Food Premises Register

The Food Premises Register is a list of food-related businesses from the area. A food business is required by law to register with the local Environmental Health service.

Food businesses that should register on the Food Premises Register

If you run a food business for five or more days in any five consecutive weeks, you must tell us about any premises you use for storing, selling, distributing or preparing food.

Food premises could include restaurants, hotels, cafes, shops, supermarkets, staff canteens, kitchens in offices, warehouses, guest houses, food delivery vehicles, buffet cars on trains, market and other stalls, hot dog and ice cream vans and other mobile catering vehicles - not all types of food premises are listed here.

If you use vehicles for your food business in connection with permanent premises, such as a shop or warehouse, you only need to tell us how many vehicles you have. You do not need to register each vehicle separately. If you have one or more vehicles but no permanent premises, you must tell the authority where they are normally kept.

Anyone starting a new food business must register with the local authority at least 28 days before doing starting up.

Businesses exempt from Food Premises Registration

Some premises are exempt from registration, such as those which are already registered for food law purposes, certain agricultural premises, motor cars, tents and marquees (but not stalls), some domestic premises and some village halls. Contact the Environmental Health team for advice about exempt businesses.

Apply to register a food business on the Food Business Register

Once a food-related business has been logged with us we will not refuse the registration. There is no charge for an entry to the Food Premises Register.

Apply online to register a food business
Apply online to change the details of a registered food business
Apply to register a food business by post

If you use premises in more than one local authority area, you must register with each authority separately.

It is an offence to give information which you know is false.

Will tacit consent apply?

Tacit consent does not apply in respect of this application. It is in the public interest that the authority must process your application before it can be granted. If you have not heard from us within 56 days please contact the Environmental Health team.

Viewing the information available on the Food Premises Register

A register of addresses and the type of business carried on at each will be open to inspection by the general public. Records of other information you have provided will not be publicly available. Contact the Environmental Health team to arrange to view the Food Premises Register.

Changing your details on the Food Premises Register

Once you have registered your business with us you must tell us about the following changes:

a change of the business owner - a new Food Premises Register application form will be required
a change to the nature of the business
a change of the address at which moveable premises are kept.

Online application for changes in a food business registered in Stockton-on-Tees.

Stockton Council may change the entry of your business in the Food Premises Register if we receive information from another person. A business owner is given 28 days notice and an opportunity to comment on the proposed change.

These notes are provided for information only and should not be regarded as a complete statement of the law.

Complaints and advice

If you wish to complain about the way we have dealt with your application please contact the Environmental Health team.

If you wish to complain about a food business in your area we advise that you contact the trader in the first instance - preferably by letter (with proof of delivery). If your complaint is not resolved you may wish to take advice from Consumer Direct (if you live within the UK) or the UK European Consumer Centre (if you live outside of the UK) or you may contact the Environmental Health team with details of your complaint.

For additional advice the following trade associations may be helpful:

Chilled Food Association
National Federation of Meat and Food Traders