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 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 702820.
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.