Food Premises Registration

Registration of premises used for a food business (including market stalls, delivery vehicles and other moveable structures) is required by the Food Premises (Registration) Regulations 1991. Registration will allow authorities to keep an up-to-date list of all those premises in their area so they can visit them when they need to. The frequency of the visits will depend on the degree of risk involved.

• Who needs to register?
• How do I register?
• What happens to the information given on the form?
• Future Business Changes
• Food Premises Registration

Who needs to register?

If you run a food business for 5 or more days in any period of 5 consecutive weeks, you must tell (or arrange for someone else to tell) the local authority 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, buffet cars on trains, market and other stalls, hot dog and ice-cream vans etc. They also include domestic premises where food is produced for sale or supply.

If you use vehicles for your food business in connection with permanent premises such as a shop, warehouse you only need to tell the local authority 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 the authority where they are normally kept.

Anyone starting a new food business must register with the local authority at least 28 days before doing so.

The majority of premises will have to be registered. However, certain premises are exempt from registration eg 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. You should contact your local authority if you think you might be exempt.

How do I register?

By filling in the form provided (see notes below). Registration cannot be refused and there is no charge. The registration form must be sent to your local authority. The address can be found in this form. 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 each authority separately.

You must tick all 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 in answer to question 9. If you have any questions your local authority will help you. It is an offence to give information which you know is false.

What happens to the information given on the form?

The local authority will enter the details on its Register. A register of the name of the business (if any), the addresses, telephone number and the type of business carried on at each will be open to inspection by the general public. Records of the other information provided will not be publicly available.

Future Business Changes

Once you have registered with the local authority you only need notify them of a change of proprietor or if the nature of the business changes. The new proprietor will have to complete an application form.

IF the local authority wishes to change the entry in the Register because of information which it receives from someone else you will be given 28 days notice and an opportunity to comment on the proposed change.

These notes are provided for information only and should not be regarded as a complete statement of the law.

Food Premises Registration

Food Premises Application form

This form is in adobe and if you do not have adobe reader on your PC then you can download a reader by clicking here: Downloads

The form can be opened and printed off for completion by hand. Because of statutory and legal requirements all application forms must be printed off and signed by the applicant and the Council regrets that forms cannot be submitted electronically. When printing off completed forms, you should make additional copies for your own records.

Once you have completed the form it must be printed off, signed, dated and sent back to us by post to:

Environmental Health

81 Downham Road

London

N1 5TR

Legislation

• Food Premises (Registration) Regulations 1991
• Food Safety (General Food Hygiene) Regulations 1995
• Food Safety (Temperature Control) Regulations 1995
• Food Labelling Regulations 1996 (as amended)
• Food Safety (General Food Hygiene) (Butchers' Shops) Amendment Regulation 2000
• Food Hygiene (England) Regulations 2005

Guidance Notes

Please note that planning permission may be required if premises are being converted to be used as food premises (where they have not been used as such before).They may also need planning permission if they change from retail to takeaway trade. If liquor is to be served a liquor license is needed. Further notification will only be needed in the case of proprietor, change in nature of business, or if there is a change in address.

Application Process

New businesses should register at least 28 days before commencement of business. Premises will have to be registered, but there is no charge and registration cannot be refused. If seasonal it should be mentioned in the form. If the business is mobile, or has vehicles are used in connection with the business, they should be made known to the local authority. However, vehicles need not be individually registered. The information contained in the register is open to public inspection.

Furtther Information

Furter Information can be found at the Food Standards Agency website

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Page updated: 15 Jan 2008