This page gives you more detail about the registration of food premises.
The registration of premises used for a food business is required by law.
This includes any stalls, delivery vehicles or moveable structures from which you may operate your business.
Registration allows local authorities to keep an up to date list of all premises in their area that are engaged in food work, so that visits and inspections can be made as they are needed. The frequency of visits and inspections will depend on the type of business.
Do I Need to Register?
Yes, if you run a food business for more than five days in any five consecutive weeks. If you do, 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, market stalls, hot dog and ice-cream vans etc.
If you use vehicles for your food business and you have permanent premises such as a shop or warehouse, you need only tell us how many vehicles you have. You do not have to register each vehicle separately.
If you have one or more vehicles but no permanent premises, you must tell us where the vehicles are normally kept.
Anyone starting a new business must register with us at least 28 days before doing so.
The majority of food premises will have to be registered. However, certain premises are exempt from registration, for example, some 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.
If you think your food activities may fall into one of these categories, please contact us |for advice.
How Do I Register?
By completing a simple form and sending it to us.
We cannot refuse to register your business and there is no charge for the registration.
If you use premises in more than one council area, you must register with each authority separately. When you complete the form, you must tick all the boxes that apply to your business, answer all the questions and give all the information requested.
If your business is seasonal i.e. operates for a certain period each year, you should give the dates between which the premises will be open.
If you have any questions at all, do contact us |for help.
We would like to remind you that it is an offence to give information which you know to be false.
What Happens To The Information I Give?
We have to enter the details on our register of food premises. This register, giving the address and type of business carried on has to be open to inspection by the general public. However, records of other information which you provide will not be available to the public.
Changes of Circumstance
Once the premises are registered with us, you need only let us know if there is a change of proprietor, if the nature of the business changes or if there is a change of the address at which moveable premises (e.g. stalls or vehicles) are kept.
Any new proprietor will have to complete a new application form.
If we wish to change the entry in the register because of information we have received from someone else, we will give you 28 days notice and an opportunity to comment on the proposed change.
The notes on this page are provided for guidance only. They are not a complete statement of the law applying to registration of food premises.