Food Hygiene and Food Safety

Register a Food Business - Approved Premises

Licence summary

If you operate food premises you may need to be approved by your local authority.

Examples of types of premises that are required to be approved local authorities are stand alone (ie not attached to a slaughter house, cutting plant or game handling establishment):

You should contact your local authority to see if you require approval.

  • meat processing plants
  • meat preparation plants
  • minced meat processing operations and mechanically separated meat processing plants
  • cold stores

Eligibility Criteria

No provision in legislation

Regulation Summary

A summary of the regulation relating to this licence

Regulation Summary

A summary of the regulation relating to this licence

Application Evaluation Process

No provision in legislation

Will Tacit Consent Apply?

Yes. This means that you will be able to act as though your application is granted if you have not heard from the local authority by the end of 28 days from the submission of a completed registration.

Apply online

Apply for approved food premises

Failed Application Redress

Please contact your Local Authority in the first instance.

Licence Holder Redress

Please contact your Local Authority in the first instance.

Consumer Complaint

We would always advise that in the event of a complaint the first contact is made with the trader by you - preferably in the form a letter (with proof of delivery). If that has not worked, if you are located in the UK , Consumer Direct will give you advice. From outside the UK contact the UK European Consumer Centre.

Other Redress

E.g. about noise, pollution, etc. Also should one licence holder complain about another.

Trade Associations

Livestock & Meat Commission for Northern Ireland (LMC)

National Association of Catering Butchers (NACB)

National Federation of Meat and Food Traders

Scottish Federation of Meat Traders Associations (SFMTA)