Food Business Registration
Registration of food business
Registration of premises used for a food business (including market stalls, delivery vehicles and other moveable structures) is required by law.
Registration allows us to keep an up-to-date list of all those premises in the Poole area so we can visit them when needed. The frequency of the visits will depend on the type of business.
Anyone starting a new food business must register with us at least 28 days before doing so.
The majority of premises have to be registered. However, certain premises are exempt from registration, for example
- some which are already "approved" for food law purposes
- certain agricultural premises
Please contact us if you think you might be exempt.
Who needs to register?
If you run a food business for 5 or more days in any 5 consecutive weeks, you must tell (or arrange for someone else to tell) us about any premises you use for storing, selling, distributing, preparing or serving food.
If you are based outside the Borough of Poole, you need to register with your own local authority.
Food premises include:
- 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 vans
Use of vehicles for food businesses
If you use vehicles for your food business in connection with permanent premises such as a shop, or warehouse, you only need to tell us 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 us where they are normally kept.
How to register
You can register by downloading an application form. Registration cannot be refused and there is no charge. The registration form must be sent to us. If the form is sent to the wrong address, your application will not take effect until it is received at the proper place. 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 in answer to question
If you have any questions, please contact us and we will help you. It is an offence to give information which you know is false.
Access to the Food Business Register
We will enter your details on our Register. A register of addresses and the type of business carried on at these will be open to inspection by the general public. Records of the other information provided will not be publicly available and will not be disclosed outside of ourselves, Local Government Departments and Government Agencies. Your details will be used for the purpose of registration, enforcement and the protection of public funds.
Changes to your business
Once you have registered with us, you only need to notify us if
- there is a change of proprietor, (the new proprietor will have to complete a registration form.)
- the nature of the business changes
- or if there is a change of the address at which moveable premises are kept
If we wish to change the entry in the Register because of information which we receive from someone else, you will be given 28 days notice and an opportunity to comment on the proposed change.
Please contact us using the details below to notify us of any changes to your business.
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