Using domestic kitchen as business

Mupette

Georgesmum79 wrote: »

Even if it's meat that you'd eat yourself or just stock, you must register with your Council and obtain the APHA approval. The moment you use anything that comes from animal for making animal feed, it becomes an animal by-product. Even honey! Failure to do so is a criminal offence and carries a maximum penalty of £5000 and I believe 5 years in prison. I don't think it's worth the risk. If you're making them for your own dog, that's gibe, but the moment you sell them you're committing an offence. I'm sure there are sites out there who don't have the approval.....but as a consumer I'd like to see confirmation that they have it as tl obtain it your methods need to be approved and you nerd to regularly test your products for salmonella and e.coli..


I've now had the advice I needed so much paperwork to come I'm afraid! ��

Shame you can't make them for humans and just tell the buyer that fido will enjoy these too.

I've emailed APHA this morning to find out what they expect from me to make these.

Already applied to the local council for making products at home to sell to humans (not dog treats).
Have my level 2 Food Safety in Catering cert.

Good Luck Georgiesmum

jackyann

Have you spoken to your local Environmental Health Officer? I ask, because they are very sympathetic here, to what is known as the "WI exception" that is, that as long as you are clear that the product is made in your own kitchen, and it is only sold on a very small scale (local stalls) then there are only a few other regulations that are necessary.
They actually run courses for people setting up such small businesses (cake making being very popular) so people don't fall foul of regulations.

I don't actually know the exact rules - but it is possible that meat is one of the sticking points. that may be why our local market has a lady selling home-made vegetarian dog treats (peanut butter especially popular!)

Mupette

Thank you for contacting the Animal & Plant Health Agency regarding setting up a pet food (homemade dog treats) business.

The principle of small scale production of pet food in dwelling houses has been accepted by the competent authority and there is information on our website. The basic requirement is to have dedicated areas where possible and when this is not possible, there must be strict time separation and cleansing/disinfection before and after pet food production. Disinfection should be with a food grade sanitiser.

To obtain Approval, we have listed the various requirements in brief below:-

Completion of ABPR04 application form this can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pet-food-plant-approval-application
On the Application form reference is made to a CPH No. Should you wish to obtain a County Parish Holding number please contact the RPA (Rural Payments Authority) on 03000200301.
Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP)
Bacteriological Sampling is required – This can only be carried out at a Defra approved Lab. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/animal-by-product-testing-laboratories-in-the-uk The laboratory(ies) you chose to use must be UKAS accredited to test for Salmonella and Enterobacteriaceae (under the General column in the attached list).
Further information on pet food plants can be found here including sampling requirements. https://www.gov.uk/using-animal-by-products-to-make-pet-food
There may be additional pet food labelling requirements under the Agriculture Act and The Feeding Stuffs Regulations (e.g. business details, weight, batch number, name of pet food, the statement ‘not fit for human consumption’, and a nutritional analysis). This legislation is enforced by the Local Authority, Trading Standards, and any queries or concerns should be referred to them.

Please could you complete the application form ABPR04 and either post it to the address below, or scan and email it to ABP@apha.gsi.gov.uk

Arrangements will then be made for one of our Veterinary Officer to inspect your premises and discuss your application.

Once approval has been granted you will receive routine inspections from our officers. Currently approval and inspections are free of charge, but this may be changing in the future.

If you need any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact the ABP Team.

Georgesmum79

Thanks everyone. I'm working on the APHA approval and they've actually been very helpful. However I received a call from the Council that I'd filled the wrong registration form - which was the only one available- and it was for human food! Typical, useless Council staff had even confirmed over the phone that I had registered and gave me the reference number. Not impressed but not that surprised.
Unfortunately you can't sell food for humans and mention it's ok for pets too.

I'm getting there slowly.....would be good if APHA or another agency would check that those who advertise online for pet food and don't mention their approvals have indeed got them in place....but I suppose at least having these checks in place gives the customer greater confidence about buying a safe product.

Mupette

Georgesmum79 wrote: »

Thanks everyone. I'm working on the APHA approval and they've actually been very helpful. However I received a call from the Council that I'd filled the wrong registration form - which was the only one available- and it was for human food! Typical, useless Council staff had even confirmed over the phone that I had registered and gave me the reference number. Not impressed but not that surprised.
Unfortunately you can't sell food for humans and mention it's ok for pets too.

I'm getting there slowly.....would be good if APHA or another agency would check that those who advertise online for pet food and don't mention their approvals have indeed got them in place....but I suppose at least having these checks in place gives the customer greater confidence about buying a safe product.

But at least you will know you will not be hit with a fine :T

dmarshall93

Hi there, quick question .. how did you get on with the APHA approval?

that

Mupette wrote: »

registering with company's house.

Not sure what i should be, it will only be me,

sole trader? ltd company?

I'd do ltd. Ltd is more expensive to run, but the limited liability offers protection, like say if I fed my dog this evening, and on wakening tomorrow found my dog dead, I may want to take legal proceedings against you, even though it may not be your foods fault.

EDIT: Then when reading the post I came across this, although different, it is in a similar gist.
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5803427

Trentenders

You can still buy products liability insurance as a sole trader. Absolutely no need to go Ltd.