Looking for United Kingdom Cottage Food Laws and Regulations: How to sell your homemade foods in the UK in 2024? Scroll down this page and follow the links. And if you bring home some fruit or vegetables and want to preserve, freeze, make jam, salsa or pickles, see this page for simple, reliable, illustrated preserving, freezing or bottling directions. There are plenty of other related resources, click on the resources dropdown above.
If you have questions or feedback, please let me know! There are affiliate links on this page. Read our disclosure policy to learn more.
United Kingdom Cottage Food Laws and Regulations: How to sell your homemade foods in the UK
Starting
your own home food business: United Kingdom Cottage Food Laws, Regulations and Facts
The UK does not have any specific Cottage Food laws, but that does not mean you can't do it! Many people are safely making foods at home and legally selling them.
Generally speaking, the starting point is your local Council.
Below are the steps, as best we can determine them, given there is no officially defined process published by government.
Step 1- Determine whether your food product can be made safely at home
Two myths:
- I can make my own unique recipe and safely package and sell it.
- I can make at home and sell any food I see in the shops.
Neither is true. Food companies conduct many trials and lab tests, examining the properties of the food product, including bacterial counts, pH, water content, etc. to determine that each recipe, process and packaging yields a shelf-stable product that will be safe for a consumer to eat months later. At home, you do not have the ability to perform this type of testing. You MUST stick to recipes, equipment and procedures that have been tested. All of the recipes here have been tested (by universities and government labs).
Commercial food companies often have equipment that can reach temperatures and pressures that home equipment cannot. Or they have unique packaging equipment that makes the finished product shelf stable.
The point is, producing a safe food product takes:
- A lab tested recipe and process
- The proper processing equipment (water bath canner, pressure canner , etc.)
- Following the steps precisely in a safe, clean setting
Some examples of foods that cannot be safely made and packaged at home include bottled pumpkin butter and most bottled dairy/egg products. Additional controls and procedures are required for potentially hazardous foods (those which require specific temperature, pH or water content) to remain safe to eat.
Step 2- Notify and Register with the local Council's Food Department
You must go on the Council's website 28 days before you plan to start your business and fill out a form there to register with the food department. Find the website for your local council.
Registration is required for all types of food businesses that serve customers directly, including:
- restaurants, cafes and takeaways
- catering businesses run from home, B&Bs, mobile catering and temporary businesses
- marquees, food stalls, food pop ups and food vans
- nurseries, schools and care homes
- distance selling, mail order and food delivery including online
You will need to register your food business if you:
- sell food
- cook food
- store or handle food
- prepare food
- distribute food
- Companies involved with food distribution or food supply that operate from an office should also register as food businesses. This applies even if no food is kept at the premises.
Step 3 - Read the food regulations, study and get a food hygiene certificate
Since there will be an inspection and quiz later, you'd better study up!
See this first: Food Safety Act 1990 - a guide for food businesses as PDF (Opens in a new window)(531.99 KB)
Or, in Northern Ireland: Northern Ireland Food Safety Order 1991 business guide as PDF (Opens in a new window)(301.5 KB)
The following and more abstract. You should definitely browse through them and be familiar, but don't expect to memorize them!
- Food Standards Act 1999The Food Safety Act 1990 (as amended) provides the framework for all food legislation in the England, Wales and Scotland.
- The Food Safety Order 1991
- General Food Law
- Codes of Practice
- Food Information Regulation
It's not as much as it seems, but you obviously need to know how to prepare food safely in accordance with the law if you want to sell it!
Part of this preparation is obtaining a food hygiene certificate.
The Level 2 Food Safety and Hygiene for Catering certificate generally advised and often required by local councils if you prepare and distribute the food yourself. You are expected to know the 4C's and having the certificate proves it:
- Cleaning - keeping clean cooking and working surfaces, disinfecting, etc.
- Cooking - understanding bacteria, spoilage, safe temperatures for cooked foods, especially meats and dairy. Yopu don't want to give your customers food poisoning.
