Registration of Food Business

All food businesses must register with their Local Authority 28 days prior to opening. In addition to this, a registration form must be completed if an existing food business changes ownership. There is no charge for registration and a business cannot be refused registration. Receipt of your registration form will not be acknowledged unless you provide a stamped addressed envelope. Proof that the form has been received may alternatively be gained by a certificate of posting.

It is a legal requirement to register a food business with your local authority and you could be prosecuted if you do not do this. All food business registrations are held in a public register may be inspected at the Town Hall.

Please click on this link to view the Fixed Penalty Notices associated with these issues

Food Safety Regulations

In 2006 the Food Hygiene (England) Regulations were implemented. These regulations placed greater emphasis on the way in which risks to the safety of food are managed.

Food businesses now have a clear duty to make sure that food served or sold to their customers is safe to eat. Every food business will have different risks, depending upon the type of food that is prepared and the way in which it is produced and handled.

This means that all food businesses must put in place, implement and maintain a permanent procedure or procedures based on the principles of Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points. The amount and type of procedures will depend on the size and scope of a business.

We currently promote 'Cook Safe' which can support you through this requirement. In addition to this 'Safer Food Better Business' may also be of use to your business. Both of these documents have been produced by the Food Standards Agency and can be accessed via these links to the Food Standards Agency website;

As well as the Food Hygiene (England) Regulations 2006 there is other legislation that a food business must comply with. A summary of these are-

The Food Safety Act 1990
The General Food Regulations 2004
The Food Labelling Regulations 1996
Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 (Lays down the general principles and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying down the procedures in matters of food safety)
Regulation (EC) 852/2004 (Regards the hygiene of food stuffs)
Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 (Laying down specific hygiene rules for food of animal origin)

If you would like any further advice, guidance or assistance regarding your responsibilities as the owner or food business operator, please contact us using the contact details at the top of this page.