Statutory requirements

Food-related businesses

Registering your business

If you are making or selling foodstuffs you will need to ensure that they are being produced and sold in hygienic conditions. All food businesses are legally required to register with their local council at least 28 days before they intend to start trading.

Registration is free. All you need to do is fill in a simple form to confirm the business's: 

  • trading name

  • address

  • ownership

  • type of food activity

  • opening date

Registration is a one-off process and the food business only needs to notify us if there are any significant changes.

Inspections

Our environmental health officers carry out the inspections. They are happy to help with start-up advice to make sure that you get it right first time.

Further information

Contact the food safety team:

The Gov.UK website also has a lot of information about regulations for food related businesses including:

  • advisory labelling
  • packaging
  • food law