There are some exemptions to this requirement which are detailed below.
Should your food business be exempted from the requirement to be approved, it will, nonetheless need to be registered and you should complete and submit an 'application for food registration form' to the council at least 28 days before you intend to commence operations if you are a new business, or within 28 days of taking over an existing food business.
Failure to register a food business or notify significant changes is an offence for which you may be prosecuted.
Retail
If your business is a retail business involved in the handling, processing and storage of food at the point of sale or delivery to the final consumer you may be exempt from approval. Premises that produce products of animal origin that you supply to other retail businesses may also be exempt from approval.
This exemption applies if your supply of products of animal origin to other retailers is a marginalised, localised and restricted activity.
Marginal
The production of products of animal origin is only a small part of your business. A small part of your business would be considered up to a quarter of the business in terms of food.
Localised
The other retail establishments that you supply are in the immediate vicinity of your establishment. This is interpreted as sales within your own county plus the greater of either the neighbouring county or counties or 30 miles from the boundary of the supplying establishment's county. In East Staffordshire this would mean supply to the whole of Staffordshire, Derbyshire, Cheshire, Shropshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Birmingham and Leicestershire or any point 30 miles from the county boundary.
Restricted
Concerning only certain types of products or establishments.
Further information can be obtained by contacting us on ehsupport@eaststaffsbc.gov.uk