Food Business Registration

EC law (Article (6) of EC Regulation 852/2004) requires food businesses to register their premises.

Registration allows local authorities to keep an up-to-date list of all those food premises in their area so they can visit them when they need to. The frequency of the visits will depend on the type of business.

There are no longer any specific exemptions from the requirement to be registered. However, the need for registration does not apply to:

• primary production for private or domestic use
• domestic preparation, handling or storage of food for private domestic consumption.

You only need to register businesses that trade or take place on a frequent basis, not infrequent activities such as one-off events.

If you are not sure whether you need to register, we advise that you do so and we can work out whether you are exempt.

Food business operators should:

• register their food business establishments with their local authority at least 28 days before food operations begin
• provide details of activities undertaken and contact details for the food business operator

Registration is free and cannot be refused.

Once you have registered your food business you must tell us about any significant changes to the food business:

• any change of food business operator (the new proprietor will have to complete an application form)
• any change to activities carried out in relation to food
• if the establishment closes.

If you wish to register a food business you may do so by using the form below.  The form also contains further information on registration.

Food Business Registration Form (PDF file, opens in new window)

Information is also available on the Food Standards Agency website by following this link

Updated March 2008