Farm Shop

[theresaharri]

Do I need a licence to sell dairy products and fruit & Vegetables within my garden centre

[nickmo]

In essence not a 'licence', but the Food Safety (General Food Hygiene) Regulations 1995 covers sale of foodstuffs generally in UK, particularly England. You must go and talk to your Council re the required records, equipment to store, hazard analysis etc etc. Also, the local environmental health officers will be able to point you in right direction re food handling. And check your planning regulations - do they exclude food retail from your premises?

Stock control, staff training - suggest a minimum is at least basic food hygiene certification - suppliers details for the range of goods - seperation of organic from non-organic and the like - disposal of unsold stock - all this has an impact but maybe before just setting up the faclity, do a good deal of research on your current customers and determine if they want the staples - fruit veg, dairy etc, or if they will spend on luxury / impluse buys - liqueuers, preserves, ice creams etc. This will have an effect on the type of goods tyou stock of course - are there any similar farm shops close by (that you can visit to check their operation) that will dilute the potential market for you, or can you be the initial business in the area?

You may want to contact the guys at FARMA - http://www.farma.org.uk/ Gavin and Sue will be able to give you some suggestions about a farm shop operation to extend your business - and Big Barn http://www.bigbarn.co.uk/ would love to list you as a faciliity for promotion amongst the many options.

Hope this of help - any promotin of local reatil is a benefit to the community and there is a good opportunity here for you if it all appeals.

Good luck!

[theonlyone]

If you sell produce outside your house you don't need a
licence , as I buy eggs from a guy around the corner , so
what is the difference ? Sell them outside , with a honesty
box , most people are honest , but screw a bean can on to the table as it will take ages to fish the money out . Good Luck !!

[Zeddy]

Pedant's note:
Nickmo you were correct in everything but the legislation.
It is now The Food Hygiene (England) Regulations 2006.
I only point it out as there as some changes from the previous regs which means that some paperwork regarding food safety systems is mandatory.
As Nickmo says, talk to your local Env Health dept. They are usually happy to help.

[nickmo]

Lordy - - - - shows you can't trust any one who posts here then eh?

just to make up then - link to the FSA http://www.food.gov.uk which will give all the details of Current Legislation. Read it and comply.....you want the Enforcement section to start with by the way (and then see if you want to sell foodstuffs...)