Search and apply for a licence, permit or registration

We are required to inspect and grant permission for food premises to handle, process and manufacture products of animal origin such as meat, dairy, egg or fish. This is called the process of approval.

Food premises approved under these regulations must meet additional requirements above the general requirements for food premises as they involve more high risk operations.

Food businesses must not start any business activity which requires approval, unless they have received conditional or full approval for the proposed activity from the Food Safety team. To start business without approval is an offence for which the business is likely to be prosecuted.

Eligibility criteria

You do not need to be approved if you are a manufacturer but also sell direct to the public or retailers like caterers, pubs and restaurants, as long as:

• food is less than 25% of your trade
• you do not sell food outside the M25 area (when registered in Croydon, restricted to the local area)
• you handle other products not just meat, dairy, egg and fish products combined with your products

There are lots of exceptions so please check with the Food and Safety team.

The food premises must also be registered with the council.

Apply for approval or make a change to an existing approval 

Download the application form

Apply for food premises approval (PDF,260KB)

You will also need to provide all the relevant documentation listed in part 8 of the application form.

Make a change

Apply for a change to an existing food premises approval (PDF, 380KB)

Supporting documents

You'll need to include a detailed Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) plan to ensure you're controlling risks at critical points. Find out how to make a make an HACCP food plan on GOV.UK

Additional paperwork regarding hygiene and safety of the food being processed will also need to be sent with the application form.

How we evaluate your application

Once your application is received with all the relevant paperwork for the application, an officer will contact you within 14 days. They will make arrangements to carry out an inspection of your premises. The purpose of the inspection is to ensure the premises meet the standards required for approved premises and to ensure your documentation is correct.
  
We will write to you within 28 days to tell you if the premises have been approved. We can grant you full or conditional approval.

If your approval application is refused 

In the event of the application being refused you will be notified of the reasons in writing and the matters necessary to satisfy approval requirements. You will also be advised of your right of appeal to Croydon Magistrates Court, Barclay Road, Croydon CR9 3NG.

Objections

Any food business operator who objects to any of the requirements requested before approval is granted should speak to the officer who completed the inspection. The food business operator also has the right to appeal, by contacting:

Croydon Magistrates Court
Barclay Road
Croydon, CR9 3NG

Consumer complaints

We would always advise in the first instance that in the event of a complaint about a food business or the food they have produced, you make contact with the food business operator. If you are not satisfied with their response please contact the food safety team on the details below.