Advice
Before opening, get in touch with us to plan your business. Good food hygiene helps prevent food poisoning and protects your reputation with customers.
(This advice is about food safety requirements only)
- Obtain planning approval for new building or change of use for existing building
- Copy of any plans should be forwarded to us to assess structural, design and layout arrangements. If any structural work or alterations be required, Councils Building Control department should be notified
- Contact us to seek advice, information and technical guidance on layout, design, hand washing facilities, removal of food waste, equipment, storage, ventilation, drainage, water supply
- Register your food business at least 28 days before you start operating
- All food handlers must be trained to an appropriate level of food hygiene, bearing in mind the type of work which they do
- Hazard Analysis must be carried out for the food business. This means that the food business have identified all steps in activities which are critical to ensure food safety and adequate monitoring in place
We provide resources to help you comply with food hygiene legislation. These include for example ‘Safer Food Better Business’ and ‘Safe Catering-Your Guide to making food safely’, which are an innovative and practical approach to food safety management.
‘Starting up a Food Business’ booklet will provide you with practical guidance on starting a food business. This booklet is also available in other languages on: www.food.gov.uk/enforcement/applicence/startingup/startingup
‘Food law inspections and your business’ booklet provides information on what to expect when an Officer visits your premises.
