You must register your business at least 28 days before trading. Do not register too far in advance of your planned opening date. Depending on your food business, you may need approval. You must register a food business when you start one, take over an existing one or move the business to a new address. You must do this at least 28 days before opening. Once the 28-day period has elapsed, you may start to trade regardless of whether or not you have spoken to an officer.
A food business is anywhere storing or serving food or drink whether for profit or not. However, there are some exemptions for charity groups. If you handle, prepare, store and serve food occasionally and on a small scale, you do not need to register.
Registration cannot be refused and there is no charge. However, if you register too far ahead of opening, or appear to have ceased trading, then we will remove the entry.
If you use premises in more than one local authority area, you must register with each authority separately.
If there are any significant changes to premises or the operation, then the food business operator must re-submit a food business establishment registration form to the local authority.
Registration allows us to keep an up-to-date public register of food businesses in our area so we can visit them when we need to.
The frequency of the visits will depend on the type of business.