Register your Food Business

All food businesses must be registered with their local authority at least 28 days before they open or change ownership.

Registration is simple; please read the following information first. Registration is free.

"Food business" has a very wide definition and includes any activity where "food" is supplied whether carried on for profit or not. Examples of food businesses that need to be registered:

• Restaurants, canteens, cafes, takeaways, hotels, guest houses, pubs and clubs (including those that only serve drink), and other caterers.
• Caring establishments, e.g. care homes and hospitals.
• Educational establishments, e.g. schools and colleges.
• Community/church halls where a kitchen is used by the owners to provide food.
• Mobile food vehicles.
• Food manufacturers and packers.
• Food retailers and wholesalers.

Please note "Food" also has a very wide definition and includes:

• drink,
• articles and substances of no nutritional value which are used for human consumption,
• chewing gum and other products of a like nature and use and articles, and
• substances used as ingredients in the preparation of food.

If you are not sure if your business needs to be registered please contact the Commercial Team.

There are two ways of registering your food business. To register online you must first register with Business Link, you can then apply online:

• Registration of a food business establishment
• Change a food business registration

Alternatively the form can be completed electronically or downloaded below. It can then be sent to us by post or email. If you are unable to access the form or require a hard copy please contact commercial@north-norfolk.gov.uk

A valid application will be processed by us within 7 days of receipt.

For a valid application we require the following form properly completed.

• Food Registration Form (Word)

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Food Premises Register

The register of food premises can be downloaded below.

• Food Premises Register (PDF)

Notes on food premises register:

• registered childminders are excluded
• no address is given for: 
  • mobile food businesses
  • market stalls
  • outside caterers
  • home producers - e.g. making jams/cakes, producing food for local village hall or farmers markets

Food businesses that need approval before they are allowed to operate are those that:

• sell most, or all, of their food to other businesses such as retailers, cafes, restaurants, pubs; and
• produce products of animal origin, which are defined as -
  • Minced Meat and Meat Preparations
  • Meat Products
  • Live Bivalve Molluscs
  • Fishery Products
  • Raw Milk and Dairy Products
  • Eggs and Egg Products

Lists of these premises can be found by visiting the "List of approved establishments" part of the Food Standards Agency website.