Registration of food business premises

How to register

Anyone starting a new food business must register the food business with the Council at least 28 days before starting the business.

Once you have completed the online registration, the confirmation email from the FSA is proof of your registration with us at Cheshire East Council as a food business and you do not need to take any further action. Cheshire East Council will not contact you unless there is a query regarding this registration.

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

Need to register

If you run a food business you must tell us about any premises you use for;

• storing
• selling
• distributing or
• preparing food or drinks

Food premises includes;

• restaurants
• pubs
• hotels
• cafés
• shops
• supermarkets
• staff canteens
• warehouses (of foodstuffs)
• guest houses
• delivery vehicles (of foodstuffs)
• buffet cars on trains
• market and other stalls such as hot dog and ice cream vans, etc.
• private houses used for a food business

Charity and voluntary organisations

Charities or voluntary organisations also need to register if they are providing food or drink to the public. 

Mobile food premises

You are required by law to register your mobile food premises with the local authority in which your vehicle is normally kept. If you use vehicles for your food business in connection with permanent premises such as a shop, or warehouse, you need only register the premises and not each vehicle. But we will need to know how many vehicles you are using.

Fees

There is no fee payable to register a food business.

Registration of your business

Food businesses are required to register their premises (including market stalls, delivery vehicles and other moveable structures). Registration allows us to keep an up-to-date list of all the premises in our area so we can visit them when we need to. The frequency of the visits will depend on the type of business and the standards of hygiene.

Changes to your business

Once you have registered you must notify us of any changes such as change of food business operator, change of nature of the business, change of address at which moveable premises are kept, etc.

Approval of premises

If you intend to manufacture, process, produce or handle products of animal origin and supply to other food establishments (rather than the final consumer) your operations may require approval rather than registration. If you are unsure whether any aspect of your food operations would require approval, please contact us using the details below.

Approval is required under the following regulations: 

• Regulation (EC)852/2004 (relating to the Hygiene of Foodstuffs)

Other organisations

• Food Standards Agency

Contact Commercial Services