UK food business guide
Registering your food business
Food-business registration tells the local authority where and how your business operates. It is separate from a later inspection or food-hygiene rating.
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Who may need to register
The official guidance covers businesses that sell, cook, store, handle, prepare or distribute food. It includes businesses operating from home, temporary or mobile premises, customer-facing premises and online.
If the activity is regular and organised, do not assume that a small number of orders or selling through social media keeps it outside food-business rules. Ask the local authority when the position is unclear.
When and how to register
For England, Wales and Northern Ireland, current FSA guidance says to register at least 28 days before trading. Registration itself is free. Scotland has separate official guidance, so businesses there should check Food Standards Scotland and their local authority.
The registration service uses the location of the food business. A home business enters the home postcode. If a business operates from more than one place, ask the relevant authorities whether each premises must be registered.
- Use the official Register a Food Business service.
- Give an accurate description of the food and the business activity.
- Tell the local authority about relevant changes after registration.
- Ask whether approval, a licence or another permission is needed for a specialist activity.
What happens after registration
The registration information goes to the local food-safety team. An officer may contact or inspect the business. An inspection looks at food handling, the condition of the premises and how food safety is managed.
Registration does not itself award a hygiene rating. A rating or inspection result follows the applicable inspection process.
Registration is not one certificate
There is not one universal document called a “council certificate” that covers every home food business. A business may need to register with its local authority and may later be inspected and receive a food-hygiene rating or result, depending on the scheme and location.
Other permissions can depend on what is sold, where it is sold and how the premises are used. The local authority is the right place to ask about the individual business.
Keep your details current
Contact the local authority if ownership, the premises, the nature of the business or other important registration information changes. Keep confirmation and correspondence with the business records.
Common questions
Do I need a council certificate to sell food from home?
There is not one universal document called a council certificate. A food business may need local-authority registration and may later be inspected and receive a hygiene rating or inspection result. Other permissions can also apply, so check with the local authority.
Does food-business registration cost anything?
The official registration itself is free. That does not mean every cost involved in starting or running a business is free.
Can I wait until my first order to register?
Current FSA guidance for England, Wales and Northern Ireland says to register at least 28 days before trading. Scotland has separate guidance. Contact the local authority before starting if you are late or uncertain.
Official guidance
Check the latest guidance for your location.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Requirements can vary by location and business type. Check current guidance from your local authority and the Food Standards Agency.