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Update to new food business operator approval process

Rebecca Prescott30 Jan 2012

Food businesses approved by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) that change food business operator (FBO) after 31 January will need a new approval.

The new FBO can continue to trade using the existing approval until a new approval assessment is undertaken. This change follows consultation with stakeholders.

Businesses will be able to continue operating for up to four weeks after a change of FBO, until their new approval is granted, as long as they have notified the FSA within one week of the change taking effect.

The change, which takes effect from 31 January 2012, will also apply to FSA approved businesses placed under administration and purchased as a ‘going concern’ (where the premises, equipment used and activities remain unchanged after sale).

Businesses will need to meet the following conditions:

  • The FSA must receive an application for a new approval within one calendar week after a change of FBO.
  • No changes to the food safety control arrangements or activities being carried out on the premises, such as the type of animals slaughtered or products being produced, must take place before the approval visit.
  • FBOs are asked to give the FSA as much notice as possible of a potential change of FBO.
  • The approval assessment will be undertaken as soon as possible and in all cases within three weeks of receiving an approval application from the new FBO. Timings of the on-​site assessment will take full account of risk.

In planning for a change of FBO, a pre-​change advisory assessment can be provided by the FSA to help identify any potential issues that may cause a problem in getting a new approval. This is by no means a guarantee that approval will be granted following a new approval assessment and will require the co-​operation of the existing FBO.

Source: FSA

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