Outdoor and mobile catering

Outdoor caterer If you intend to sell or offer a service in a street or public place, you must have a licence.

All mobile traders, including ice-cream vans and mobile shops, must have a mobile trading licence which allows them to work within specific areas of Belfast. Once your licence has been granted, and you plan to keep your van in Belfast, you must register your food business with us. After you have registered with us, an officer will carry out an initial inspection of your van and talk to you about general food hygiene practices to make sure your food is prepared safely. Your van will then undergo routine food hygiene and standard inspections and may be given a rating based on our Food Hygiene Rating Scheme

Mobile food caterers

Mobile food catering is a high-risk activity, due to the large numbers of people involved, the use of temporary staff, the temporary nature of the business and sale of high-risk foods. Changeable environmental conditions, such as bad weather, can also challenge traders.

Mobile catering vans are covered by food hygiene regulations, which mean you must be able to demonstrate the measures you take to make sure the food you serve is safe to eat. This information should be also be available in writing.

You must also be aware of the hazards associated with your business and put simple measures in place to control them.

To help you comply with the regulations, the Food Standards Agency has produced a Safer Food, Better Business pack for caterers. It provides simple advice on food safety, including information about chilled storage, preparation, cooking and cleaning.
To request a hard copy of the pack, call us on 028 9027 0468 or email envhealth@belfastcity.gov.uk

Health and safety

As a food business operator, you must also comply with health and safety requirements.

More information

Further help and advice is available from the documents below: