Law & compliance

Do I Need a Food Hygiene Certificate to Sell Food From Home?

A certificate is not compulsory to sell food from home, but you must register, follow food hygiene law and be able to show adequate training.

By the Food Hygiene Hub team · 2 min read

The short answer

No, a food hygiene certificate is not compulsory to sell food from home. But you must be able to show that you have had adequate food hygiene training, and you must register as a food business at least 28 days before you start trading. Many home sellers take Level 2 training for this reason.

Am I a food business?

If you provide food regularly and in an organised way, you are a food business. This is true even if you work from home, work part-time or do not think of yourself as a business. It applies whether you sell in person, at a market, online or through social media.

How do I register?

Register with your local authority at least 28 days before you start trading. In Northern Ireland, this means your district council. Registration is free and cannot be refused. If you are already trading without registering, do it now.

Will my home be inspected?

Expect a visit. Officers will arrange to inspect your food hygiene at home, as they do for other food businesses. If you sell directly to customers, the usual result in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is a food hygiene rating from 0 to 5. In Scotland, it is Pass or Improvement Required under the Food Hygiene Information Scheme.

What food safety records do I need?

You need food safety procedures based on HACCP, in proportion to your size and what you do. Most small businesses use a ready-made pack: Safer Food, Better Business in England and Wales, Safe Catering in Northern Ireland, or CookSafe or RetailSafe in Scotland.

What about allergens and labels?

You must give accurate allergen information for everything you sell. The rules depend on how the food is packed and sold:

Food you pack before sale and sell yourself, including from your own market stall: a PPDS label with the name, a full ingredients list and allergens emphasised
Food you supply to a shop or café to resell: a full prepacked label
Food sold loose or made to order: allergen information must be available
Food sold online or by phone: allergen information before purchase and at delivery

What else should I check?

Before you start, remember these points:

Tell HMRC you are self-employed, even if you work part-time or have another job
Check with your mortgage provider or landlord, and your council
Keep pets out of the kitchen while you work
Dispose of food waste, fats and oils properly, not down the sink

Our certificates are private training certificates of completion, not regulated qualifications. UK law does not require one specific food hygiene certificate. It requires food handlers to be supervised and instructed or trained appropriately. Employers decide what training each role needs, and a certificate does not replace practical instruction or supervision.