Register your Food Business

Registering a Food Business

If you are planning to start a new business that involves the sale of food you must register your business with the Council at least 28 days before opening. The registration is a simple online process using the Gov.uk website and there is no cost to register a food business: Register a Food Business 

You need to tell us about any premises you use for storing, selling, distributing or preparing food 28 days before starting up. If you use premises in more than one local authority area, you must register with each authority separately. If you operate a mobile food vehicle, you should register with the local authority in whose district you usually store your van overnight.

Food businesses include:

• restaurants
• hotels
• cafes
• shops
• supermarkets
• staff canteens
• warehouses
• guest houses
• market and other stalls
• ice cream vans

Most food businesses will only require registration. However, if you are operating a business producing and/or supplying products of animal origin to other food businesses, you may be required to apply for EC approval to use your establishment for that purpose. Products of animal origin include meat products, fishery products, minced meat, meat preparations etc.

• If you cook meat pies in your premises and only sell them to members of the public you will not require approval
• If you cook meat pies and only sell them to other businesses such as restaurants, shops etc, then you would require approval
• If you cook meat pies and supply members of the public and food businesses, you may require approval. If approval is required, you will have to adhere to additional requirements with regard to structure, layout, health marking etc. This is a complicated area of food law and each case needs to be looked at individually. Please contact us to discuss your operation if you think approval may be required.