If you are opening a food business there are a number of legal requirements to fulfill - see the Running a food business pages on GOV.UK.
Register a food business
If you own or have taken over a food business in Oxford, it is a legal requirement to register your business with us at least 28 days before opening or taking ownership.
Registration is free of charge. The details will be entered onto our register and certain details, such as type of business, address and telephone number, will be available for public inspection. Other information provided will not be publicly available.
Once you have registered, you will need to notify us if there is a change of ownership or change in the nature of the business.
What happens next
After you have registered, a Food Safety Officer will visit your business to carry out an unannounced food safety inspection. If your business runs from a home or domestic property, an officer will contact you to arrange the inspection.
You can start trading from the date you have confirmed that the business will open. You do not need to wait for a food safety inspection before you start trading.
You must understand and follow the minimum food hygiene and safety standards at the first inspection to avoid a low food hygiene rating and potential further action.
See our Inspecting and enforcing food hygiene page.
It may take up to 14 days before your business listing appears on the Food Standards Agency website. Contact us instead of registering again if you believe the registration has not been received.
Get food safety, hygiene and allergen training
Food Business Operators must ensure that food handlers in the food business are supervised, instructed and trained in food hygiene matters which correspond with their work activities.
See Food safety, hygiene and allergen training.
Set up and use a food safety management system
You will need a written food safety management system, based on Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) principles, and have to ensure it is implemented and maintained.
A simple way this can be achieved is by using the Food Standard Agency's Safer Food Better Business Pack. This has been developed to help small catering and retail businesses such as restaurants, cafés, takeaways and shops comply with food safety regulations.
See Safer Food, Better Business.
Comply with Food Safety legislation
There are a number of free Food Standard Agency (FSA) publications that you might find helpful. Find these on the Running a food business pages on GOV.UK.
Other licences
Some food businesses also require other licenses, e.g. for late night refreshment or the sale of alcohol. Visit our licensing pages for more information.
