For food businesses it is a legal requirement to register with Environmental Health at least 4 weeks before the intended opening date.
Register your food business
It is advisable to speak to one of our officers in the early planning stages of your business and also if you need further advice before completing the form please feel free to contact us.
To register your food business, please complete the form at the bottom of this page. Advice about starting a food business can be found on the Food Standards Agency website, please see the link below.
Approval of food establishments
If you run or intend to start up a business which handles food of animal origin and you supply/sell to another business, you may need to be approved rather than registered.
Food of animal origin would include fresh meat, minced meat, fish and fishery products, milk and dairy products, egg and egg products, cooked meat products (such as pies, ready meals etc), meat preparations (such as sausages, kebabs etc), shellfish, mechanically separated meat, shellfish or rendered animal products.
It is important to note that if you only sell direct to the final consumer, in other words to the person who is going to consume the food, then you do not need to be approved. This would include activities such as: restaurants, catering operations, retail shops such as supermarkets, public houses, factory/office canteens, wholesale outlets etc.
If you think your establishment may need approval you are strongly advised to contact one of our officers prior to completing the application form. In all instances approval will be required prior to starting the business and must be applied for well in advance of your proposed start date.
What if I don't hear from AVDC within the specified time?
It is in the public interest that AVDC must process any application for approved premises before it can be granted. If you have not heard from us within 28 days, please contact us using the details at the bottom of the page.
If you are registering your premises only (not applying to become an approved premises - see above), then you will be able to act as though your application is granted if you have not heard from AVDC within 28 days.
What if my business changes or closes?
You are required by law to notify us of any substantial changes of if your business ceases trading. As the form is signed by the food business operator you could be deamed responsible if legal action is taken against a business and we have not been notified of any changes.
Fees
No fees apply.
Is there an appeal process?
A registration can not be refused so there is no appeal process required. If an application for approval is refused then the decision can be appealed in a magistrates court. More information would be supplied to businesses during the approval process.
Complaints
If you have a complaint about a registered or approved food business establishment, please contact the business in the first instance - If your complaint is about hygiene or food you believe to be unsafe to eat then please contact Environmental Health. If you are concerned about the quality or labelling of food then please contact Trading Standards via consumer direct, please use the link below.
Registers
We hold a database of registered food businesses.
Date Updated: 13/10/11
Downloads:
File name | Summary | File size / Download time | File Format |
Adobe Acrobat Reader is available FREE of charge. You can download it directly from Adobe's website by clicking the link to the right. Once on Adobe's website, follow the instructions on screen to install the latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader. |  |
Application form for the registration of a food business | | 92KB
56Kbps Modem: Less than 1 Minute
Broadband : Less than 1 Minute | 
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