Food Businesses

Chef with Tray of Food There are around 780 food businesses in the local area that are registered with Gedling Borough Council. Each year around 450 businesses receive a planned unannounced inspection. In 2010-11 107 additional visits were made to premises to check on compliance with food law. Some inspections and visits involves working in the evening and at weekends and Bank Holidays when the businesses are open for trading. The overall standard of food businesses in the area is good with 90% being broadly compliant.

Officers have powers to enter commercial premises at all reasonable hours and if necessary issue notices, detain and seize suspect food or close down a business. During all inspections officers are watchful for illegally imported foodstuffs which can be seized and destroyed.

How do I register my Food Business?

Food businesses need to register with the local authority in whose area the business is located. For mobile vehicles the business is either registered in the area where the vehicle is garaged or if statically located where it trades. Registration is free and should be carried out 28 days before opening-this gives us time to visit the business and advise so the premises are operating within the law.

The registration form can be downloaded, completed and posted back to this Authority using the address on the form or you can decide to register online. Persons wishing to change their food registration should reapply as a new registration-please do not hesitate to contact us if you wish to discuss matters first with a food officer. Persons intending setting up a new business should enquire with the Development Control Service at this Authority over the need for any necessary Planning permission. You can download the informative Food Standard Agency publication 'Starting Up a Food Business'-see right.

Does my business require approval?

Some food businesses require approval. A food business may require approval if you intend to use "unprocessed products of animal origin" e.g. fresh meat, raw minced meat, raw milk, eggs to produce any, or a combination of the following:

Minced meat
Meat preparations
Mechanically separated meat
Meat products
Live Bi Valve Molluscs
Fishery products
Raw milk (other than raw cows' milk)
Dairy products
Eggs (not primary production)
Egg products
Frogs legs and snails
Rendered animal fats and greaves
Treated stomachs, bladders and intestines
Gelatine and collagen
Certain cold stores
Certain wholesale markets

We would always advise persons thinking of setting up an approved food premises to first discuss the proposals with a food officer at this Authority. The officer will be able to help you with the approval application process and discuss relevant technical food (and health and safety) aspects with you. You can apply for approval online-see right.