Safety watchdog urges new food businesses to register with local authority

Food Standards Agency (FSA) today launched a new campaign to encourage all new food businesses to register with their local authority.

The campaign follows a rise in the number of new food businesses during the pandemic, particularly from people’s homes, making use of the internet to sell the products. The FSA said 37 per cent of new ventures registered in its Register a Food Business digital service since the start of the pandemic (March 2020) are run from domestic kitchens at private addresses.

The agency noted that many of these home-based sellers have not registered with their local authorities and this might put consumers at risk because they haven’t demonstrated good food safety knowledge.

“Local Authorities need to know the businesses trading in their area so they can give them the help and support to ensure businesses get their hygiene and standards right to protect consumers from the moment they open,” Michael Jackson, deputy director – head of regulatory compliance at the FSA, said.

“If you cook, store, prepare, sell or distribute a food product then you are a food business, and you need to get registered straightaway. Our advice is clear, if you’re planning to start a new food business, or taking over an existing food business – you must register with your local authority. Registering is free and easy to do.”

All food businesses have a legal obligation to register with their local authority 28 days before opening and it is an offence not to do so. Businesses must register whether they sell food via social media or e-commerce sites, trade from a physical customer-facing premises or simply run a food business from a home kitchen. Businesses must also register with the local authority if they are taking over an existing food business.

Without registration a local authority cannot assess the nature of the business and give a Food Hygiene Rating.