Local authority approvals

In the UK, authorities must approve establishments that handle, prepare or produce products of animal origin, according to Regulation EC 853/2004 and publish lists of these approved establishments, each corresponding to a different food sector.

In Scotland, local authorities (LA) are responsible for approving establishments which handle collagen, dairy, live bi-valve molluscs and fishery products. See the list of approved establishments in Scotland.

Please note that where an approval number is shown on one of these lists without a two-letter prefix, that establishment is approved by Food Standards Scotland (FSS) rather than a LA.

Establishments that require approval must be approved prior to commencing activities or operating in a manner that requires approval. 

More information:

• Approved Establishments Scottish National Protocol
• Official Control Verification 
• Food Law Code of Practice – Approval Forms
• FSS Approved Establishments

For lists of approved establishments in the rest of the UK, please visit the Food Standards Agency. 

Most food law operating in the UK is derived from EU law. Following Brexit, these EU Food regulations have been assimilated and codified into our domestic food law and has effect in domestic law immediately before exit day. From 1st January 2024 any references to EU Regulations should be read as referring to EU assimilated law which is published on legislation.gov.uk.