The Regulatory Services Business Support Team is responsible for enforcing food legislation in around 2,000 businesses operating within the Portsmouth City Council area.
Food Business Operators (FBOs) must register 28 days before starting to trade. Almost all businesses handling food or drinks must register. Some may require approval.
We will acknowledge your registration by post and include an ‘Awaiting Inspection’ sticker as part of the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme.
Information for food businesses
Our Regulatory Services guide for new food businesses (PDF) has information to help you run your business and achieve a higher Food Hygiene Rating.
Anyone can search the Food Standards Agency's Food Hygiene Ratings website to find out a rating about a Portsmouth food business.
We also cover food standards matters, including labelling, allergen information, composition, and food claims.
We investigate complaints relating to food and the conditions found within food premises in Portsmouth. We deal with:
- reports of infectious diseases, in co-operation with the NHS and the UK Health Security Agency, whether foodborne or not
- the sampling and testing of animal feed, and the inspection of animal feed businesses within the city
The Port Health Authority inspects vessels and produce entering via Portsmouth Ports, as well as testing of seawater around the city’s beaches for contamination, including local shellfish beds in Portsmouth and Langstone Harbour.
Our food service plan will be published here once it has been approved.
Apply for food premises approval on GOV.UK
Useful links
- Allergen resource (multilingual) - Trading Standards UK
- Allergen guidance for food businesses - GOV.UK
- Guidance for food businesses - GOV.UK
- Guidance on nutrition and health claims on foods - GOV.UK
- Great Britain nutrition and health claims - GOV.UK
- Food and drink - Business Companion
- Food labelling: giving food information to consumers - GOV.UK
- Food supplements - Food GOV.UK
- Restricting promotions of products high in fat, sugar or salt by location and by volume price: implementation guidance - GOV.UK
Documents
- Suspected food poisoning – what you need to know (PDF)
- Regulatory Services guide for food businesses (PDF)
Contact us
Contact the food safety team at foodsafety@portsmouthcc.gov.uk, or contact city helpdesk on 023 9283 4092.