The authenticity of any business starts with its registration, and for an establishment such as a food business, this is no exception. A food business is anyone preparing, storing, supplying, or selling food to make a profit. If your idea of a food business falls under any of the above categories, then you have come to the right place. This post will teach you all you need to know about the application and registration of a food business establishment.Â
Overview
The essence of food business registration cannot be overemphasized. One of the benefits of business registration is that it keeps the local authorities off your back. On the other hand, you risk going to prison for 2 years if you run a food business without registering it. Seeing that it doesn’t cost much, the registration of a food business shouldn’t be that big of a deal. Once you’ve made up your mind to venture into the food business or are already into it, registration should follow immediately.Â
Furthermore, the registration of premises for a food business is vital under UK legislation (including market stalls, delivery vehicles, and other moveable structures). The law further admonishes anyone operating a food business to register at least 28 days before commencing.
Local governments can use the registration to retain an up-to-date list of all the businesses in their area so that they can visit them when necessary. If you operate more than one premise, you need to register each one with the local authority where they’re located. The frequency of these visits, however, is dependent on the sort of business.
Food Business Establishment That Needs Registration
You need a food certificate registration to be able to run your business smoothly. Below are the examples of various food business establishment that needs to identify with their local authority as regards application and registration:
- restaurants
- hotels
- cafés
- shops
- employee canteens
- supermarkets
- kitchens in workplaces
- warehouses
- guest houses
- distance selling, mail order and food delivery
- food stalls, food pop-ups and food vans, etc.
If you use vehicles for your food business in conjunction with a permanent location such as a store or warehouse, you just need to notify the local authorities of the number of vehicles you own. To put it another way, you do not need to register each vehicle separately. If you own one or more vehicles but don’t have a permanent address, you must likewise inform the authorities of where each one operates.
Application for the registration of a food business establishment.
You could be wondering how hard or complicated it is for one to register a business nowadays. On the contrary, it is not. It might come as a relief to discover that the application for the registration of your food business establishment isn’t as complicated as you thought. You could complete this process online at the comfort of your home, and further, obtain the registration certificate to run your food business with ease.
Now that you’re free of the anxiety of registration, we would go ahead and discuss the guideline for completing the application form.
Guidance for completing the application for the registration of a food business establishment
There is an online government registration service that would guide you through the completion of the application form. Their services don’t always involve sending a confirmation that a food registration form has been received. Nevertheless, if you want confirmation on your application, you could email them, and a confirmation status via return email containing a certificate of registration for your food business establishment.
The administration of a new registration form is normally over within 28 days, but there is no mandatory time frame. Furthermore, if the form is submitted to the incorrect address, the process will delay until it gets to the correct location. Like we previously said, you must also register with each local authority separately if you utilize establishments in more than one local authority area.
What happens after the approval of the application for the registration of my food business establishment?
After you submit a registration application form, the form is stamped with the date of receipt. If the application is not for premises inside the district’s boundaries, the form will be immediately move to the appropriate registration Authority. The applicant will also get a heads up as to which authority the form was moved to.
Furthermore, every registration application for a food business establishment in the region would be cross-checked against the Council’s premises database. If the premises record already exists, the form will be used to update the details. If the location is new, on the other hand, they would create an entry in the database for the company. The form will move to the appropriate law enforcement team. Lastly, the registration files are kept in order to verify the information at hand if any questions arise afterwards.
What is the renewal procedure of the registration?
In case you were wondering how long before the renewal of the registration, perhaps, you may not have to. What determines the renewal of the application for the registration of a food business is a change in the establishment, Therefore, notify the registration service once there are changes in the following:
- A change in the operator of a food business—The new food business operator will have to complete an application form to renew the registration of the establishment
- nature of the system
- If the company goes bankrupt.
If they chose to amend the entry in the register as a result of information from another source, you would be given 28 days’ notice and the opportunity to comment on the new proposal.
Applying for a food business registration certificate.
Like we pointed out earlier, you need a food business registration certificate to be able to sell food. So, in applying for the certificate, here are things to do
#1. Select your plan or program
To obtain a food business registration certificate, you must first establish a food management plan or a national program. The Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) developed these to ensure that the food you sell is safe for consumers.
Use MPI’s ‘My food rules’ tool to see which plan applies to you, or call the Council’s Public Health team Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at 04 499 4444.
#2. Create your plan or program
It’s important to figure out how you’ll implement the plan or program before applying for registration. This gets you ready to go when a registration officer comes to see you.
#3. Pay fees
To make your payment, you will need to use a credit card. Remember, your application will not be considered until payment is received. Fees to pay are the new registration fee, the pre-opening inspection fee, and verification fee. The amount you pay in this regard is dependent on the city and the registration service you’re working with.Â
#4. Gather your supporting documentation
Confirm you have everything you need before applying. If any document is missing or you have not paid the correct application fee, your application will be rejected. So, ensure that you make whatever document ready and available.
#5. Submit your application
After you have fulfilled all the requirements, you can go ahead to submit the form. After submission, a registration officer would contact you to set up a pre-opening inspection and to officially approve your business’s operation. This typically happens within two weeks of your application. In addition, they would provide you with advice on anything else you may need to do. When they come to terms that your business is ready, they will issue you a food registration certificate and you will be able to begin trading.
#6. Renew your registration
Within the first six weeks of operation, a verifier will accompany you to your premises to review your documents. Also, he would ensure that all safety procedures and plans are intact. Then, at the end of every year, you would renew your food business registration certificate according to the plan you’ve previously chosen.
Summary
You need a registration certificate to operate your food business. The authenticity of any business starts with its registration, and for an establishment such as a food business, this is no exception. Therefore, the application for a registration certificate should be the next thing to consider the moment you decide to run such an establishment as a food business
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FAQ’s on Food Business Registration
Do you need a licence to sell food from home UK?
You must obtain a license for any facilities where you conduct food activities, even if they are temporary. So, if you produce food at home and sell it from a stall at the local market, you’ll need a license for both your house and your booth.
What certificates do I need to sell food UK?
If you prepare and deliver food yourself, you must obtain a Level 2 Food Safety and Hygiene for the Catering certificate. Even though you’re selling pre-packaged food from your house, it’s still a good idea to get Level 2 Food Hygiene training.
How much does food business registration cost UK?
It is completely free to register, and your registration cannot be denied. Furthermore, you must register at least 28 days before the opening.
