If you sell, cook, store, handle, prepare or distribute food to the public, you may need to register with us as a food business.
Who needs to register
You must register if you use premises in Hartlepool for any of the following:
- selling or cooking food
- storing or handling food
- preparing or distributing food to the public
This includes:
- restaurants, cafés, pubs *(including those that only do wet sales), hotels, takeaways and shops
- mobile units, market stalls and temporary premises
- schools, nurseries and care homes
- home-based or online food businesses
If you operate in more than one location, register each premise.
If you use vehicles for your food business in connection with permanent premises such as a shop or warehouse, you will only need to tell us the number you have. You are not required to register each vehicle separately. If you have one or more vehicles, but no permanent premises, you must inform us where they are normally kept.
Note: Mobile catering vans must be registered with us where the van is stored overnight.
Exemptions
You do not need to register if you:
- handle food at one-off events
- prepare food only for occasional charity or community events
- are a childminder registered with Ofsted (after 1 January 2014)
Other exemptions may apply to:
- some agricultural or domestic premises
- certain village halls
- approved premises (see Approvals page)
Some manufacturers handling products of animal origin may need to be approved by us or the Meat Hygiene Service, rather than registered.
Before you register
Plan ahead to avoid costly mistakes. Visit the Food Standards Agency website for guidance and download their checklist: Things to consider before starting a food business.
We also offer free food hygiene advice and advisory visits.
How to register
You can register your business online through Gov.Uk
- apply at least 28 days before opening.
- if your business is seasonal, include the dates of operation.
- you will not receive a certificate, but once registered, you can begin trading.
Food Premises Register
We maintain a public register of food businesses. Your business details (excluding personal information) will be added to this register. Businesses can request to see or receive a copy of the register entry.
Updating your registration
You only need to notify us if:
- your business closes
- there is a significant change in activity
- the operator changes (the new operator must register)
Inspections
Once registered, we will visit your premises to carry out an inspection to identify how safely food is being prepared and produced. Following the initial inspection, the frequency of future visits will depend on:
- the type and scale of your business
- what foods are made, stored or sold
- the types of food made
- the risk to food safety
Most businesses, unless exempt or excluded from the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS), will receive a food hygiene rating.
See our Food Hygiene Rating Scheme page for more details.
Contact us
For further information or to request a free advisory visit please email: HBC.CommercialServicesTeam@hartlepool.gov.uk