How to Register a Food Business in England
Last updated: May 2025 · 6 min read
If you prepare, cook, store, handle, distribute, supply or sell food — you must register with your local authority at least 28 days before opening. Registration is free and cannot be refused.
Who needs to register?
- Restaurants, cafés, takeaways, pubs and bars
- Home bakers, caterers and meal kit businesses
- Market stalls, food vans and pop-up food businesses
- Online food retailers and delivery services
- Childminders and care homes providing meals
You do not need to register if you only occasionally sell or give away food (e.g. a school bake sale).
Step-by-step registration
- Register with your local authority — At least 28 days before you start trading. Use the Food Standards Agency registration tool to find your council.
- Set up a food safety management system — Use Safer Food, Better Business (SFBB) — the FSA's free pack for small businesses.
- Get appropriate food hygiene training — At minimum a Level 2 Food Safety certificate (available online for ~£20). Level 3 for supervisors, Level 4 for food safety managers.
- Prepare for your EHO inspection — An Environmental Health Officer will visit unannounced. They assess food hygiene practices, premises condition, and management/documentation.
- Display your Food Hygiene Rating — After inspection you receive a rating of 0–5. In Wales, display is mandatory. In England it is recommended.
Food Hygiene Rating Scheme
| Rating | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 5 ⭐ | Hygiene very good — no improvements needed |
| 4 | Hygiene good |
| 3 | Hygiene generally satisfactory |
| 2 | Improvement necessary |
| 1 | Major improvement necessary |
| 0 | Urgent improvement required |
Key legal requirements
- Allergen labelling— Must declare all 14 major allergens (Natasha's Law, October 2021). Pre-packed for direct sale (PPDS) foods require full ingredient list with allergens emphasised.
- Temperature control — Hot food must be kept above 63°C, chilled food below 8°C (ideally below 5°C).
- Traceability — Keep records of all food suppliers for at least 3 months.
- Pest control — Written pest control procedures required.
- Personal hygiene — Staff with vomiting/diarrhoea must not handle food for 48h after recovery.
Costs summary
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Food business registration | Free |
| Level 2 Food Safety certificate | ~£20 online |
| Level 3 Food Safety certificate | £60–150 |
| SFBB pack (FSA) | Free (download) |
| Food hygiene rating appeal | Free |