Registration - food businesses
Registration of premises used for a food business (including market
stalls, delivery vehicles and other moveable structures) is
required by law.
Registration will allow us to keep an up-to-date list of all
those premises in the area so we can visit them when we need to.
The frequency of the visits will depend on the type of
business.
Who needs to register?
If you run a food business for five or more days in
any five consecutive weeks, you must tell (or arrange for
someone else to tell) us about any premises you use for storing,
selling, distributing or preparing food. Food premises
includes:
- 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 with us at
least 28 days before doing so.
The majority of premises have to be registered. However, certain
premises are exempt from registration, such as those which are
already registered for food law purposes, certain agricultural
premises, motor cars, tents and marquees (but not stalls), some
domestic premises and some village halls. You should contact us if
you think you might be exempt.
How do I register?
Register by filling in the an application form. Registration
cannot be refused and there is no charge. The registration form
must be sent to us at the address on this page. If the form is sent
to the wrong address, your application will not take effect until
it is received at the proper place. If you use premises in more
than one local authority area, you must register with them
separately.
You must tick all the boxes which apply to your business, answer
all the questions and give all the information requested. Seasonal
businesses operating for a certain period each year should give the
dates between which they will be open.
food premise
registration form
If you have any questions, we will help you. It is an offence to
give information which you know is false.
What happens to the information given on the form?
We will enter the details on the register. A register of
addresses and the type of business carried on at these will be open
to inspection by the general public. Records of the other
information provided will not be publicly available and will not be
disclosed outside of the Council, Local Government Departments and
Government Agencies. The details will by used for the purpose of
registration, enforcement and the protection of public funds.
What about changes?
Once you have registered with us, you only need to notify us of
a change of proprietor, if the nature of the business changes, or
if there is a change of the address at which moveable premises are
kept. The new proprietor will have to complete an application form.
If we wish to change the entry in the Register because of
information which we receive from someone else, you will be
given 28 days notice and an opportunity to comment on the proposed
change.