Article: Registration - food businesses Article Body All businesses that manufacture, store, supply, prepare or offer food for sale (whether for profit or not) are required by law to register their business with their local council. In practice this means pubs, staff canteens, supermarkets, takeaways, restaurants, cafes, shops, market stalls, ice cream vans, mobile food traders, luncheon clubs, childminders and even village halls. Certain other food businesses may need to seek prior approval from the council before they can operate. Legislation Regulation (EC) No. 852/2004 requires certain food businesses to either register their details with the council or otherwise seek approval to operate. Registration Anyone setting-up a new food business must register with their council at least 28 days before they intend to start trading. Registration is free and it cannot be refused. However, it is an offence not to register your food business with the council. Registration of premises used for a food business allows the council to keep an up-to-date list of those premises in their area so they can inspect them when they need to. The frequency of visits will depend on the degree of risk involved. How do I register? Registration of food premises can be made using the downloadable forms available on this webpage or via the online application website (see links below). Food Premises Registration Form Online Registration of a Food Premises Will Tacit Consent apply? Yes. This means that you will be able to act as though your registration is confirmed if you have not heard from the council by the end of the target completion period of ten working days. If you use premises in more than one local council area then you must register separately with each council concerned. If you operate a mobile food vehicle you will need to register with the Council in whose area the vehicle is kept, not the one in which you trade. This council may inspect your vehicle and you could also receive an inspection from the council in whose area you decide to trade. You must complete each question on the registration form and you will be asked to provide either your registered office address or your home address. The food business operator must sign and date the form. It is an offence to provide false information. What happens next? The details from the registration form are entered onto our premises database which allows us to programme our inspections. We are required to maintain a simple register of all those food businesses that have registered with us. This is a public register which simply states the trading name of the business, the address of the food business itself and the type of business it is. We do not reveal your home address in this register. What should I do if things change? Once you have registered with us you only need to notify us if the trading name of the business changes, if your food operations change or if you no longer operate the food business you had registered. The new food business operator will then be expected to complete their own registration form. Food Premises Registration Form Online Change to a Food Premises Registration Approval Generally those food businesses who manufacture meat, fish or egg products and who supply to other premises (even premises within their own ownership) as a significant part of their overall business will require formal approval instead of just a registration. Approved premises may also need to comply with additional hygiene requirements and label their products with a unique health or identification mark. There are however certain exemptions to approval. How do I apply for approval? More information can be found on the food premises approval webpage. Contact Information If you are not sure whether your food business should be registered or approved or if you would like any further help please contact us: Barnsley Council Regulatory Services PO Box 602 Barnsley S70 9FB Our normal business hours are - Monday to Thursday 8.30am to 5pm and Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm Telephone : 01226 772468 Fax : 01226 775699 Email : regulatoryservices@barnsley.gov.uk Further information Food Standards Agency (FSA) Tacit Consent Applicants should be aware that the timescales for processing a registration do not start until all the necessary information has been received in full. Because the timescales for processing a registration start once the necessary information has been submitted, rather than received, where tacit consent is applicable, it will only apply for registrations that are submitted electronically (but not via e-mail) or when the applicant can show proof of delivery from a post office or recognised courier. Register Current applications for registration and/or approval of food premises, and those previously completed can be viewed on the Food Premises Public Register. To view the Public Register, please contact the Regulatory Services team using the contact details above. Complaints If you want to make a complaint about a food premises, please contact us. If you feel we have failed to provide you with good service or are concerned about the progress of your application, please telephone Regulatory Services, where the Food Safety team will endeavour to resolve any concerns you may have. The council also has a formal complaints procedure.