A new campaign from the Food Standards Agency (FSA), supported by Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, is calling for all new food businesses to register 28 days before opening.
The COVID-19 pandemic has seen a huge increase in food businesses based in people’s homes. Since March 2020, 32% of new food ventures registering through the FSA’s digital service ‘Register a Food Business’, are run from domestic kitchens at private addresses. Many more are failing to register with the Council’s Environmental Health Department as a food business.
These sellers are potentially putting consumers at risk as they may have little knowledge of food safety.
All food businesses have a legal obligation to register with their local council 28 days prior to opening. It’s an offence not to do so. Businesses must register whether selling online, via social media sites, trade from a physical customer-facing premises or simply selling food from a home kitchen.
Without registration, Environmental Health Food Safety Officers cannot assess the nature of the business, provide appropriate advice or give a Food Hygiene Rating where appropriate. Registering can also help home caterers and those who sell online to identify when their hobby may have developed into a food business.
Michael Jackson, Deputy Director – Head of Regulatory Compliance, at the FSA said: “Councils need to know who is trading in their area and registration is an opportunity to ensure that food businesses have access to relevant guidance and support to help them get it right from the start and to protect consumers.”
Lord Mayor Alderman Glenn Barr said: “We have seen a huge increase in people selling food from their homes over the course of the pandemic. That’s why we’re working with the FSA to support businesses in our borough to ensure they are registering and keeping us informed of changes to their businesses.”
Registration is free. If you are already trading and have not registered yet, you need to get registered as soon as possible as this is a legal requirement.
Not sure if you should register? Contact our Environmental Health Department on 0300 0300 900 to check this or get more information at www.food.gov.uk/register.
