Beekeeper food processing registration

[Baggyone]

Hello all,

definitive answear from Boston Enviromental health.
As a food producer supplying food to third parties then you need to register with your local enviromental health dept.

So far Boston Borough Council have one. Me.

Says it all.

baggy

 

[Moggs]

As mentioned elsewhere very recently:

BBKA Advisory Leaflet B10

"Food hygiene.
'Registration of premises does not apply to the direct supply by the producer of small quantities of primary products to the final consumer or to local retail
establishments directly supplying the final consumer.’

However the BBKA do recommend that beekeepers who offer honey for sale
familiarise themselves with the basic hazards and practices in food handling.
The Royal Society for the promotion of Health produce a booklet on this
subject and a course run by some local authorities leads to the RSPH
Certificate in food hygiene awareness"

 

[susbees]

The definition of small quantities would be useful....

 

[Davelin]

The definition of small quantities would be useful....

On the contrary a degree of vagueness as to what constitutes small quantities is fine by me!

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Especially when it comes to discussing purchasing of beekeeping equipment with the wife!

 

[susbees]

On the contrary a degree of vagueness as to what constitutes small quantities is fine by me!

 

[drstitson]

Well - have tracked down one EH booklet on the web - seems honey extraction is exempt (especially if domestic situation) PROVIDED no retail sales from that premises. So seems fine to extract, bottle and provide to local shops BUT not at your own gate!!!

 

[itma]

Well - have tracked down one EH booklet on the web - seems honey extraction is exempt (especially if domestic situation) PROVIDED no retail sales from that premises. ...

Got a link to share?

 

[Baggyone]

MMM, the BBKA advice contradicts entirely my conversation with the EHO. As the b10 leaflet has a disclaimer on it that may mean it has been superceded then I would strongly recommend people talk to their EH department. Ok we deal with a very low risk food stuff but small quantities means? Decent hive will produce 100lb of honey in a reasonable year, I don't consider that a small quantity.

baggy

 

[VEG]

Isnt it easier to just register thats what I did and have had no problems.

 

[Baggyone]

I'm with Veg on this one. It's not like they want to tear your kitchen apart and make you install stainless surfaces. They just want food premises to be safe. There have been some very lax standards in food production as I found out yesterday, and I'm talking primary producers (thats us beeks I'm afraid) and thats why its so important.

As most of us also do our own packing for retail then its that part of the regulations that concerns the EH I would say. The advice I have read is that the moment the supers leave the hive then you have to consider it a food stuff.

I think this subject will run, but I will report everything from here on in to the forum.

Baggy

 

[Easy Beesy]

I'd need to look up exact details but isn't small defined as using your premises for production less than five days in any year?

En

 

[dudley]

The definition of small quantities would be useful....

As well as bees, we have other livestock, particularly goats and sometimes sell milk and cheese. We are registered by our local authority but the definition you quote exempts us from all the usual formalities although environmental health still advise and encourage us to follow all the usual food preparation regs. When asked for the definition of small quantities, they have no idea and simply pluck a quantity (pints of milk) out of the air. There is no definition.

 

[Compostcritter]

Hi Baggy. I have my visit next Wednesday. Can you let me know what sort of questions you got asked? Did you provide a cleaning rota? Did they check the cleanliness of the kitchen, fridge etc. in the last throws of doing my kitchen up (painting this weekend). Do they give you a rating at the end?
I also agree with VEG why not register its hood for business as people know they are purchasing from a clean environment.

Has anyone done a food hygiene course on line, it costs about £13.00? I am tempted but do not want to waste my money if it does not add any value.
Jacqui

 

[Outlander]

Especially when it comes to discussing purchasing of beekeeping equipment with the wife!

 

[Poly Hive]

My wife and I both have a hygiene course under our belts, both done on line using the "virtual college". Cost some £20 each.

EH want one of us to do another one as both are now three years old. So one of us has done a "refresher" and can remind the other half of issues...

Reminds me we must toss a coin for it...LOL

PH

 

[drstitson]

link as requested:

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&...u9mNF_&sig=AHIEtbQeGKkRHuDqDh_R_VDfwSzWVCOG7A

or just search for "a safe start for food businesses.pdf"

 

[djg]

Compostcritter,

I took an on-line Food Hygiene course while convalescing after an operation in February. It took about 2 1/2 hours from soup to nuts (as it were!) and worth it to have a piece of paper to wave at the gormless Council Health and Safety person who still has not got back to me about the form I filled in to "permit" my Honey sales at a local shop in December 2011. Which is just as well, since it had sold out by November.

More in self-defence than a thirst for knowledge, then, but worthwhile for that reason and as a basis for responsible Honey production and storage, I'd say.

 

[psafloyd]

Compostcritter,

I took an on-line Food Hygiene course while convalescing after an operation in February. It took about 2 1/2 hours from soup to nuts (as it were!) and worth it to have a piece of paper to wave at the gormless Council Health and Safety person who still has not got back to me about the form I filled in to "permit" my Honey sales at a local shop in December 2011. Which is just as well, since it had sold out by November.

More in self-defence than a thirst for knowledge, then, but worthwhile for that reason and as a basis for responsible Honey production and storage, I'd say.

Can you point us in the direction of the one you did, Compostcritter?

 

[enrico]

MMM, the BBKA advice contradicts entirely my conversation with the EHO. As the b10 leaflet has a disclaimer on it that may mean it has been superceded then I would strongly recommend people talk to their EH department. Ok we deal with a very low risk food stuff but small quantities means? Decent hive will produce 100lb of honey in a reasonable year, I don't consider that a small quantity.

baggy

I call that a very small amount!? Do you sell it all?