Requirement to register premises

In terms of the regulations made under the Food Safety Act 1990, premises used for a food business on five or more days in any period of five consecutive weeks (whether or not carried on for profit) must be registered. However, premises used for voluntary or charitable organisations where no food is stored for sale are exempt from registration as are:

• Premises where the only commercial operations comprise the sale of food from automatic vending machines
• The supply of beverages, biscuits etc. where the principal activity of the business is not the sale of food
• The supply of food in the course of a religious ceremony.

Many Church premises may, therefore, be exempt from the requirement to register. However, it is strongly recommended that, in all cases (and particularly if there is any doubt as to whether any activity could constitute the storage of food), you should contact officials of the Local Authority Environmental Health Department, who should be invited to inspect the premises.

Irrespective of any requirement to register, congregations should be diligent in following up promptly any recommendations made by Environmental Officers as to improvements to be made to the facilities and in regard to cleaning and general hygiene.