How to register a food premises
About registration of a food business
What is registration?
You are required by law to register your food establishment. There is a penalty fine of up to £5000 for not registering your food business.
Registration is necessary so that we have up-to-date information on your food premises so that our Environmental Health (Commercial) officers can visit and carry out inspections.
Food registration is not a form of licensing and does not give approval to trade.
Who needs to register?
If you run a food business, you must register the business. This includes market stalls, delivery vehicles and other mobile catering vehicles which sell food.
If you have one or more vehicles but no permanent premises, the business must be registered in the district or borough (for example, Hinckley & Bosworth, Blaby) where the vehicles are normally kept overnight.
A food business can:
- Be for profit or not for profit
- Be large or small (for example a home caterer)
- Be related to any stage of production, processing and distribution of food
How much does it cost?
There is no charge to register your business
When you need to register
Anyone starting a new food business must register at least 28 days before opening. Once you have registered, you only need to tell us of a change of ownership, if the nature of your business changes or there is a change of address at which any moveable premises (such as mobile catering vans) are kept. Any new owner will have to complete a new application form.
Who is exempt?
Generally, the only food premises that are exempt from registration are:
- Those used for domestic preparation of food for consumption in the home
- Certain agricultural premises
Use our contact form if you think you may be exempt.
The register
We are required by law to maintain a register of food establishments, so when you register your business with us, the name of the business, the address and the type of business will be entered on this. The register is available for inspection at the Hinckley Hub on request. No other information you provide when you register will be made publicly available.
A copy of your completed registration form will be sent to any other enforcement agency who may have a food enforcement role in connection with your business. For example, Trading Standards at Leicestershire County Council or another environmental health service.
Last updated: 26/07/2022 14:44
