Food Business Registration
What is registration?
Registration of a business establishment used for a food premises (including market stalls, delivery vehicles and other moveable structures) is required by law. Registration will allow us to keep an up-to-date list of all those premises in our area so that we can visit them when we need to. The frequency of the visits will depend on the type of premises.
Who needs to register?
If you run a food business establishment you must tell us about any premises you use for storing, selling, distributing or preparing food. Please note a Food Business is defined as any undertaking involving food, whether for profit of not and whether public or private. Food premises includes 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 etc. If a food premises are used by several catering business (for example, a village hall or conference centre), the person who allows the premises to be used for this purpose is responsible for registering them.
If you use vehicles for your business in connection with permanent premises such as a shop, or warehouse you only need to tell the local authority 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 the authority where they are normally kept.
Anyone starting a new food business must register with us at least 28 days before doing so.
All food business establishments will have to be registered.
How do I register?
You can register your business by completing the food business registration form. Registration cannot be refused and there is no charge. The registration form must be sent to Dartford Borough Council. The address can be found on the form. 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 7. If you have any questions please telephone 01322 343338 for assistance. It is an offence to give information which you know is false.
What happens to the information given on the form?
Dartford Borough Council will enter the details on its Register which can be viewed by the general public. Only the name of the business, address of the business and type of business will appear on the public register. Records of the other information provided will not be publicly available.
Changes
Once you have registered with Dartford Borough Council you only need notify them where there is a change of proprietor, where the nature of the business changes, or where there is a change of the address at which movable premises are kept. The new proprietor will have to complete an application form. If we wish to change the entry in the Register because of information which it receives from someone else you will be given 28 days notice and an opportunity to comment on the proposed change.
Please do not hesitate contact the Environmental Health Team for further guidance if you need it, on 01322 343338 or environmental.health@dartford.gov.uk.
