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National Food Safety · UK council directory

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The right place to start for food business registration, environmental health advice and food hygiene concerns.

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Enter a council name or region, or choose a letter in the A–Z bar below.

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Browse the published council guides below.

What can councils help with?

These links open National Food Safety council guides. Use the official finder to confirm the responsible council and current contact details. NFS is an independent training and resources provider.

Find the right next step

What do you need help with?

Choose your task to go straight to the relevant official service.

Register a food business

Starting a café, takeaway or home food business? Check registration requirements and find the authority for your premises.

Read registration guidanceEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland · Scotland guidance

Report a food concern

For suspected food poisoning, unsafe food handling or incorrect allergen information, contact the team for the business location.

Find the food safety teamUse the full postcode of the business concerned.

A little preparation helps

Get to the right team.
Give them the right details.

Food safety and environmental health teams usually work by business location. A clear address and a short explanation help your enquiry reach the right place.

Find your food safety team

Before you contact the council

3 helpful checks
  1. Have the business address ready

    Include the full postcode and trading name, if known.

  2. Explain what you need

    Registration, inspection advice, a hygiene concern or a query about a published rating.

  3. Keep the relevant details together

    For a concern, note dates, what happened and any photos or receipts. Share them through the council’s official channel.

Council questions, answered

A clearer way to find help.

Find the right contact, understand registration and know where to raise a food safety concern.

Find your council in the directory

Helpful answers, without the guesswork.

9 useful answers
How do I find the correct council for an address?

Search the directory if you know the council name or region. For a specific address, use the official GOV.UK council finder with the full postcode. For food business enquiries, use the premises address. An area name alone may not identify the responsible authority.

Which council team deals with food hygiene?

Start with the food safety or environmental health service covering the business location. It can help with food hygiene inspections, registration questions and safety concerns. The official food safety team finder helps you locate the relevant contact.

When do I need to register my food business?

Register with the relevant local authority at least 28 days before you start trading. Registration is free. Food businesses operating from home, online, mobile units or temporary premises may also need to register. Read the registration guidance or Scotland’s guidance and ask your council if you are unsure.

Registration and approval are different. Some businesses handling products of animal origin for supply to other businesses may need approval before operating. Confirm the requirements with your authority.

What if I have more than one premises or a mobile business?

If you operate from several premises, register each with the authority responsible for that location. For a mobile unit, the registration service asks where it is normally kept overnight. Check the official registration guidance for your setup.

How do I report unsafe food or a hygiene problem?

Contact the food safety team covering the business. Give its address and full postcode, explain the concern and include relevant dates. Issues can include suspected food poisoning, dirty premises, unsafe handling, food sold after its use-by date or incorrect allergen information. Use the official team finder. For Scotland, see Food Standards Scotland’s reporting guidance.

Can the food safety team help with a refund or late delivery?

For payments, refunds, incorrect orders or late deliveries, start with the business or ordering platform. Food safety teams deal with safety and hygiene concerns. Citizens Advice can help with consumer rights. If the issue also involves unsafe food, contact the food safety team about that concern.

Are food hygiene ratings the same across the UK?

England, Wales and Northern Ireland use the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme with ratings from 0 to 5. Scotland uses the Food Hygiene Information Scheme, including Pass, Improvement Required and Exempt Premises. Check the latest published result on the FSA ratings website or Scotland’s FHIS service.

Why might there be more than one council for my area?

Some parts of England have both county and district councils. District or borough councils generally handle food hygiene through environmental health; county councils generally handle food standards through Trading Standards. Unitary authorities handle both. Check the department and business postcode before sending your enquiry.

Can I appeal or request another food hygiene inspection?

Contact the council that issued your rating. Appeals, a right to reply and requests for a re-rating inspection have different procedures and deadlines. Check the official rating guidance and the council’s current process. For Scotland, ask the inspecting authority about the FHIS process.

Practical support from National Food Safety

Make everyday food safety simpler.

Build your knowledge, organise your records and learn practical food hygiene skills with NFS.

Training
Food safety coursesFind training suited to your role, from food handling to managing food safety.Explore courses
Daily records
Templates & checklistsKeep everyday checks and food safety records clear, consistent and organised.Browse templates
Free learning
Free training videosWatch short lessons and put one useful food safety topic into practice at a time.Watch free videos

Looking for a quick explanation? Our guides cover practical food safety topics.

Explore NFS guides
Official sourcesGOV.UK council finderFood safety teamsFood business registrationFood Standards Scotland

This directory brings together NFS area guides and links to official services. Council responsibilities and contact details can change; confirm current information with the relevant authority. Training or a certificate does not replace registration, approval or the council’s assessment of your business.