The information given below answers some of the questions you may have about registering a food premises. The notes are provided for information only and should not be regarded as a complete statement of the law. If you need any further details, please contact us at the address on the top right hand side of this page.
Registration summary
Registration of premises used for a food business (storage, preparation, distribution or sales) is required by law. Premises include restaurants, cafes, hotels, shops, canteens, market stalls, mobile catering vans and food delivery vans.
Some manufacturers handling products of animal origin may need to be approved by the local authority or the Meat Hygiene Service, rather than registered. If you are uncertain whether your business needs to be approved or registered, contact us to find out.
Registration allows us to keep an up-to-date list of all those premises in our area so we can visit them when we need to. The frequency of the visits will depend on the type of business.
Who needs to register?
If you run a food business 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.
If you use vehicles for your food business in connection with permanent premises such as a shop, or warehouse you only need to tell us how many vehicles you have. If you have one or more vehicles but no permanent premises, you must tell us where they are normally kept.
Anyone starting a new food business must register with the local authority at least 28 days before doing so even if the business was registered by the previous occupier.
If you sell or close your business please tell us so that your registration can be properly recorded.
The majority of premises will have to be registered. However, certain premises are exempt from registration e.g. some which are already registered or approved for food law purposes. You should contact us if you think you might be exempt.
Eligibility criteria
No provision in legislation
Regulation summary
Regulation (EC) 852/2004 Article 6
Regulation (EC) 882 / 2004
Annex 8 FSA Code of Practice
Application evaluation process
There is no provision in legislation. This is a simple registration procedure and cannot be refused by the local authority. It will be completed within 28 days of receipt of a signed and properly completed application document.
On receipt you will receive an acknowledgement by post.
Will tacit consent apply?
Yes. This means that you will be able to act as though your application is granted if you have not heard from us after 28 days.
How do I register?
You can register your food premises by filling in a registration form. A form can be downloaded from this page or can be obtained by contacting us using the contact details on the top right of this page.
There is no charge to register. The registration form must be returned us. 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 the boxes that apply to your business, answer all the questions and give all the information requested. If you have any questions please contact us. It is an offence to give information that you know is false.
You can also complete an on-line registration
Application enquiry
Please contact the Food and Health Team at 0113 2477789
What happens to the information given on the form?
The local authority will enter the details on its Register. A register of business names, addresses and the nature/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 unless they are covered by The Freedom of Information Act.
Changes to the registration
Once you have registered with us you need to notify us if the nature of the business changes or if there is a change of the address at which moveable premises are kept. Please contact the Food and Health Team on 0113 2477789 or use the on-line service.
If there is a change of proprietor, the new proprietor will have to complete an application form.
The closure of a food business must also be notified. Upon receipt of a notification of change appropriate amendments will be made to the register.
Other redress
Please contact us in the first instance.
Trade Associations
Food Standards Agency