Food Business Registration and application for food premises

What is registration?
Registration of premises used for a food business (including market stalls, delivery vehicles and other moveable structures) is required by law under Article 6(2) of Regulation 852/2004. Registration will allow local authorities to keep an up-to-date list of all those premises in their area so they can visit them when they need to. The frequency of the visits will depend on the degree of risk involved.

Who needs to register?
If you run a food business you must inform the local authority about any premises you use for storing, selling, distributing or preparing food. Food premises includes restaurants, hotels, cafes, shops, supermarkets, staff canteens, kitchens in offices, warehouses, guest houses, delivery vehicles, buffet cars on trains, market and other stalls, hot dog and ice cream van etc., whether run for profit or not.

If you use vehicles for your food business in connection with permanent premises such as a shop, warehouse, you only need to tell the local authority how many vehicles you have. You do not need to register each vehicle separately. If you have one or more vehicles but no permanent premises, you must tell the authority where they are normally kept.

The majority of premises will have to be registered. Anyone starting a new food business must register with the local authority at least 28 days before doing so.

However, certain premises do not require registration but must be Approved by the local authority instead under Regulation 853/2004. These premises are known as product specific premises and they produce products of animal origin, such as pasteurised milk, cooked meats or meat/fish based ready meals for example. If you think that your business may fall into this category, please contact us for advice and use the Application form for Approval of a Food Business Establishment.

Registration cannot be refused and there is no charge. If you use premises in more than one local authority area, you must register with each authority separately.

You must tick all the boxes which apply to your business, answer all the questions and give all the information requested. Seasonal businesses operating for a certain period each year should give the dates between which they will be open.

It is an offence to give information which you know is false.

Apply online
Register a food business establishment

Apply for food premises approval

What happens to the information given on the form?
We will add the information to our food premises database. A register of the name of the business (if any), the address and the type of business carried on will be open to inspection by the general public. Records of the other information provided will not be publicly available.

Changes
Change a food premises registration

Change a food premises approval

Please note: these notes are provided for information only and should not be regarded as a complete statement of law

The registration process enables us to keep an accurate database of food businesses in Luton. It is also helpful to tell us before you open so that we have an opportunity of discussing food hygiene requirements before food is sold to the public.

Public access to food registration information:
Under Regulation 882/2004 certain information on the food premises register is open to the public. You may request information on a single premises, a category of premises or the whole registration database.

If you have any queries and would like someone to contact you then please fill in the online Enquiry Form. We will endeavour to contact you within 3 working days.

Opening Times:
Monday - Friday
8.45am - 5.15pm