- Chilling - Understanding the proper storage temperatures for various foods.
- Cross-contamination - Understanding how to avoid contaminating foods, keeping raw and cooked foods separate and not using the same utensils or equipment without first decontaminating them.
You can usually complete the accredited course online in one in a day and it typically costs £10 plus VAT. Here are several options available online:
- Food-Safety.org.uk ONLINE LEVEL 2 FOOD SAFETY & HYGIENE COURSE + CERTIFICATE - £10+VAT.
This is a basic food hygiene course with approved certificate, which ensures that anyone working in an environment where food is cooked, prepared or handled complies fully with current UK legislation. INSTANT ACCESS AND INSTANT CERTIFICATE ON COMPLETION. RoSPA ASSURED COURSE - ACCEPTED BY EHO'S. - Virtual College Level 2 Food Safety & Hygiene for
Catering - £10+VAT.
This Virtual College Level 2 Food Hygiene course is designed for anyone who works with, or handles food and wants to meet the UK food training requirements. In this online course you will learn about the impact of food-borne illnesses, food safety hazards and contamination, food preservation, storage and temperature control, as well as HACCP. - High Speed Training.co.uk Food
Safety & Hygiene Level 2 Course For Catering - £ 20 +VAT.
This Level 2 Food Hygiene course has been designed to help anyone who handles, prepares or serves food in the catering industry understand their legal responsibilities and know what constitutes best practice in regards to controlling food safety hazards, controlling temperatures, food storage, food preparation, personal hygiene and premises cleaning.
Step 4 - Inspection
This registration with your local Council is usually free and usually requires an inspection of your kitchen. They usually also quiz you on your knowledge of food regulations and food safety. Having studied up and passed the Food Hygiene Certificate should have you well prepared for the inspection and quiz.
The inspection is basic stuff (like checking cleanliness, walls and countertops, the temperature of your fridge, equipment, etc.)
They'll also check that you understand food hygiene, storing foods at the right temperatures, and may recommend changes or training if they think it is necessary.
If you sell food directly to customers, the inspector will give you a food hygiene rating.
Note that fish, meat, eggs or dairy are a special case. If you have these, you may also need to get special approval, unless: .
You sell direct to the public or to retailers such as caterers, pubs and restaurants and the following statements are also true:
- Fish, meat, eggs or dairy makes up less than 25 percent of your trade;
- Nothing you have contains wild game meat;
- You only sell to customers with your county (where you have food business registration).
Of course, this determination is at the discretion of the inspector...If you are unsure whether you need approval, check Applying for approval of a food establishment guidance or contact your local council.
Step 5 - Business considerations
Obviously, you may want some liability insurance and to discuss business matters with a solicitor and accountant who can guide you regarding Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
Selling food requires you to register with HMRC as self employed which will affect your tax code. Most chose to set up as 'sole traders', but
your solicitor/accountant can guide you. As a sole trader, you just pay tax on your business profit and have to complete a self-assessment tax
return at the end of the year.
Next steps
If your business grows larger than your home kitchen can support, you may want to look into:
- renting a commercial kitchen to produce your food product or
- Using a co-packer to produce and package your food product for you.
Cooking classes?
- Harborne Food School - cooking classes
The School Yard, 106 High Street, Harborne, Birmingham, West Midlands, B17 9NJ. Phone: 0121 426 4027. Email: info@harbornefoodschool.co.uk. On arrival you will be offered a soft drink and you will met the chef and fellow participants. This will be followed by ‘hands on’ cooking under the guidance of the chef tutor, supplemented by demonstration. Finally you will dine as a group to enjoy the dishes you have prepared. WHAT DOES THE COST OF THE CLASS INCLUDE?
Evening classes always include cost of tuition, refreshments, ingredients, recipe pack, a final meal of the food prepared and a glass of wine or alternative. Full day classes will also include two eating experiences e.g. brunch and final meal or main lunch and dessert. We cater generously for class numbers. Usually there is food to take home.
