Starting a Food Business
For most businesses it is a legal requirement
to register with environmental health at least 4 weeks before the
intended opening date. You can
download a copy of the application
form to register your food premises by clicking on the link at
the bottom of this page.
Specific advice will be given depending on the
circumstances. Where necessary an officer will arrange to visit the
site of your business and give advice on the legal requirements
relating to environmental health.
Once a new business has opened environmental
health staff will make an initial inspection soon after you have
opened. During the inspection the officer will make an assessment
of the risks and decide how often revisits to premises will be
made. The risk will depend on the type of food sold, the scale of
production, how food is handled and stored and the condition of the
premises.
Food manufacturers
Food manufacturers may need special approval under European
legislation. These include manufacturers of:
- meat and fish products
- meat preparations
- milk products
Again, please contact us for advice.
If you intend to sell takeaway food after 23.30 you will need to
register as a takeaway cafe.
If you intend to open between 22.00 and 05.00 for consumption of
food on the premises you may need to be licensed as a
late night refreshment house.
Liquor licence
With recent changes under the
Licensing Act
2003, if you wish to sell alcohol from the premises you will
require a
premises licence and
personal licence. These licences are
issued by Allerdale Borough Council and not by the local
magistrates court. Further information is available from the
Licensing and Land Charges Section, email
licensing@allerdale.gov.uk
or phone 01900 702720.
If you are starting a food business in a premises that has not been
used previously for this purpose you may need to obtain
planning permission. This will probably not apply
if you just want to start a retail food business in a building
already used as a different type of retail shop but may apply if
you wish to start a hot food takeaway or restaurant. Please check
with the Planning Department by emailing
planning@allerdale.gov.uk or
phoning on the following phone numbers: North Allerdale: 01900
702740
South Allerdale: 01900 702760
Statutory nuisance to others
It is necessary to ensure that your premises
are not the cause of a statutory nuisance to others in neighbouring
properties. This covers matters such as smoke, fumes, gases, dust,
steam, smell, noise or accumulations or deposits that are
prejudicial to health or a nuisance. Environmental health can
advise on the likely problems which may arise. Certain planning
conditions may apply to control these problems.
Adequate arrangements must be made for storage and disposal of
waste. You must ensure that the company that removes your waste is
registered as a 'Waste Carrier' with your local authority. It will
also be necessary for you to keep details in relation to the type
of waste, amount produced and details of the company removing waste
for a period of two years. Information regarding the Council's
service is available by emailing
trade.refuse@allerdale.gov.uk,
or phoning 01900 702802.
You will need to provide public toilets if you are running a
business classed as a place of entertainment or you are selling
food or drink to the public for consumption on the premises.
Every employer has a duty under the Health and Safety at Work etc
Act 1974 to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the
health, safety and welfare at work of all your employees,
customers, visitors and on site contractors and this may impact on
the design, construction and operation of food premises. You should
therefore assess the risk to the health, safety and welfare of
anyone who is affected by the undertakings of the business. An
assessment of risk is no more than a careful examination of what,
in your work, could cause harm to people. You must then decide
whether you have taken adequate precautions to control these risks
or should do more to prevent them. The aim is to make sure that
no-one gets hurt or becomes ill. Accidents and ill health can ruin
lives, and affect your business too if output is lost. If you have
fewer than five employees you do not need to write anything down,
but if you have five or more employees you must record the findings
of your assessment. The Food and Occupational Health Team can
advise you of the legal health and safety requirements.
Allerdale Borough Council
