Food Premises Registration

Anyone running a food business must tell the Council about any premises used for storing, selling, distributing or preparing food. Food premises include 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 anyone uses a vehicle for a food business in connection with permanent premises such as a shop, or warehouse, it is only necessary to tell the Council how many vehicles are used in the business. It is not necessary to register each vehicle separately. If a food business uses one or more vehicles but there are no permanent premises, the food business operator must tell the authority where they are normally kept.

It is not necessary to register if food is being handled at a one off event or if food is prepared occasionally for coffee mornings or charity functions. We do recommend that advice is sought from this Department regarding the safe handling and production of food.

The application form can be downloaded or is available on request by post, fax or email. There is no charge to register a food business. The registration form must be sent to the local authority in whose area the food premises are located. If premises are used in more than one local authority area, i.e. mobile food vans, each must be registered separately with each of those authorities.

When completing the application all the boxes which apply to the business must be ticked, all the questions answered, and all information requested must be given. Seasonal businesses operating for a certain period each year should give the dates between which they will be open.

Once registered with the local authority, it is only necessary to notify them of a change of food business operator, if the nature of the business changes, or if there is a change of the address at which moveable premises are kept. The new food business operator will have to complete a Food Premises Registration Form.

Download the Food Premises Registration Form here (30KB MS Word doc).