Change Font Size: biggerA / defaultA / smallerA

Food Business

If you are planning to start a food business, you must register your premises at least 28 days before opening. This applies to most types of food business, including catering businesses run from home, and mobile or temporary premises such as stalls and vans. If you use two or more premises you will need to register all of them using our PDF iconFood Registration Form.

If food premises are to be used by several catering businesses (for example a village hall or conference centre) the person who allows the premises to be used for this purpose is response for registering them. All food businesses are required to have a documented food safety management system based on the principles of HACCP.  Although this may sound onerous a small catering business can get a free guidance pack called ‘Safer Food and Better Business’ from the Food Standards Agency.

If you have a mobile catering vehicle our PDF iconMobile Catering Guide will help to provide you with some useful information. The guide not only sets out the legal requirement you must comply with but also details advice and good practice measures.

For further information please telephone our Contact Centres on 01246 242424 or submit an enquiry form.

National Food Hygiene Rating Scheme

In partnership with the Food Standards Agency, we have launched the National Food Hygiene Rating Scheme in April 2011.  

The food hygiene rating for a food premises is established following an inspection of a food premises, taking into account observations and discussions made during the visit.  

The food safety officer who inspects the business checks how well the business is meeting the law by looking at;

  •  How hygienically the food is handled – how it is prepared, cooked, re-heated, cooled and stored. (Temperature control, prevention of cross contamination etc)
  • The condition of the structure of the buildings and equipment – damage and deterioration, the cleanliness, layout, lighting, ventilation etc.
  • How the business manages and records what it does to make sure food is safe (using and keeping SFBB up to date, training, previous history, for example).

The scores given for each of these three areas are converted into a Hygiene Rating Score for food premises. A certificate and door sticker confirming the score are sent to the business. The date of the last inspection and the score given are printed on the certificate and sticker.  These should be displayed in a prominent position in the premises. The scores can also be seen on the Food Standards Agency and also on this website.

Further information and guidance on food hygiene and the National Food Hygiene Rating Scheme is available on the Food Standards Agency website.  Our forms for requesting a re-scoring visit, appeals against your score or your “right to reply” and information on how we work out your score can be downloaded below. 

If you require any advice or information please telephone the Contact Centres or the Food Safety Team on 01246 242424 or submit an enquiry form

Last Updated on Wednesday, 01 June 2011 14:29

L