Food Business Registration

UK law requires registration of premises used for a food business (including market stalls, delivery vehicles and other moveable structures).

 

 

UK law requires registration of premises used for a food business (including market stalls, delivery vehicles and other moveable structures). Registration allows local authorities to keep an up-to-date list of all those premises in their area so they can visit them when they need to. The frequency of the visits will depend on the type of business.

 

The law requires that food business (including market stalls, delivery vehicles and other moveable structure) should be registered.  Registration, which cannot be refused, allows us to keep an up-to-date list of all those premises that handle food substances.

 

If you run a food business you must tell us about any premises you use for storing, selling, distributing or preparing food.  Food premises include restaurants, hotels, cafes, shops, supermarkets, staff canteens, kitchens in offices, warehouses, guest houses, delivery vehicles, buffet cars on trains, market and other stalls, hot dog and ice cream vans, etc.

 

If you use vehicles for your food business in connection with permanent premises such as a shop, or warehouse, you only need to tell us how many vehicles you have.  You do not need to register each vehicle separately.  If you have one or more vehicles but no permanent premises, you must tell us where they are normally kept.

 

Anyone starting a new food business must register at least 28 days before commencing operation.

 

You can register a Food Premises via Online Services, or complete and return the Food Business Registration application form.

 

Details from application forms will appear in a public register.  Information on addresses and the type of food business carried on at those premises will be open to inspection by the general public.

 

Sites will exist on which there are two or more food business establishments under the control of the same business operator.  For example, in the case of a shopping centre in which there are two or more food business establishments under the control of the same business operator, such operators must ensure that each establishment under their control is registered separately.  Food business operators should therefore complete a registration form for each separate establishment.

 

Sites will also exist on which there are two or more food business establishments under the control of different food business operators.  For example, a supermarket may have a coffee shop on site under the control of a different food business operator such as a coffee shop chain.  In such cases the coffee shop will not be covered by the supermarket registration and must be registered in it's own right by its operator.  Coffee shops, snack bars etc operated by the supermarket itself would be covered as part of the supermarket's registration.

 

Once you have registered you only need to notify us of a change of Food Business Operator.  If the nature of the business changes, or if there is a change of address at which moveable premises are kept, the new Food Business operator will have to complete an application form.