Food business registration

Licence summary

The law requires food business operators to register their premises with the environmental health service before starting to operate.

Eligibility criteria

The environmental health service will register all food business premises following receipt of a completed application form. Registration is free of charge and cannot be refused when a properly completed application form is received by the environmental health service. Registration does not consider whether the premises complies with the food hygiene regulations.

Regulation summary

Article 6 of Regulation (EC) 852/2004 requires food business operators to register their premises with the environmental health service.

Application evaluation process

The environmental health service will check that the application form is properly completed. Data from the form will be entered onto the environmental health service database. The environmental health service will consider whether the premises will be included in the food hygiene inspection programme.

Will tacit consent apply?

Yes. Registration is free of charge and cannot be refused, so all premises will be registered on receipt of a properly completed application form.

Apply online

Apply online or download, complete the form and post to the address below:

Tell us about a change to your existing circumstances

Regulatory Services (Commercial)
Southampton City Council
Floor 5
One Guildhall Square
Southampton
SO14 7FP

Tel: 023 8083 3002

Email: environmental.health@southampton.gov.uk

Failed application redress

All premises will be registered on receipt of a properly completed application forms.


Consumer complaint

If the environmental health service receives complaints alleging that a food business is being operated from an unregistered premises, enquiries will be made by the service to establish whether a food business is being operated from the premises and whether registration is required. If a food business is found to be operating from an unregistered premises the environmental health service will require the food business operator to register and may consider whether any further enforcement action is required.