Food hygiene certificate in East of England
Last updated: 21 October 2026
Short answer
The East of England (which the FSA calls East Counties) has 45 local food authorities that inspect food businesses. Our Level 2 food hygiene course is online, so it works anywhere in East of England, for £12 per person. Food handlers do not have to hold a food hygiene certificate.[1] The food business must make sure its food handlers are supervised and instructed and/or trained in food hygiene in line with their work.[2]
Which cities in East of England have their own page?
Which council inspects food businesses in East of England?
The council for the area where the premises are. These are the 45 councils in East of England, with the number of food businesses each one has in the FSA's open data:[6]
| Authority | Food businesses listed |
|---|---|
| Babergh | 890 |
| Basildon | 1,412 |
| Bedford | 1,642 |
| Braintree | 1,284 |
| Breckland | 1,282 |
| Brentwood | 763 |
| Broadland | 960 |
| Broxbourne | 889 |
| Cambridge City | 1,490 |
| Castle Point | 540 |
| Central Bedfordshire | 1,709 |
| Chelmsford | 1,625 |
| Colchester | 1,651 |
| Dacorum | 1,286 |
| East Cambridgeshire | 799 |
| East Hertfordshire | 1,421 |
| East Suffolk | 2,490 |
| Epping Forest | 1,077 |
| Fenland | 731 |
| Great Yarmouth | 1,108 |
| Harlow | 696 |
| Hertsmere | 842 |
| Huntingdonshire | 1,544 |
| Ipswich | 1,123 |
| King's Lynn and West Norfolk | 1,520 |
| Luton | 1,728 |
| Maldon | 670 |
| Mid Suffolk | 872 |
| North Hertfordshire | 1,136 |
| North Norfolk | 1,486 |
| Norwich City | 1,601 |
| Peterborough City | 2,038 |
| Rochford | 657 |
| South Cambridgeshire | 1,312 |
| South Norfolk | 1,106 |
| Southend-On-Sea | 1,477 |
| St Albans City | 1,175 |
| Stevenage | 673 |
| Tendring | 1,317 |
| Three Rivers | 635 |
| Thurrock | 1,351 |
| Uttlesford | 848 |
| Watford | 1,014 |
| Welwyn Hatfield | 769 |
| West Suffolk | 1,479 |
Which food hygiene rating applies in East of England?
England uses the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme, which councils run with the FSA and which rates each business from 0 (urgent improvement is required) to 5 (very good).[3][4] Displaying the rating sticker is voluntary in England, though businesses are encouraged to do so.[3]
How do you register a new food business in East of England?
Food businesses must register with their local council at least 28 days before trading or before food operations start, including when they take over an existing business.[5]
What does the course cover for England?
The UK version of the course covers the law in England, the 0 to 5 hygiene rating and Safer Food Better Business, the FSA's food safety pack for small businesses.
£12 per person (£10 + VAT per person), with team packs from £95 + VAT for 10 learners. The certificate confirms completion of training; it is not a regulated qualification.
See all UK locations or read the UK training guide.
Sources
- Running a food business: Staff training, illness and hygiene (GOV.UK, updated 30 January 2025)
- Regulation (EC) No 852/2004, Annex II, Chapter XII (Training) (legislation.gov.uk, revised version, last amended 31 December 2020)
- Food hygiene rating scheme (Food Standards Agency, no date shown)
- Food hygiene rating scheme (GOV.UK, no date shown)
- Register a food business (Food Standards Agency, no date shown)
- Food hygiene rating scheme open data (Food Standards Agency, data file dated 21 October 2026)
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