Food Licensing for Businesses in England and Wales

If you plan to open a new business that sells food, you need to be familiar with food licensing laws, similarly to the way in which establishments selling liquor require a liquor licence. Complying with food licensing is important because it assures your customers that you meet food safety standards and have local authority to sell food. This can make your business more profitable and keep you clear of legal problems. This article will explain some of the basic food licensing rules and how you can register for a food licence.

What Businesses Need a Food Licence?

If you are starting a new food business or have just bought an existing business that deals with food, you need a food licence. A food business is any business that prepares, cooks, handles, stores, distributes or supplies food.

Registration rules will apply to businesses such as:

• restaurants;
• market stalls and other general food stalls;
• companies that are involved with food distribution, even if you do not keep food at the premises;
• mobile catering businesses, such as food delivery vans.

In short, if your business deals with food, you should look at whether you need to meet registration requirements.

Registering Your Food Business

Once you have decided whether your business has to deal with food regulation, you should register your food business. 

Registration is a straightforward process that you must complete with your local authority, usually your local borough council. You will need to register your food business at least 28 days before starting your food operations. It does not cost any money to register, and your council will not refuse your registration.

Dealing With Animal Origin Foods

If the food you are selling comes from an animal, you will need to meet further approval from your local council. Products of animal origin are, for example, meat, milk, cheese, or fish. 

If your business sells products of animal origin, but the sale of food accounts for less than 25% of your trade, then you will not need to meet extra approval. However, if you sell wild game products or sell food to a different country, this exception will not apply to you. 

In any case, you will also need to follow the rules on the safe storage of products, such as controlling the temperature and storage of products.

After Registration

After you register, your local council may inspect you. Your local council will assess your food safety standards and give you a rating as part of the food hygiene rating system.

Your food hygiene rating can influence your sales and profit, because it will show your customers how safe your food is. Because of this, you must prepare thoroughly for your food inspection. 

If you get a zero on your food inspection, your business may be required to shut down if your food safety does not improve. The council will let you know the steps, but you should follow the rules to avoid a low score to start with.

Key Takeaways

If you are running a food business, you need to make sure that you know which food regulations apply to you. If you are dealing with food in any capacity, you will likely need to register your business. Registration is a simple process done with your local council, and costs no money. If your business is dealing with products of animal origin, you may need to meet further requirements, including approval from your local borough council. After registration, the local council may inspect your business and give it a food safety rating. 

If you need help with food licensing, our experienced regulatory and compliance lawyers can assist as part of our LegalVision membership. For a low monthly fee, you will have unlimited access to lawyers to answer your questions and draft and review your documents. Call us today on 0808 196 8584 or visit our membership page.

Frequently Asked Questions