Registering Your Food Premises

This page provides details about the registration of food premises including information about the public register and how to complain about the service.

The Regulations (EC) 852/2004 require nearly all businesses which handle food to be registered. This is free of charge. The purpose of the registration is to provide information for the local council, which is responsible for enforcing food law, about the food businesses in its area so that it can target inspections and education programs effectively. The obligation to register and notify changes to the council lies with the proprietor of the food business.

The requirement to register food premises includes market stalls, delivery vehicles and other moveable structures as well as food shops, manufacturers and processors.

In Oadby and Wigston, we have over 300 food premises currently registered.

The law says that if you run a food business for more than five days in any five consecutive weeks, you must inform the local authority about any premises you are using for storing, selling, distributing or preparing food.

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

This will allow time for an environmental health officer to discuss food safety requirement with the business owner.

After 28 days of submitting all correct and relevant information, you can act as if your application is registered, even if you have not heard from us within that time.

In addition, you need to complete a new registration form if there is a change of ownership within the existing premises, or if the nature of the business changes.

Public register

The council has to keep a register of all food premises and details of the address and the type of business carried on. This register is open for public inspection.

Find out more about registering food premises.

You can apply online to register your food business premises.

If you do apply on line, please make sure you ask for a receipt, which you should keep safely to prove you have made an application.

Contact us about a change to the details of your existing food business premises registration.

Alternatively, you can download and complete a food registration application form and send it to us.

There is no charge to submit your application for registration and we cannot refuse to register your business.

If your business makes, prepares or handles food of animal origin for sale to other businesses, it may need food premises approval in addition to being registered.

Complaint about service

Contact us if you are not happy about how we have dealt with your food premises registration, or you have a good reason to complain about another food business premises in the borough of Oadby and Wigston.