Registration of a Food Premises
Registration of a food business allows the local authority to maintain a register of all food establishments within its area. The law requires that all food establishments must register their food business with their local authority.
Registration enables the Council to keep an up-to-date list of all food premises operating in Haringey, so that we can visit them when we need to. Food businesses are subject to an inspection by an officer from the Council's Commercial Environmental Health Team. The frequency of the visits will depend on the food activity undertaken at the business.
- Who needs to register
- Failure to register
- Exemptions
- Will I need to register any vehicles used at the business?
- How do I register?
- Registering multiple businesses
- Registration Charge
- How do I know my business is registered?
- What happens to the information given on the form?
- What happens if I close my business or change the way I operate?
- Further Information
- Contact details
Who needs to register
If you undertake any storage, preparation, distribution and/or selling of food, you are a food business operator and need to register. Food businesses include restaurants, cafes, hotels, guest houses, bed and breakfasts, shops, supermarkets, staff canteens, market stalls, mobile catering vans, food delivery vans and home caterers. It also includes establishments under the control of different food business operators.
Food business operators are required to register their new food business at least 28 days before opening.
Failure to register
It is a criminal offence not to register a food business unless exempt. Any person failing to register a food business may be prosecuted.
|Back to topExemptions
The majority of premises have to be registered. However, certain premises are exempt from registration, eg those are already registered for food law purposes, certain agricultural premises, motor cars, tents and marquees (but not stalls), some domestic premises and some village halls. You should contact us if you think you might be exempt.
Will I need to register any vehicles used at the business?
If you use vehicles for your food business in connection with permanent premises such as a shop or warehouse, you only need to inform the local authority how many vehicles you have. You do not need to register each vehicle separately. If you have one or more vehicles but no permanent premises, you must register the vehicles at the premises where the vehicles are normally kept overnight.
|Back to topHow do I register?
You can apply online by completing our Application for Food Premises Registration e-form, or download and complete the Application for Food Premises Registration form (PDF, 94KB).
You must:
- Complete all the boxes that apply to the business activity
- Answer all the questions and provide all the information requested
- Seasonal businesses operating for a certain period each year should provide the dates when trading
If completing by hand you must return the form to the address at the bottom of the page. If the form is sent to the wrong address your application will not take effect until it is received at the proper place.
|Back to topRegistering multiple businesses
If you operate multiple food businesses in more than one local authority area, you must register the business with each authority separately.
|Back to topRegistration Charge
There is no charge for registration - it is free.
|Back to topHow do I know my business is registered?
A food registration application cannot be refused. Once your application is received by the Commercial Environmental Health Team, you will receive an acknowledgement letter confirming registration.
|Back to topWhat happens to the information given on the form?
The council will transfer some details from the application form to our Food Premises Register. The Register contains the food business trading name, address and the type of food activity carried out on the premises. The Food Premises Register is made available to the general public and can be found in our attached files section below.
Records of the other information provided will not be available to the public or disclosed outside of the council, local government departments or government agencies. The details will be used for the purpose of registration, enforcement and the protection of public funds.
|Back to topWhat happens if I close my business or change the way I operate?
Once registered with the local authority, it is necessary to notify them of any change of ownership, business activity, or if there is a change of the address at which moveable premises are kept. The new owner will have to complete the Application for Food Premises Registration eform or download from the attached files section below, complete and return.
|Back to topFurther Information
Under regulation (EU) 853/2004, some food manufacturers, food processors and catering butchers handling products of animal origin may need to be approved by Haringey Council or the Food Standard Agency's Meat Hygiene Service (external link).
Generally products must display a health mark. Premises requiring approval must not operate until approval is granted.
If you require further information or wish to discuss whether your business requires approval, contact the Commercial Environmental Health Team
- It is an offence to give information that you know is false
Contact details
Commercial Environmental Health
Regulatory Services
Units 271-272
Lee Valley Technopark
Ashley Road
N17 9LN
Tel 020 8489 1000
Fax 020 8489 5528
Email enforcement@haringey.gov.uk
Attached Files
Useful External Links
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