Do I Need a License to Sell Food?
In the UK, food handlers don’t have to hold a food hygiene certificate to prepare or sell food. The skills taught in official training programmes can be acquired through training on-the-job or self-study. However, anyone starting a new food business or taking over an existing one is required to register their food business establishment at least 28 days before beginning to trade. Registration is a legal requirement, is free and cannot be refused.
If you prepare food at home and sell it from a stall at the local market, you’ll need a licence for your home and a licence for your booth. You must have street trading consent if you are selling anything in a street or any other public area, even if the land is privately owned but can be accessed without paying. Selling on your own property does not require additional permissions, but selling on someone else’s property would necessitate a permit or permission from the owner.
Catering and Food Business Registration
- You don’t necessarily need planning permission to work from home unless the nature of the business changes the dwelling’s overall character.
- To be considered licensed catering, the enterprise must have official authorization.
- It’s essential to register as a food business when selling food online or not made on the premises to comply with UK food law.
- To set up a home food business:
- Step 1: Register as a food business.
- Step 2: Undertake food hygiene training.
Reporting Unlicensed Food Sales
If you are aware of someone selling food without the required licenses or consents, the appropriate course of action would be to report this to the local authority. The local environmental health department would typically handle such matters and take action to ensure compliance with food safety laws.