Registration of a Food Business Establishment

Download an Application for the Registration of a Food Business Establishment [PDF file].

The following information page is provided for guidance and should not be regarded as a complete statement of the law.

What is registration

Registration is a notification by the food business operator of “each establishment under its control that carries out any of the stages of production, processing and distribution of food”.

Registration is required under Article 6(2) of Regulation (EC) 852/2004 [PDF file].

Who needs to register?

All food business establishments (i.e. each separate unit of their food businesses) need to be registered except establishments which need to be approved under Regulation (EC) 853/2004, for example Food Manufacturers.

If in doubt, please contact the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea for guidance.

Here are some definitions which may help:

  • Food business means any undertaking, whether for profit or not and whether public or private, carrying out any of the activities related to any stage of production, processing and distribution of food.
    Please note: Food businesses can include:
    • restaurants
    • cafés
    • bars
    • home caterers
    • market stalls
    • schools
    • nurseries
    • chemists, etc. This list is not exhaustive.
  • Food includes:
    • drinks
    • snacks
    • confectionery
    • baby milk
    • chocolate bars
    • wrapped and sealed food, etc. This list is not exhaustive.
  • Food business operator means the natural or legal persons responsible for ensuring that the requirements of food law are met within the food business under their control.
  • Establishment means any unit of a food business.

How to register

Registration is free. Once completed, the Application Form for Registration of Food Premises [PDF file] needs to be returned to the following address:

Directorate of Environmental Health
The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
London
W8 6PW

If the activities of your food business change

Once you have registered with the Local Authority you only need notify them of a change of proprietor, if the nature of the business changes, or if there is a change of the address at which moveable premises are kept. The new proprietor will have to complete an application form.