Food, Drink & Hospitality Food, hospitality and tourism Wales

Register a food business in Wales

How to register a food business with one of the 22 Welsh local authorities. Covers the Welsh-specific registration process, bilingual forms, what happens after registration, and key differences from the England registration system.

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If you are starting a food business in Wales, you must register with your local authority before you begin trading. This applies to all food businesses — restaurants, cafes, takeaways, market stalls, mobile caterers, home-based bakers, online food sellers, and childminders who provide meals.

Registration in Wales is governed by the Food Hygiene (Wales) Regulations 2006 (WSI 2006/31), which implement Regulation (EC) 852/2004 in Welsh law. These are separate from the Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013, and the registration process in Wales differs from England in several important ways.

Registration is free and cannot be refused — it is a notification process, not an approval or licensing system. However, failing to register is a criminal offence that can result in prosecution and an unlimited fine.

Legal framework

Food business registration in Wales sits within the following legislative framework:

Who needs to register

You must register if you carry out any of the following activities on a regular or organised basis:

  • Selling food to the public (including from home)
  • Cooking or preparing food for sale or for service
  • Storing or handling food for sale
  • Distributing food
  • Manufacturing or processing food

This includes businesses that supply food free of charge as part of their activities (for example, a bed and breakfast providing meals, or a workplace canteen). Occasional charitable events such as one-off bake sales are generally exempt, but regular or organised food sales always require registration.

How to register in Wales

Step-by-step registration process

Follow these steps to register your food business with your Welsh local authority.

  1. 1

    1. Identify your local authority

    Wales has 22 local councils, each responsible for food business registration within their area. Find your council by searching for your postcode on the GOV.UK 'Find your local council' page or the relevant Welsh council website. If you operate a mobile food business, register with the council where your vehicle is normally kept overnight.

  2. 2

    2. Contact the Environmental Health department

    Once you have identified your council, contact their Environmental Health team. Ask whether they offer online registration or require a paper form. Forms are available in both Welsh and English. Some councils provide downloadable forms on their websites; others require you to request a copy.

  3. 3

    3. Complete the registration form

    Provide the following information: your full name and home address as the food business operator; the address of each premises where food activities take place; the nature of your food business (what food you handle and what activities you carry out); and the date you intend to start trading. If you trade under a business name different from your own name, include that as well.

  4. 4

    4. Submit at least 28 days before trading

    You must submit your registration at least 28 days before you start trading. This gives the local authority time to process your notification and schedule an initial inspection. Late registration is an offence — do not start trading before you have submitted your registration.

  5. 5

    5. Receive your acknowledgement

    Your council will acknowledge receipt of your registration. Note that you do not receive a registration certificate — only an acknowledgement that your notification has been received. Keep this for your records as proof of registration.

  6. 6

    6. Prepare for your first inspection

    After registration, an Environmental Health officer will visit to inspect your premises. New businesses are prioritised for early inspection. Before the visit, ensure you have a food safety management system in place (based on HACCP principles), temperature monitoring records, staff training evidence, and clean, well-maintained premises.

  7. 7

    7. Receive your food hygiene rating

    Following inspection, you will be given a food hygiene rating from 0 to 5. In Wales, you are legally required to display this rating at your premises under the Food Hygiene Rating (Wales) Act 2013. Failure to display your rating is an offence.

Registering multiple premises

If you operate from more than one location, you must register each premises separately. If those premises are in different local authority areas, you will need to register with each relevant council. For example, if you have a production kitchen in Cardiff and a shop in Swansea, you must register with both Cardiff Council and Swansea Council.

Home-based food businesses

If you run a food business from home — such as baking cakes for sale or preparing meals for delivery — you must register your home address as your food premises. Your Environmental Health officer may need to inspect your home kitchen. The same hygiene standards apply whether you operate from a commercial premises or a domestic kitchen.

After registration

Registration does not expire and does not need to be renewed. However, you must notify your local authority of any significant changes to your business, including:

  • Change of food business operator (new owner or manager)
  • Change of premises address
  • Significant changes to the nature of your food activities
  • Closure of the business

If you move to a new premises within the same local authority area, you must submit a new registration for the new address. If you move to a different local authority area, register with the new council.

What happens if you do not register

Operating an unregistered food business is a criminal offence under the Food Hygiene (Wales) Regulations 2006. Penalties include an unlimited fine on summary conviction. On conviction on indictment, you face an unlimited fine and up to 2 years' imprisonment. Your local authority can also serve improvement notices or, in serious cases, issue an emergency prohibition notice to close your business immediately.

Common questions

Can I trade while waiting for my registration to be processed? No. You must submit your registration at least 28 days before trading. If you have submitted on time and not received an acknowledgement, contact your council to confirm receipt — but do not trade before the 28-day period has passed.

Do I need any other licences? Registration covers food hygiene only. Depending on your business, you may also need a premises licence (for alcohol or late-night refreshment), a street trading licence, planning permission for change of use, or other sector-specific authorisations.

Can I register in English? Yes. While bilingual forms are available, you can complete your registration in either Welsh or English. All 22 local authorities accept registrations in both languages.

Is there an online portal for Wales? Many Welsh councils accept registrations through the Food Standards Agency's online Register a Food Business service, which covers England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Check your local council's website to see how they accept registrations. If in doubt, contact their Environmental Health department directly.

Official guidance and resources