For vendors

Insurance & requirements

What you actually need to trade at an Irish market, explained without the jargon.

Requirements vary by market

This page explains what is typical. It is not a substitute for reading the specific listing — a food market and a craft fair genuinely ask for different things, and individual organisers set their own minimums.

Public liability insurance

This is the one nearly every market asks for. It covers you if a member of the public is injured, or their property damaged, as a result of your stall. Somebody trips over your cable; your gazebo blows into a car; a jar falls off your table.

Irish markets typically ask for €5 million to €6.5 million of cover. Cover for a small market trader generally costs somewhere in the region of €100–€300 a year.

Product liability insurance

Covers you if something you sold causes injury or damage. It is frequently bundled with public liability in a single market trader policy, so check whether yours already includes it.

If you sell food

Food traders carry the heaviest requirements, and organisers are strict because environmental health officers do inspect markets.

Environmental Health Office registration — a legal requirement, not a preference
Food safety training — HACCP or an equivalent recognised certificate
Gas safety certificate if you cook using LPG
Electrical certification (PAT test) for equipment on their supply
Higher insurance limits than craft fairs typically set

Where to get insured

Several Irish brokers offer market trader and craft fair policies specifically. We deliberately do not recommend or take commission from any provider — shop around, and check that the policy covers outdoor trading, trading away from your home address, and meets the cover limit your target markets require.

Typical requirements by market type

We do not verify documents

Vendors self-declare their insurance and certification, and organisers check it as part of approving them. MarketsIreland does not verify or validate any document. A badge on a profile means the vendor stated something — not that we confirmed it.

General information, not advice

Insurance and food safety obligations depend on your circumstances. Talk to a broker and to your local authority’s environmental health office rather than relying on a web page.

What different market types typically ask for

Requirements vary — always read the specific listing rather than assuming one standard applies everywhere.

Craft & maker fairs

Public liability; proof goods are handmade

Christmas markets

Public liability; food documentation if selling food; often a minimum trading commitment

Farmers' markets

Public liability; EHO registration for prepared food, dairy, meat or fish

Food markets

Public liability at a higher limit; EHO registration; food safety training; gas and electrical certification

Vintage & antique fairs

Public liability; occasionally proof of provenance for certain goods

Car boot sales

Often nothing — many are casual, turn-up-on-the-day events

This is general information, not advice

Insurance and food safety obligations depend on your specific circumstances. Talk to a broker and to your local authority’s environmental health office rather than relying on a web page.

Got your paperwork sorted?

Put it on your profile once and stop re-sending it to every organiser.