Can I sell at a farmers' market?
Conditional: yes, but only with a licence. Under Law 4849/2021 (outdoor trade), there are two licence types: producer vendor (sells own produce) and professional vendor (third-party goods). The licence is personal, one per person. The licence + a numbered spot are awarded via a public call, ranked by points. A business start at AADE and an electronic cash register are required (with limited exceptions). It covers organised markets, stationary and itinerant trade. In short: yes, with a licence and a spot.
📋 The rules
- Two licences: producer or professional vendor
- Licence is personal, one per person
- Spot via a public call + points
- Mandatory: AADE business start + cash register
- Covers markets, stationary & itinerant trade
🔓 Exceptions
- Cooperatives/social enterprises: multiple licences
- Artisans: own-creation certification
- Transfer to family on retirement/death within 6 months
⚠️ Penalties & fines
The sanctions (Art. 62) are heavy: €5,000 for selling without a licence; €2,000 for unlisted items; €1,000 for various breaches; plus goods confiscation and imprisonment ≥6 months for unlicensed trade in industrial/craft goods. Beware a myth: pages citing the old Law 4497/2017 or a "€100–€3,000" range are outdated — the current unlicensed-selling fine is €5,000. To stay compliant: get the right licence (producer or professional), claim a spot via the public call, do a business start at AADE and get a cash register, and sell only the listed items at your spot.
📎 Official sources
❓ Frequently asked
Can I sell at a farmers' market without a licence?
No. You need a producer-vendor licence, if you sell your own produce, or a professional-vendor licence, if you sell third-party goods. The licence is personal and comes with a numbered spot awarded via a public call. Selling without a licence is fined €5,000 with confiscation.
How do I get a spot at a market?
The spot is awarded via a public call, ranked by points. You first obtain the right licence, producer or professional, and then claim a specific, numbered spot. A business start at AADE and an electronic cash register are also required.
What's the difference between producer and professional vendor?
A producer vendor sells produce of their own production, e.g. farm goods from their field. A professional vendor trades third-party goods. Each category has its own licence, with different documents, such as a farmers' registry for the producer or certification for artisans.
What's the fine for selling without a licence?
Selling without a licence is fined €5,000, along with confiscation of the goods. For unlisted items the fine is €2,000, while unlicensed trade in industrial or craft goods can also bring imprisonment of at least 6 months.
Does Law 4497/2017 still apply?
No. Law 4497/2017 was replaced by Law 4849/2021. Pages citing the old law or fines of €100 to €3,000 are outdated. Under the current framework, selling without a licence is fined €5,000, a clearly higher penalty.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
- “street market licence”
- “selling without licence fine”
- “law 4849/2021 outdoor trade”
- “producer vendor licence”
- “market spot public call”
- “itinerant trade licence”