products
• Operation of a bakery
• Operation of a confectionery shop
• Production of ice cream and confectionery as part of confectionery production
• Production of gingerbread and confectionery semi-products
• Baking and sale of one’s own products in a shop

What the trade is and what it is for

The trade Bakery and confectionery is a craft trade kept under field No. 4 in Annex No. 1 to Act No. 455/1991 Coll., on Trade Licensing (the Trade Licensing Act), as amended. It entitles you to produce bakery and confectionery products – from bread and ordinary pastries, through fine and durable pastries, to cakes, desserts and other confectionery. This includes the production and sale of one’s own products, that is, the operation of both a bakery and a confectionery shop.

Because this is a craft trade, the law insists on proof of a professional qualification. The authorisation arises on the day of notification to the Trade Licensing Office – you do not have to wait for a decision, as is the case with licensed (concession) trades.

What falls under this trade (and what does not)

This trade covers in particular:

• the production of bread and ordinary, fine and durable pastries,
• the production of cakes, desserts, confectionery, gingerbread and confectionery semi-products,
• the production of ice cream as part of confectionery production,
• the baking and sale of one’s own products in the establishment (bakery, confectionery shop).

Where the boundaries lie: If you only sold the products made (bought finished goods and offered them on without producing them), this is the unqualified trade “Wholesale and retail”, not a craft. The serving of meals and drinks for immediate consumption with service (operating a café with refreshments) falls under the craft trade Hospitality activity. The production of mill products (flour, semolina) is the separate craft trade Milling. If you do not know where your activity falls, verify the classification with the Trade Licensing Office or in the catalogue of trades.

Statutory conditions for obtaining the trade

You must meet the general conditions under Section 6 of the Trade Licensing Act: full legal capacity and a clean criminal record. The law does not require medical fitness or third-party liability insurance for this trade.

The professional qualification is, for a craft trade, a special condition for carrying on a trade under Section 7. At the same time, no obstacles to carrying on a trade under Section 8 may exist in your case (among other things, situations connected with bankruptcy or with a ban on activity in the field).

You prove the professional qualification under Section 21 by one of the documents on:

1. duly completed secondary education with an apprenticeship certificate in the relevant field of education (baker, confectioner),
2. duly completed secondary education with a school-leaving (maturita) examination in the relevant field of education,
3. duly completed higher vocational education in the relevant field of education,
4. duly completed university education in the relevant area of study programmes and fields of study,
5. the recognition of professional qualification issued by the recognising authority,
6. the verification or recognition of full professional qualification under Act No. 179/2006 Coll.

If you do not have these documents, you will use the substitute means under Section 22:

• an apprenticeship certificate, school-leaving certificate or higher vocational education in a related field of education + 1 year of practice in the field,
• university education in the relevant related area of study programmes and fields (here practice is not required),
• retraining for the relevant activity + 1 year of practice in the field,
• 6 years of practice in the field without a document on education.

You do not have to meet the qualification in person – you may appoint a responsible representative under Section 11 who meets the conditions under Section 21 or Section 22 and is responsible for the proper operation of the trade. One person may hold the office of responsible representative for no more than four entrepreneurs.

How to notify or obtain the trade step by step

1. Fill in the Unified Registration Form (URF). It serves simultaneously for registration with the tax office, the Czech Social Security Administration and the health insurance company.
2. Submit the notification at any municipal Trade Licensing Office, electronically via the rzp.gov.cz portal, or at a Czech POINT contact point.
3. Prove the professional qualification under Section 21 or Section 22 (apprenticeship certificate, school-leaving certificate, diploma, proof of practice, etc.) and the proof of payment of the fee.
4. Pay the administrative fee – CZK 1,000 on notification, CZK 800 when submitted electronically via rzp.gov.cz.

The Trade Licensing Office carries out the entry in the Trade Register, as a rule within 5 working days of delivery of the notification. You will find the detailed procedure in the guide How to start a trade.

Documents and fees

• Trade notification (URF) – in person, electronically or via Czech POINT.
• Proof of professional qualification under Section 21, or substitute documents under Section 22 (including proof of practice).
• Identity document; for a responsible representative also their consent to appointment to the office and proof of their qualification.
• Administrative fee: CZK 1,000 (notification), or CZK 800 (electronically).
• Registration deadline: within 5 working days of notification.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need an apprenticeship certificate in the field of baker or confectioner?

You do not have to have one. Under Section 21, an apprenticeship certificate, school-leaving certificate, higher vocational or university education in the relevant field is enough. If you do not have such education, you prove the qualification by substitution under Section 22 – by a related field with one year of practice, retraining with one year of practice, or six years of practice in the field without a document on education.

Can I do business on the basis of practice alone?

Yes. Under Section 22 the qualification may be proven by carrying out 6 years of practice in the field even without a document on education. The length and content of the practice must be proven to the office.

What if I do not meet the qualification at all?

You may appoint a responsible representative under Section 11 who meets the professional qualification. They are responsible for the proper operation of the trade and compliance with the regulations.

When can I start doing business?

The authorisation arises on the day of notification. You can therefore carry on the trade immediately after submission; you do not have to wait for the extract to be issued.

Do I need health (hygiene) approval for pastries?

From the point of view of the Trade Licensing Act, medical fitness and approval do not condition the creation of the authorisation. However, the operation of food production is subject to special regulations (hygiene and food requirements, registration with the supervisory authorities) – you handle these outside the trade notification.

Sources

• Ministry of Education – database of regulated activities, trade detail
• Act No. 455/1991 Coll., the Trade Licensing Act
• Ministry of Industry and Trade