Food Safety - New Businesses
Before starting a new food business or taking over an existing one there are a few areas that you will need to consider.
You may wish to contact us for advice or to discuss your plans. We can offer advice regarding design, layout structural issues and general food hygiene to ensure the food you sell is safe.
You will need to check that you have all planning and building regulations approvals for the premises to be used as a food business and will therefore need to contact the Planning and Building Control Departments
If the business is classed as a place of entertainment or you sell food and drink to the public which is to be consumed on the premises you will need to provide public toilets.
Any business that operate after 11.00pm need to be licensed and you should contact the Licensing section for further information You will also need to arrange food hygiene training for yourself, your manager and your staff. See the link below for a list of food hygiene trainers.
The booklet "Starting Up – Your First Steps to running a catering business" (
) can be downloaded from the Food Standards Agency website or you can contact our department for a copy.
Before you start trading you will need to register your business with this Department. Registration is free and the form can be found in the Registration of a Food Business section.
