Derry City and Strabane District Council is reminding food businesses across the Council area which are operating from their home that they are legally required to register with the local Council’s Environmental Health Department.
All food businesses are required to do this 28 days prior to opening.
The Council, in the run up to Christmas, will be proactively contacting unregistered food outlets that they are aware of across the Council area, to alert them of their legal responsibility and to offer advice and assistance on how to register.
Seamus Donaghy, Head of Health and Community Wellbeing with Derry City and Strabane District Council said the Council is aware of a number of food businesses across Derry and Strabane who are selling cakes, sandwiches and confectionery from their homes but who are not registered with environmental health.
The Council team are taking a proactive approach to encourage as many of them as possible to register their business and to give advice on how to get compliant and protect their customers. The service is free and easy to do online.
He said: “Registration is required regardless of where a business operates. This includes food businesses trading from physical customer-facing premises, from home, a mobile unit or temporary premises such as a stall of van, or through online platforms such as Facebook or Instagram or distance selling.
“It is in the interests of everyone that these businesses are registered, to ensure that hygiene standards are met and customers are protected.
“It is imperative that anyone operating a food premises understands the food safety risks involved and our food team at the Council are here to help and provide the guidance required to help you address these risks ad provide food safely to customers.
“Food law requires the registration of activities where food is supplied on a regular and organised basis. This is required whether food is given away free or sold.
“While you may not define yourself as a business, if you are providing food on a regular and organised basis, you are a food business under food law.
“Once you register, one of our food team will make arrangements to visit your home to conduct a food hygiene inspection to assess whether your food preparation areas and food safety procedures are suitable.
“Good food hygiene is essential to make sure that the food you prepare is safe to eat and that you take into account the key areas of good food hygiene – cleaning, cooking, chilling and cross contamination.
“Allergen management is also an issue that food businesses need to be aware of and how best to handle and manage food allergens effectively in food preparation.”
Registration is free and can be easily completed online.
You can register your business via the following link: https://register.food.gov.uk/new/derry-city-and-strabane
The Council will be contacting businesses they are aware of across the Council area over the coming weeks in an effort to ensure they are registered.
Alternatively you can speak to one of the food team to discuss registration or get further information, on 02871 253 253 or email [email protected].
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