Things to know:
The basic steps are above, but the devil, as they say, is in the details. So, here are the details:
Food labeling and packaging
Overview
To sell food and drink products, the label must be:
- clear and easy to read
- permanent
- easy to understand
- easily visible
- not misleading
You must show certain basic information and list the ingredients. You might also have to show certain warnings.
There are special regulations for labeling wine.
Products sold loose or in catering businesses
If you run a catering business, you sell food loose or package it for sale in your shop, you only need to show:
- the name of the food
- if any of the ingredients have been irradiated, or have come from genetically modified sources
- certain warnings
- any food additive you have added
- allergen information
You must show more information if you sell meat products loose.
Packaging
If you package food yourself, you must use packaging that’s suitable for food use. Suitable packaging is marked ‘for food contact’ or has a symbol on it that looks like a wine glass and a fork.
There are special rules for using plastics, ceramics or cellophane for packaging. You must have written evidence that you’ve kept to them.
This is known as a ‘declaration of compliance’ and you can get it from your packaging supplier. You also have to get one if you buy food that’s already packaged for sale in any of those materials.
Read the national legislation on food contact materials for England, Northern Ireland, Wales or Scotland.
Allergens
Businesses need to provide allergen information if the food contains any of the 14 allergens as listed in the 'FIC regulations'. Guidance for food businesses on providing allergen information and best practice for handling allergens.
Labelling and allergens
In Wales and Northern Ireland, we are responsible for the policy on food labelling and food compositional standards which are safety and
non-safety related. In Northern Ireland, this includes nutrition policy and labelling. The Welsh Government are responsible for nutrition
policy and labelling in Wales.
In England, we are responsible for
food safety related labelling including allergens. The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) are responsible for the
policy on food labelling and food compositional standards which are non-safety related only. The Department of Health and Social Care are
responsible for nutrition policy and labelling.
- Nutrition labelling
- Packaging and labelling
- Allergen and ingredients
- food labelling tool
- Guidance for food businesses
- Guidance for institutional caterers
- Guidance for manufacturers
General Food Law provisions
General Food Law includes principles (Articles 5 to 10) and requirements (Article 14 to 21). We outline the key provisions for food business operators laid down in General Food Law that apply to food business operators.
Safety
Article 14 states that food shall not be placed on the market if it is unsafe. Food is deemed to be unsafe if it is:
- injurious to health
- unfit for human consumption
The article also indicates what factors need to be considered when determining whether food is injurious to health or unfit.
Presentation
Article 16 states that labelling, advertising and presentation, including the setting in which the food is displayed, of food shall not mislead consumers.
Traceability
Article 18 requires food business operators to keep records of the following:
- food
- food substances
- food-producing animals supplied to their business
- businesses to which their products have been supplied.
In each case, the information shall be made available to competent authorities on demand.
Imports
Article 11 requires that food which is imported into Great Britain (GB) for placing on the market shall comply with the requirements of food law, or if there is a specific agreement between GB and the exporting country, then the imported foods must follow agreed requirements. See this page: Imported food - trade information
Exported food
Article 12 requires that food which is exported or re-exported from GB must comply with the requirements of food law, unless the authorities of the importing country have requested otherwise, or it complies with the laws, regulations and other legal and administrative procedures of the importing country.
When exporting or re-exporting food, provided the food is not injurious to health or unsafe, the competent authorities of the destination country must have agreed for the food to be exported or re-exported. The competent authorities must confirm this after they have been fully informed as to why the food could not be placed on the market.
Where there is a bilateral agreement between GB and another country, food exported from GB needs to comply with its provisions.
Withdrawal, recall and notification
Article 19 requires food business operators to withdraw food which is not compliant with food safety requirements and has left their control. Food business operators must recall the food if it has reached the consumer.
Withdrawal is when a food is removed from the market, this includes at point of sale. Recall is when customers are asked to return or destroy the product.
