Food safety

Our food inspectors routinely visit all registered food premises to make sure they meet the required food safety requirements.

New food allergen labelling

Since 1 October 2021, the requirements for prepacked for direct sale (PPDS) food labelling has changed.

Check the new food allergen requirements

Apply to be registered as a food premises 

Registration of a food business establishment from London Borough of Barnet

You need to be registered with Barnet Council if you store, prepare, distribute or sell food on premises as a business in Barnet. Premises include:

• restaurants
• cafes
• hotels
• shops
• canteens
• market stalls
• mobile catering vans
• food delivery vans.

Registration applies to most types of food business, including catering businesses run from home and mobile or temporary premises, such as stalls and vans.

There is no charge for registration. Once you are registered you only need to notify us of a change of proprietor or if the nature of the business changes. 

Food businesses must apply for registration 28 days before starting their business. Registration cannot be refused. Once the registration application is received, the details will be recorded on the public register within 28 days. Following registration, your business will be subject to inspection.

Inspections of food premises

Your food business will be inspected to make sure:

• food is handled and produced hygienically
• staff are trained in food hygiene and handling.

If you do not hear from us within 28 days, you can assume your registration is satisfactory.  This does not mean your business meets the legal standards. We will check this at your first inspection.

Food Safety inspections

Barnet Council's team of Environmental Health Officers and Food Safety Officers has the right to enter and inspect any food premises, and any food found there at all reasonable hours. We do this to protect the public from health risks linked to the food they eat.

We don’t need to make appointments. We’ll visit businesses on a programmed basis or if we’ve received a complaint. How often we inspect will usually depend on:

• potential food safety risks
• how well these risks are controlled.

Complaints about food premises in Barnet

We advise that if you have a complaint, you contact the trader yourself, preferably in the form a letter and with proof of delivery. If the trader is uncooperative or the matter is serious, please contact us.

Contact us

Food Safety Services
2 Bristol Avenue
Colindale
London 
NW9 4EW

Telephone: 020 8359 7995

Email: foodsafety@barnet.gov.uk