GovWire

Overview

If you sell, cook, store, handle, prepare or distribute food, you may be considered a food business and will need to register with your local authority.

This includes food businesses trading:

• from physical customer-facing premises
• from home
• from a mobile unit or temporary premises
• online (for example via social media or a website) or through distance selling (distance selling means any selling that happens without face-to-face contact with the consumer).

Who needs to register

You will need to register with your local authority if you:

• sell food
• cook food
• store or handle food
• prepare food
• distribute food

Registration will apply to all types of businesses who sell food and drink, regardless of where they operate from. It includes businesses trading from home, a mobile unit, or temporary premises such as a stall or van and also applies if you only sell food or drink online.

Companies involved with food distribution, brokerage or food supply that operate from an office should also register as a food business. This applies even if no food is kept at the premises.

If you operate in more than one location, you need to register each site with the local authority in which they are located. If you are unsure if you need to register or require further advice, please contact your local authority in England, Wales or Northern Ireland.

Registering as a childminder

If you provide food with your childminding business in England, the details you provide to Ofsted or your childminder agency will also be used to register you as a food business with your local authority. You will not have to register separately.

You must comply with food safety and hygiene regulations if you provide food and drink for children or babies including:

• meals
• snacks
• drinks (apart from mains tap water)
• reheated food provided by a parent/carer
• food that you cut up and prepare

Childminder registration requirements differ in Wales and Northern Ireland if you provide food with your childminding business. Contact your local authority for more information.

If you are a childminder in Scotland you need to complete a childminders food business registration form and send it to your local authority.