| Guidance Note |
|
| Starting a Food Business |
What You Should Know When Starting a Food Business
If
you are in the process of setting up a food business your local Environment
Health Department should be able to provide you with free advice on food safety
requirements and the health and safety steps you should follow.
Usually
you will be supplied with an information pack and booklets, which are designed
to help if you are currently operating a food business or intend to start one.
Essential information is provided to help you understand what the law requires
regarding food hygiene and health and safety in businesses.
Legal requirements concerning the preparation and sale of food
It is the responsibility of the owners and managers of a food business to ensure
that their business complies with food safety regulations. It is important that
all risks to people arising from the operations undertaken by your business are
assessed and properly controlled. This is for both food safety and occupational
health purposes.
Registration of your food business
It is required by law to register premises used for food
businesses (including market stalls, delivery vehicles and other moveable
structures).
Meat,
dairy, poultry, fish and egg products
Food business must obtain an official approval certificate from the
Environmental Health Department before they start operating if they produce,
process or export foods containing meat, poultry, dairy and egg products if they
are to be sold in a retail shop. This certificate is your unique number
for inclusion on your packaging and it is often referred to as the EEC oval
Health Mark or just Health Mark and looks like this:-
Butchers licences
Premises selling both open raw meat, together with ready- to-eat food, must have
a Butchers Shop Licence before they begin trading.
Late
closing and street trading
Businesses that trade late may need a Late Night Cafe Licence, additionally,
businesses that trade from vehicles, trailers, or stalls may need a Street
Trading Licence.
Planning
All businesses must comply with planning law.
Hazard Analysis
Hazard Analysis is a way to identify and control potential food hazards in your business. You must satisfy your Environmental Health Officer that you have considered all the food safety risks and have put procedures in place to control or eliminate those risks.
---oo0oo---
This
Guidance Note is based on information provided by the London Borough of Ealing
Environmental Health and Trading Standards, Perceval House, 14-16 Uxbridge Road,
London W5 2HL
Tel:
(020) 8825 6666
Email: foodsafety*ealing.gov.uk
Web Link:
Posted November 2005