If you intend to make, prepare or handle food of animal origin (e.g. meat, fish or dairy) for supply to other businesses, then the food business and its activities in most circumstances will require what is known as approval.
Food premises that need approval must meet additional requirements above the general requirements for food premises, as they usually involve more high-risk operations. If your food premise needs to have approval you will need to meet the hygiene standards set out in the following regulations:
- Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 of 29 April 2004 on the hygiene of foodstuffs.
- Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 laying down specific hygiene rules for food of animal origin.
If any part of your business requires approval you will not be able to operate this part of your process until you have completed the application form and you have received confirmation of your approval or conditional approval for a certain time period.
Exemptions to approval
If there is an element of retail involved in your business and you intend to supply any other retailers or caterers you may be exempt from approval if the supply of the food of animal origin is marginalised and localised and restricted.
- Marginal - a small part of the establishments business meaning up to one quarter of the business in terms of food.
- Localised - sale within the supplying establishments own county plus the greater of either the neighbouring county or counties or 30 miles from the boundary of the supplying establishments county.
- Restricted - concerning only certain types of products being made or establishments being supplied.
Should your food business be exempt from the approval process then you will still need to register your food business with the Council, contact the Public Protection team if you are not sure whether your intended business activity needs approval
Next steps
Your application form(s) will need to be returned to this office together with the necessary documentation.
Download the approved premises guidance
Once your application has been received an officer will be in contact with you and arrange to visit you at your premises. The officer will look in depth at your process and documentation and discuss any work you need to do in order to comply with the regulations.
If your business has achieved the required standards, approval will be granted and you will be issued with a unique approval number which makes up part of the of the identification mark that you will need to apply to your products.
Last updated: 10/10/2022 16:00
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