Food businesses must also notify the competent authorities (to us and the local authority) Retailers and distributors must help with the withdrawal of unsafe food and pass on information necessary to trace it.
Where food business operators have placed a food on the market that is injurious to health, they must immediately notify the competent authorities. There are also similar provisions for animal feed.
National legislation
England
In England, The Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013 (as amended) provides for the enforcement of certain provisions of retained EU law Regulation (EC) 178/2002 and for the food hygiene legislation. It also provides national law for: bulk transport by sea of liquid oils or fats and raw sugarthe direct supply by the producer of small quantities of meat from poultry or lagomorphs slaughtered on the farm; temperature control in retail establishments; restrictions on the sales and supply of raw cows’ drinking milk and derogations relating to low throughput establishments (slaughterhouses).
The General Food Regulations 2004 provide the enforcement of certain provisions of retained EU law Regulation (EC) 178/2002 . It also amended the Food Safety Act 1990 to bring it in line with retained EU law Regulation (EC) 178/2002.
Best Practices and Recommendations:
Beyond the requirements, common sense, good practices and reducing liability suggests you should do the following.
Testing of pH
It's best to use a pH meter, properly calibrated on the day
used. I use this one, which is reliable and inexpensive.
And this pH meter is really good, but isn't always available.
Short-range paper
pH test strips, commonly known as litmus paper, may be used
instead, if the product normally has a pH of 4.0 or lower and the
paper's range includes a pH of 4.6.
Record-keeping is suggested
Keep a written record of every batch of product made for sale, including:
- Recipe, including procedures and ingredients
- Amount canned and sold
- Canning date
- Sale dates and locations
- Gross sales receipts
- Results of any pH test
Sanitation
Although inspections are not required, you should consider doing the following:
- Use clean equipment that has been effectively sanitized prior to use
- Clean work surfaces and then sanitize with bleach water before and after use
- Keep ingredients separate from other unprocessed foods
- Keep household pets out of the work area
- Keep walls and floors clean
- Have adequate lighting
- Keep window and door screens in good repair to keep insects out
- Wash hands frequently while working
- Consider annual testing of water if using a private well
Best Practices
- Allergans: Most state home baking
acts require an "ingredient statement" and/or an "allergen
listing" on the label of the bakery item for sale; but if your
state does not, you should anyway. The eight major food
allergens are
- milk,
- eggs,
- fish,
- crustacean shellfish,
- tree nuts,
- peanuts,
- wheat and
- soybean.
- Cross-allergenicity: There are also ingredients available, even flours, that can cause a cross-allergenicity. The American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology explains cross-allergenicity as an allergic reaction when proteins in one substance are similar to the proteins found in another substance. For example, consumption of lupine flour may trigger an allergic reaction to peanuts, and cricket flour may trigger an allergic reaction to shellfish. Again, providing such information might be a beneficial marketing tool and help keep potential consumers safe.
- The 2 Hour/4 Hour Rule - Anyone
wishing to make and sell refrigerated bakery items should
remember to follow the "2 Hour/4 Hour Rule." This is a system
that can be implemented when potentially hazardous foods are out
of temperature control (temperatures greater than 45 degrees
Fahrenheit) during preparation, serving or display for sale. The
rule guidelines are as follows:
- If a potentially hazardous food has been out of temperature control for 2 hours or less, then it may continue to be used or be placed back in the refrigerator.
- If a potentially hazardous food has been out of temperature control for more than 2 hours but less than 4 hours, it needs to be used quickly or discarded.
- If a potentially hazardous food has been out of temperature control for more than 4 hours, it must be discarded.
More general food business resources:
- Good to know (not a requirement): Guidelines for Determining Metric Equivalents of Household Measures (October 1, 1993)
- Despite being designed for a U.S. audience, the Massachusetts Food Processor Resource Manual is a very good overview of starting a food business from many considerations.
Questions? Contact Information:
Start with your local Council's food department.
Find the website for your local council.