Food premises - registration

What is a food premises registration?

If you run a food business in the Maidstone Borough, you must register with Maidstone Borough Council – or authorise someone to register on your behalf – any premises you use for storing, selling, distributing or preparing food.

Food premises include:

restaurants
hotels
cafes
shops
supermarkets
staff canteens
kitchens in offices
warehouses
guest houses
residential care homes
food delivery vehicles
mobile food premises
child minders
buffet cars on trains
market and other stalls
hot dog and ice cream vans

Applying to register is a simple procedure, and does not need to be renewed. If you are starting a new food business, you must register at least 28 days before opening

If you are planning to produce food for a one-off event, please contact us for advice first

Legal Regulations

Summaries of the regulations relating to food registration are available online. There are separate regulations for premises which handle meat and food of animal origin and general food hygiene. More information on Food Safety Regulations is available.

How do I apply to register my food premises?

It is free to register your premises. Registration involves completing a simple form. This asks for:

the name, address, and type of food business;
the foods handled;
the name of the proprietor;
the address of the head office or registered office;
the number of people engaged in the food business; and
whether or not it is a seasonal business.

You must provide all these details accurately. It is an offence to give false or incomplete information.

You can apply to register your food premises online or you can download a registration form to print out, complete and return to:

The Food Safety Team, Maidstone House, King Street, Maidstone ME15 6JQ.

Alternatively, you can telephone us on 01622 602202 or contact us using the details to the right of this page to request a food registration form.

Do I need to register each vehicle I use for my business?

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 us where your vehicles are normally kept.

Do I have to keep you up to date of changes in my business?

It’s very important for you to inform us of any changes you have made. Please inform us of any of the following:

a change in proprietor/manager of the business;
a change to the nature of the business, i.e., what foodstuffs you handle;
a change of address, or a change of address where a moveable business is kept.

It is free to inform us of these changes. You can apply to register a change in your food premises online. Alternatively, contact us using the details to the side of the page.

If someone else takes over your business, they must make a new registration with us

What happens next?

Processing your registration takes 28 calendar days. Please stay in touch with us during this time, as the “clock” can stop if we need any further information from you. Once this time has passed, you can consider your registration successful, and it does not need to be renewed. However, please see the information above concerning changes to your business.

Will you inspect my premises?

We will come to inspect your premises in due course. More information on Food Safety Inspections and Food hygiene training is available.

What happens to my information?

Any information you give us is used to maintain accurate and up to date records of all food businesses in our inspection programme. Also, Maidstone Borough Council is required to keep a public register showing the name and address of all food premises and the type of business operated there. Apart from this, the remaining information upon the form is confidential.

A copy of the public register of food premises is available on request, using the contact details to the right of this page.

What should I do if I have a complaint?

If you have any problems with the handling of your application, please contact us in the first instance using the details to the right of this page.

Maidstone Borough Council also operates a complaints procedure. If you are unhappy with the service you have received, view the complaints procedure or make a complaint.

What do I do if I have complaints about food or food premises?

Comprehensive guidance on what to do if you have been served unacceptable food or are concerned about food premises, and what we will do to follow up your complaint, is available on our Food – Information and Advice page.