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Wales food business compliance checklist

Quick verification checklist for Wales-specific food business obligations. Covers local authority registration, mandatory food hygiene rating display, food waste separation, Natural Resources Wales permits, and Welsh language best practice.

Wales
Guide summary

Register your food business with your local council in Wales at least 28 days before trading. Display your food hygiene rating and separate food waste if you produce more than 5kg per week. Check if you need permits from Natural Resources Wales.

  • Register with your local council at least 28 days before trading
  • Display your food hygiene rating if you have one
  • Separate food waste if you produce more than 5kg per week
  • Do not put food waste down the drain
  • Check if you need permits from Natural Resources Wales
  • Registration is free and cannot be refused
  • Wales has 22 local councils with different registration processes
  • Food waste separation is mandatory since 6 April 2024
  • Penalty for not separating food waste is £300 to £500
  • Use bilingual forms (Welsh and English) for registration
On this page
Wales

Use this checklist to verify your food business in Wales meets Wales-specific legal obligations. These are requirements that differ from or go beyond those in England. For general UK-wide food safety obligations, see Food safety compliance checklist.

Registration

  1. 1

  2. 2

Food hygiene rating display

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  2. 2

  3. 3

  4. 4

Food waste separation

  1. 1

  2. 2

  3. 3

  4. 4

Natural Resources Wales permits

  1. 1

  2. 2

  3. 3

Welsh language

  1. 1

  2. 2

If you cannot confirm any item above, address it before trading. Failure to display your food hygiene rating in Wales is a criminal offence carrying a fixed penalty notice or prosecution. Failure to separate food waste can result in enforcement action by Natural Resources Wales. For general food safety breaches, penalties include unlimited fines and up to 2 years imprisonment under the Food Safety Act 1990.

Related guides in Environmental Permits

Starting a food business in Wales: what you need to know

Overview of what makes starting a food business in Wales different from the rest of the UK. Covers the mandatory Food Hygiene Rating Scheme display requirement, Welsh local authority registration, food waste separation obligations, and Welsh Government support programmes available to new food businesses.

Comply with mandatory food hygiene rating display in Wales

Wales is one of only two UK nations where displaying your food hygiene rating is a legal requirement. This guide explains how to comply with the Food Hygiene Rating (Wales) Act 2013, including where to display your sticker, online display obligations, what happens if you do not display, and what to do if you disagree with your rating.

Appeal your food hygiene rating or request a re-rating in Wales

If you disagree with your food hygiene rating in Wales, you can appeal within 21 days, submit a right of reply, or request a re-rating visit after making improvements. This guide explains each option, the deadlines you must meet, and what fees apply.

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.