Food, Drink & Hospitality Food, hospitality and tourism Wales

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.

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Related guides in Environmental Permits

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

    Registered with your Welsh local authority

    Food business registration submitted to your local authority at least 28 days before opening. Registration is with the Welsh local authority where your premises are located, not where you live.

  2. 2

    Correct business type declared

    Registration accurately describes all food activities carried out (manufacturing, catering, retail, distribution). Update your registration if activities change.

Food hygiene rating display

  1. 1

    Food hygiene rating sticker displayed at entrance

    Wales law requires mandatory display of your food hygiene rating sticker in a conspicuous place at or near the entrance. This is a legal requirement under the Food Hygiene Rating (Wales) Act 2013, not voluntary as in England.

  2. 2

    Rating sticker is the current valid version

    The displayed sticker matches your most recent inspection result. Remove and replace stickers after a new inspection.

  3. 3

    Rating information provided on request (including online and phone orders)

    There is no statutory duty to display your rating online, but you must give customers information about your current rating if they ask, including verbal requests. Displaying your rating on your website, app, or online ordering platform is strongly encouraged by the FSA.

  4. 4

    No tampering with or obscuring the sticker

    It is an offence to fail to display, alter, or obscure your food hygiene rating sticker. Penalties include a fixed penalty notice or prosecution.

Food waste separation

  1. 1

    Food waste separated from general waste

    All food waste must be separated at source and collected separately. This applies to all food businesses in Wales under the Waste Separation Requirements (Wales) Regulations 2023.

  2. 2

    Appropriate food waste containers in use

    Dedicated food waste bins or caddies are available in all food preparation and serving areas. Containers are clearly labelled.

  3. 3

    Separate collection service arranged

    A waste carrier registered with Natural Resources Wales collects your food waste separately. Check your carrier's registration on the NRW public register.

  4. 4

    No food waste sent to landfill or incineration

    Separately collected food waste must not be sent to landfill or incineration (including energy-from-waste). In practice it goes to anaerobic digestion or composting.

Natural Resources Wales permits

  1. 1

    Trade effluent consent obtained (if applicable)

    If you discharge trade effluent to the public sewer, you need consent from your water company. For direct discharge to a watercourse, you need a permit from Natural Resources Wales.

  2. 2

    Water abstraction licence obtained (if applicable)

    If you abstract more than 20 cubic metres of water per day from a river, stream, or borehole, you need an abstraction licence from NRW.

  3. 3

    Waste carrier registration valid

    If you transport your own waste, you must be registered as a waste carrier with NRW (not the Environment Agency, which covers England only).

Welsh language

  1. 1

    Welsh language considered for customer-facing signage

    While not a legal requirement for most private businesses, providing bilingual signage and menus is considered good practice in Wales and is expected by many customers, particularly in Welsh-speaking areas.

  2. 2

    Welsh Standards compliance checked (if public-facing contract)

    If you hold a Welsh Government or public sector contract, you may be required to comply with Welsh Language Standards. Check your contract terms.

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.

Official guidance