Food business registration
You must register your food business with us at least 28 days before you start trading.
Food business registration is not a licence. It tells us where your food business operates from.
You may be fined, imprisoned for up to two years, or both, if you run a food business without registering.
Who needs to register
You must register if you run a food business from any premises, vehicle or storage unit.
You need to register even if the business is small or run from home. Registering for other council services does not register your food business.
Food businesses include:
- restaurants, hotels and cafes
- shops, butchers, supermarkets, markets and other food stalls
- staff canteens
- warehouses
- guest houses
- voluntary luncheon clubs, day centres and care homes
- delivery vehicles
- hot dog and ice cream vans
- home caterers
What you need to register
You must tell us about any premises you use for:
- storing food
- selling food
- distributing food
- preparing food
If you use a mobile van or unit, you must tell us where you park it overnight. You must register it with us if you park it in the Swindon Borough Council area.
If you have more than one food business
You must register each food business establishment separately.
If the same food business operator controls two or more establishments, they must complete a registration form for each one.
If two or more food businesses operate from the same premises, each operator must register their own business. This includes, for example:
- a coffee shop inside a supermarket
- a school breakfast club that is separate from the lunchtime contract caterer
When to register
You must register at least 28 days before you:
- start a new food business
- change the business ownership
- change the business details
When you may need approval instead
Some food businesses need approval instead of registration. This depends on the activities carried out by the business.