Hygiene license refers to the hygiene license issued by units and individuals engaged in catering food production and business activities after examination and approval by the administrative department of health, and the license number is registered for the record.

"According to? "Measures for the Administration of Food Hygiene License", "Any unit or individual engaged in food production and business activities shall report to the administrative department of health in accordance with the regulations and go through the application procedures for health license; Only after examination and approval by the administrative department of health can they engage in food production and operation activities and bear the responsibility for food hygiene. " "The health administrative department of the local people's government shall abide by these measures and issue hygiene licenses to food producers and operators." "Hygienic licenses for production activities of food additives, health foods and new resource foods are issued by provincial health administrative departments."

On June 1 2009, the Food Safety Law stopped issuing hygiene licenses, and was replaced by the Catering Service License, the Food Circulation License and the Food Production License.