In 2025, the State Food and Veterinary Service (VMVT), monitoring online trade even more intensively than a year ago, found that cases of illegal activity slightly decreased.
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VMVT specialists, conducting internet space monitoring and selecting advertisements randomly or according to risk assessment criteria, selected 530 advertisements related to food trade or production. This is almost 2.5 times more compared to 2024.
Based on the selected advertisements, 432 investigations were carried out (2024 – 162): in as many as 318 cases (73.6%) it was found that food handling activities were carried out without a permit issued by VMVT (in 2024 such cases accounted for 77.8% of all investigations). Another 114 entities were registered with VMVT but did not indicate their permit number in the advertisements.
In 2025, the most frequently recorded illegal activities were the sale of food supplements (48%) and seasonal vegetable sales (18%).
The same food safety requirements apply to online food trade as to trading in physical retail locations. This means that a person or company producing or selling food must be registered for food handling activities with VMVT, and the consumer must be provided with all the information necessary to clearly identify the seller – to check whether they operate legally.
Moreover, the food supplied to consumers must be produced, handled, stored, and supplied in compliance with established food safety, hygiene, and quality requirements.
“When buying food online, most of its journey to the consumer’s table remains invisible, i.e., the ordering person does not know under what conditions the food was produced, where and how it was stored, or how it will be delivered. Therefore, one of the simplest things a consumer can and should check is who produces and sells this food and whether this activity is registered with VMVT. This is not just a formality – registered activity confirms that the seller is known to VMVT and their activity is subject to supervision,” says Gintarė Vadeikienė, Senior Specialist of the VMVT Supervision Department.
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According to her, in 2026 systematic internet space monitoring will continue to timely identify relevant trends and potential risks.
Violations are stopped, activity is encouraged to be legalized
By monitoring online store advertisements, VMVT not only uncovers illegal activities but also encourages their legalization or instructs to cease them. Of the 318 investigated cases of illegal activity, 9 entities (2.83%) later registered their food handling activity and continued legally, while 235 entities (73.9%) ceased their activity. In another 50 cases (15.7%), after VMVT contacted the advertisement portal administrators, the advertisements were removed or blocked. In the remaining cases, non-food products were sold, the activity was conducted by a foreign company, or contact with the entity could not be established, etc.
Upon detecting illegal activity, VMVT specialists explain to sellers how to register it and what legal requirements must be followed. In 2025, during online trade monitoring, as many as 201 consultations were provided – about four times more than in 2024. During consultations, entities are also informed about the responsibility and possible sanctions for non-compliance with established requirements. Sanctions were applied in 4 cases, accounting for 1% of all investigated cases.
What to check before buying food online?
VMVT recommends consumers check before buying food online whether the seller provides their name (or company name), contact details, and information about registered food handling activity.
If there are doubts about the seller offering food online, their registration can be checked at any time in the public VMVT Food Handling Entities Register. Possible illegal food trade or other observed violations should be reported to VMVT.
Consumer vigilance is especially important here – by checking from whom the food is purchased, it is easier to avoid unreliable sellers and reduce the risk of buying potentially unsafe food.
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