Do all food premises need to be registered?

All food business establishments need to be registered if you want to carry out any food operations except establishments which need to be approved under Regulation (EC) 853/2004, for example Food Manufacturers. If in doubt, please contact the Environmental Health team.

Who is exempt from registering as a food business?

Premises exempt from registration include: premises already registered for food law purposes. certain agricultural premises. motor cars, tents and marquees – but not stalls.

Is it an Offence not to register a food business?

You are required by law to register most new food businesses 28 days prior to opening. It is an offence under Article 6(2) of Regulation (EC) 852/2004 on the hygiene of foodstuffs, not to register the business and although registration is free of charge, it is still an offence to fail to register.

Do all premises where food operations are carried out need to be registered?

Registration will apply to all types businesses who sell food and or drink, regardless of where they operate from. It includes businesses trading from home, a mobile unit, or temporary premises such as a stall of van and applies if you only sell food or drink online.

Can you sell food without a license UK?

If you sell, cook, store, handle, prepare or distribute food, you may be considered a food business and will need to register with your local authority. This includes food businesses trading: from physical customer-facing premises. from home.

FSA Explains: Registering a food business

Is it legal to sell homemade food in UK?

While you may not define yourself as a business, if you are providing food on a regular and organised basis, you are a food business under food law. Once you have registered as a food business, local authority officers will make arrangements to visit your home to conduct a food hygiene inspection.

Do I need any certificates to sell food?

Food businesses are legally required to ensure all food handlers receive an appropriate level of training and supervision in food hygiene and safety. Although a certificate is not required by law, for the majority of food businesses it is the preferred way of proving food handlers have had the correct training.

Is it a legal requirement for all food businesses?

The law requires that all food establishments must register their food business with their local authority.

What must legally food premises provide?

Your premises must have adequate facilities for cleaning, disinfecting and storing utensils, including equipment. The facilities must have an adequate supply of hot and cold water.

Is it a legal requirement to have food safety certificate?

There is no legal requirement to attend a formal training course or obtain a qualification, although many businesses may want their staff to do so. The necessary skills could also be obtained in other ways, such as through on-the-job training, self-study or relevant prior experience.

How do I know if my food business is registered UK?

You can check if a business is registered by searching to see if it is listed on our food hygiene ratings website (Opens in a new window). If you think a food business may not be registered, you can report it to the local authority's food safety team where the business is located.

Is it illegal to not register a business?

No, sole traders don't need to register a business or its name. This is because sole traders aren't legally separate from their business, in the way that a limited company is a different entity from its owner.

Do you need a certificate for preparing or selling food in the UK?

In the UK, food handlers don't have to hold a food hygiene certificate to prepare or sell food. The skills taught in official training programmes can also be learned by: training on-the-job. self-study.

What certificates are needed to open a food business?

You will need to demonstrate that you have been adequately trained in food hygiene. It is not compulsory for you to have a food hygiene certificate, but if you are looking to start a food business, we recommend that you pursue a food hygiene qualification to improve your knowledge.

Who can be prosecuted in a food business?

If your establishment is found to have committed food safety or hygiene offences and the local authority are looking to prosecute, the owner or proprietor of the business is the person held responsible and the individual (or individuals) who can be prosecuted for breaching the law.

Can I put food through my business?

There are certain situations where you can claim for food and drink expenses. The rule is that you're allowed to claim a meal as subsistence – but it has to be outside of your normal working routine.

What is a food premises Licence?

Being approved by your local council and being granted a food premises approval licence allows local authorities to keep an up to date list of all those premises in their area so they can visit them when they need to.

Can I park my food truck anywhere UK?

Some people assume that with the right licence there are no limits on where you can park your food truck, but this is actually not the case. You can't park your food truck anywhere in the UK and start trading, as each town and city has designated areas where food vendors are allowed to operate.

Do cafes need to be licensed?

Food Business Registration

All restaurants and any other premises used for a food-related business must be registered with their local authority. Registration is free, cannot be refused and must be done at least 28 days before the restaurant opens.

Do you need planning permission to run a food business from home?

If you intend to use your kitchen for business purposes on a regular basis, you will need to contact our planning team as you will need permission to operate a business from home.

Do you need a food hygiene certificate to sell food at a market?

A Level 2 Food Safety in Catering certificate would be required as a minimum. Various organisations accredit food-safety courses at all levels and award the certificates. Food safety training companies are registered to run courses on their behalf.

What are the consequences of non compliance with food safety laws?

Non-compliance with food safety regulations can result in enforcement actions such as improvement notices, prohibition orders, seizure of food, fines, and prosecution.

Do you need a hygiene certificate to sell tea and coffee?

Do I need a food hygiene certificate to sell tea and coffee? Yes, you will. As with selling cakes and sweets, if you are selling hot beverages, whether it is from home, a mobile van or a cafe, you need to register as a food business.

Can I sell cakes to friends and family?

Unfortunately, it's not quite a piece of cake when it comes to flogging your sweet treats from home. There are food hygiene regulations to consider – and you'll likely need to take a Level 2 Food Safety Course before you can sell a single slice from your front door.

Do I need a food hygiene certificate to sell tea and coffee?

What food hygiene certificate will you need to open a coffee shop? All food industry premises must adhere to food hygiene and safety rules and regulations. One way to show that you adhere to regulations is by obtaining food hygiene certificates for your staff.