Agri-food · NIS2

Agri-food — NIS2: securing production and the supply chain

NIS2 classifies the production, processing and distribution of food products among important entities. The sector must secure its systems, particularly industrial ones (production, cold chain, logistics), and notify incidents. This guide details qualification, measures and the supply chain.

DPO / CISO team — Data Comply One Updated on 15 June 2026

In brief

  • Regulation: NIS2.
  • Food producers, processors and distributors above the threshold are important entities.
  • Applying the measures of Article 21.
  • Securing production and cold storage.
  • Securing the supply chain.
  • For important entities, up to €7 M or 1.4% of global turnover.

Regulatory deadlines

The key dates of this regulation.

January 2023

Entry into force (EU directive)

In force

October 2024

Transposition deadline (EU)

In force

2026

French transposition (Resilience Act)

In force

What does NIS2 cover?

NIS2 includes the production, processing and distribution of food among the important entities listed in Annex II, above the size threshold. The measures set out in Article 21 apply to both IT and OT environments (production lines, cold chain).

Food traceability relies on information systems whose security is becoming a regulatory challenge.

Is the 'Food & Beverage' sector concerned?

Food producers, processors and distributors above the threshold are important entities. Large-scale food retail is particularly affected with regard to logistics and the cold chain.

Suppliers and service providers are involved through supply chain security.

Detailed obligations

Apply the measures of Article 21

Security policy, incident management, access control, backups, across IT and OT.

Securing production and cold storage.

Protecting production and cold chain systems, which are critical to food and health safety.

Secure the supply chain.

Managing suppliers, logistics providers and contractors.

Notify incidents

Early warning followed by reports within deadlines.

Govern

Involve senior management.

Sanctions & risks

For important entities, up to €7 M or 1.4% of global turnover. An incident affecting production systems or the cold chain has immediate health and economic consequences.

Application timeline

  • 1Directive. Adopted end of 2022.
  • 2France. Transposition in progress; get ahead of it for the sector.

Common mistakes in the sector

  • 1Neglected OT. Securing IT without addressing production lines.
  • 2Forgotten cold chain. Failing to protect critical systems from cold.
  • 3Unsecured chain. Leaving suppliers and logistics providers ungoverned.
  • 4Absent leadership. Limiting security to technical measures.

Practical case

A food and beverage manufacturer suffers an attack affecting the management of its cold chain. The NIS2 approach consists of segmenting IT/OT environments, securing production and refrigeration systems, overseeing service providers and testing business continuity.

Compliance roadmap

  1. 1

    Qualify. Confirm the status of important entity.

  2. 2

    Map. Inventory IT, OT, cold chain and logistics.

  3. 3

    Secure. Deploy priority measures.

  4. 4

    Frame. Secure suppliers and logistics providers.

  5. 5

    Notify. Tool up alerting.

Frequently asked questions

Food distribution is concerned as an important entity beyond the threshold.

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