Pre-requisites as a cook

Running a food business requires strict attention to hygiene and safety. To protect your customers and operate legally, you must follow all local regulations and approved sanitary standards.

Québec Requirements

To join Casafood and start selling your meals legally in Québec, you must complete certain steps required by the MAPAQ (Ministère de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation du Québec). This guide summarizes everything you need to do before signing up.

1. Verify With Your Municipality

Before applying for any permits, check with your municipal office to confirm that you are allowed to operate a home-based food business from your address.
If your municipality does not authorize it, you cannot proceed.

2. Apply for a MAPAQ Food Permit

You must obtain a “Vente au détail – préparation générale” permit to sell food from your domestic kitchen.

Download the official form here: http://bit.ly/48dC6L5.
Fill it out completely.
Mail it to the MAPAQ with your payment (check). The mailing address is at the bottom of the PDF form.

⚠️ Important Restrictions

You cannot use your domestic kitchen if:
You prepare food for wholesale (resale to another business).
You prepare more than 100 kg of products per month.
You prepare dairy products (other than those permitted under MAPAQ exceptions).
If any of these apply, you must use a certified commercial kitchen.

3. Complete the Mandatory Food Safety Training

MAPAQ requires one person in your household to be designated as the responsible food safety manager.

This person must take the 12-hour MAPAQ “Gestionnaire d’établissement alimentaire” training. More info here: https://bit.ly/Formationobligatoire
Access search for MAPAQ-certified trainers here: https://bit.ly/4n6Vuya.

Without this certification, you cannot legally sell food through Casafood.

4. Download and Join the CasaChef App

Casafood has created a dedicated app for home cooks, called CasaChef.

Download the beta version here: [INSERT CASACHEF LINK].
Use the app to manage your meals, customers, and sales.

5. MAPAQ Contact Information

If you have any questions or are unsure about your eligibility:
📞 Phone: 1-800-463-5023 (option 3)
📧 Email: smsaia@mapaq.gouv.qc.ca