Registering a food premises

How to register your food business

If you're planning to open a new food business, or take over an existing business as the new food business operator, you need to register the business.

All types of food business have a legal requirement to register at least 28 days before opening. Food businesses can register for free.

But before you register your food business, we suggest you read the Food Standards Agency's guide to opening a food business.

View the Food Standards Agency guidance

Remember, if you intend to operate your food business from a residential property, you may need to apply for planning permission.

Contact the council's planning department at rbcplanning@rugby.gov.uk for more information.

Once you have registered with us, as long as you can produce food safely, you can start trading. You do not have to wait until your business has been inspected.

Register a food premises (links to gov.uk)

Approved food premises

Food businesses involved in the production of certain types of dairy, meat, fishery, egg or minced meat products - or which prepare meat in certain ways - may need a different type of registration.

If you think your new food business falls into this category, contact us as soon as possible – food businesses which require 'approved' status cannot start trading until the council has approved the registration.

Food safety management

Food business operators must have a documented Food Safety Management System (FSMS), based on the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) principles.

You'll need to produce your FSMS during food inspections of your business.

The council recommends using the Food Standards Agency's Safer Food Better Business pack when preparing a FSMS.

You can download the pack which best suits your business from the Food Standards Agency website.

Visit the Food Standards Agency website to download your Safer Food Better Business pack

You can choose another system to produce your FSMS but ensure it meets the principles of the HACCP.

Food safety training

A number of organisations offer food hygiene training which, like Food Safety Management Systems, should be based on the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) principles.

The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) recommends business managers and supervisors train to level three (intermediate) in food safety, while food handlers should train to level two (intermediate).

For more information on food safety training courses from the CIEH, visit the institute's website.

Visit the CIEH website

Food hygiene inspections

Council environmental health officers carry out food hygiene inspections at businesses across the borough.

Normally visiting unannounced, officers inspect business to ensure the following:

compliance with food hygiene and safety procedures
compliance with structural requirements
compliance with food management/control procedures

Officers base businesses' food hygiene rating on the findings of the inspection.

For more information about how to be ready for a food hygiene inspections, visit the Food Standards Agency website.

View the council's Food Safety Enforcement Policy