Food safety legislation for businesses

Vale of White Horse District Council
Abbey House, Abbey Close,
Abingdon, OX14 3JE
Email: comments@whitehorsedc.gov.uk
Telephone: 01235 520202

A-Z Services:
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z

Where am I?
Home
Environmental health
Food safety
Food safety legislation for businesses

Food safety legislation for businesses

New food legislation was introduced in January 2006 under the Food Hygiene (England) Regulations 2006.

The main requirements for businesses according to the law are:

All food businesses are required to register with the local authority. If your food business is based in the Vale you need to register with the Food and Safety Team. You can do this by downloading the application to register a food business form from the right of the page and sending it back to the Food and Safety Team.
All food businesses are required to have a Food Safety Management System (previously known as a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point procedure). It basically involves looking at how your business operates; identifying areas of potential harm to customers and ensuring action is taken to minimize any risks identified. An important new requirement is for the system to be written down.

The Food Standards Agency website provides details of a suggested system for small catering businesses called Safer Food Better Business. This management system can be downloaded from the website, or you can order a free information pack by calling 0845 606 0667. This pack will help you:

Comply with the regulations
Show you how to make and display food safely
Protect your business’s reputation
Improve your business.

Other similar systems approved by the Food Standards Agency include:

Information about food standards for businesses can also be found on the Oxfordshire Trading Standards website and in the Food Standards Agency leaflet "Food hygiene: a guide for businesses" which can be downloaded from the right of the page.

If you would like more advice about any aspect of the legislation relating to food businesses you can contact the Food and Safety Team – see the contact details on the right.