Charnwood Borough Council - Leading in Leicestershire

Registering a Food Business

What is Registration

Premises used for a food business (including market stalls, delivery vehicles and other moveable structures) are required by law to be registered with their local authority.

Registration allows local authorities to keep an up-to-date list of all those premises in their area so they can visit them when they need to. The frequency of the visits will depend on the type of business.

Who needs to Register

If you run a food business within the area of Charnwood Borough Council for more than 5 days in any 5 consecutive weeks, you must tell (or arrange for someone else to tell) us about any premises you use for storing, selling, distributing or preparing food.

Food premises includes restaurants, hotels, cafes, shops, supermarkets, staff canteens, kitchens in offices, warehouses, guest houses, delivery vehicles, buffet cars on trains, market and other stalls, hot dog and ice cream vans.

If you use vehicles for your food business in connection with permanent premises such as a shop or warehouse you only need to tell us 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 tell the authority where they are normally kept.

Anyone starting a new food business must register with us at least 28 days before doing so.

The majority of premises have to be registered. However, certain premises are exempt from registration, for example some which 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.

How do I Register

By filling in the registration form. Simply right click on either form and click "save as" in order to download it to your computer.

If you do not have word then email us at food.hygiene@charnwood.gov.uk. Registration cannot be refused and there is no charge.

If you use premises in more than one local authority area, you must register with each authority separately.

You must tick all the boxes which apply to your business, answer all the questions and give all the information requested.

Seasonal businesses operating for a certain period each year should give the dates between which they will be open in answer to question 7. If you have any questions contact us and we will help you. It is an offence to give information which you know is false.

• Registration Form (Word Document 263 Kb.)

What Happens to the Information given on the Form?

We will enter the details on a register. A register of addresses and the type of business carried on at each premises will be open to inspection by the general public. Records of the other information provided will not be publicly available.

Changes

Once you have registered with us you only need notify us of a change of proprietor, if the nature of the business changes, or if there is a change of the address at which moveable premises are kept. The new proprietor will have to complete an application form.

These notes are provided for information only and should not be regarded as a complete statement of the law.