The Cottage Smallholder
stumbling self sufficiency in a small space
Log In
Register
Home
Topic RSS
11:43 am
1st Grader
New members
Mon 28-Dec-09
Offline
Hi everyone, I have been wondering what the rules and regs are regarding selling homemade jams, chutneys etc to the public.
I remember sometime ago contemplating selling handmade dog biscuits online but when I looked into it the regulations were so onerous that I didn't pursue it. It must be far worse for products for human consumption.
We have sold eggs at the gate in the past and I have considered selling preserves but I'm terrified I might accidentally poison someone or they may find a dog hair in their chutney!
How do others cope?
Polyanne
1:42 pm
Moderators
Tue 22-Sep-09
Offline
Hello Polyanne and welcome to the forum.
What part of Scotland are you in?
Someone will be able to help you with your query I'm sure, but I'm not that person. Do stay around though, we have a wealth of knowledgeable people here. If not, try contacting the Trading Standards Officer at your local council.
I'll try that again!
1:58 pm
Supreme Being
Mon 21-Sep-09
Offline
Welcome Polyanne
. Maybe you could glean some ideas from the people who manage the Fife diet http://fifediet.co.uk/how-to-do-it/. They are an organisation which aims to encourage eating locally sourced foods and so maybe able to point you in the right direction - especially up there in Scotland.
2:01 pm
Moderators
Tue 22-Sep-09
Offline
Good thinking Joanna.
I'll try that again!
7:13 pm
funny this should come up!
I am now more seriously looking to set up the jam making as a business and have just received the regs from my H+S inspectorate. I have to have an easily cleanable kitchen; hot and cold running water, no pets (so will have to re-home the cat feeding stations and shut the doors. Apart from that I need a food safety training cert and a first aid cert ..... that is all supposing I have understood the French rules correctly. Oh yes and I have to be inspected every so often§
7:19 pm
Moderators
Tue 22-Sep-09
Offline
That all sounds quite daunting Shelley, especially the bit about the cat...
I'll try that again!
7:49 pm
Supreme Being
Thu 24-Sep-09
Offline
Hi Polyanne and welcome. Good to have someone else from Scotland here.
Old teachers never die, they just lose their class
8:11 pm
1st Grader
New members
Mon 28-Dec-09
Offline
Toffeeapple, thank you for the welcome. We are in sunny Aberdeenshire on a 7 acre smallholding.
JoannaS, I have glanced at the fifediet website before but I shall take another look and see what they are up to.
Shelley, that sounds scary but I'm sure we have similar regulations over here.
I'm just wondering if people who sell a few jars here and there at local fairs or on gateside stands are bound by all these rules - although a clean kitchen goes without saying.
Hi Danast, Scotland is a lovely place to be today.
Polyanne
10:17 pm
Supreme Being
Wed 30-Dec-09
Offline
I don't know if it is of any use, but I plan to sell home-made cakes etc on a stall in July (for the Rotary charity), and when a speaker from Health & Safety came along one evening, the Rotarians there enquired as to whether a licence was required, and she responded by saying that as long as the stall was run for a maximum of 5 times a year, then no licence was needed. (This is in Wiltshire - don't know if this applies to Scotland)
That is possibly an option for you - to sell your jams/chutney etc at a local event, maybe a few times each year. Another option, perhaps, is to ask for donations for your goods, but that may not give back the reward for the time and effort spent on making them!
Good Luck.
"How do you spell 'Love'?" (Piglet).
"You don't spell it, you feel it" (Pooh).
'A hug,' said Pooh 'is always the right size!'
1:09 pm
the same rule must apply for france as you cannot do a vide grenier more than 5 times a year!
I am not too fazed y the rules; but lets see!
2:46 pm
Supreme Being
Mon 21-Sep-09
Offline
I have still got to find out from my friend what the rules and regulations are for here in Latvia as we hope to eventually by a bus/van to convert into a mobile shop to sell our stuff. 
We are getting their slowly
3:58 pm
1st Grader
New members
Mon 28-Dec-09
Offline
Thanks Brightspark, that is more of what I had in mind. I shall look into it.
Polyanne
7:31 pm
Moderators
Tue 22-Sep-09
Offline
Do let us know how you get on, won't you?
I'll try that again!
8:18 am
Improver
New members
Tue 11-May-10
Offline
shelley said:
the same rule must apply for france as you cannot do a vide grenier more than 5 times a year!
I am not too fazed y the rules; but lets see!
I thought they had made that 3 - but if you do them with a friend/husband you can use their name and bypass the rules
7:50 pm
here in the south, it still seems to be 5; but they tend to flaunt the rules down here;;;; as I did today at mine where I openly sold my jams at knockdown prices to attract custom to the new business and to get rid of some of last year's stock. the rules clearly stated no food, but I was not the only one and no one told me off!!!
Most Users Ever Online: 509
Currently Online:
57 Guest(s)
Currently Browsing this Page:
1 Guest(s)
Top Posters:
brightspark: 10528
danast: 10232
Aly: 9438
Sooliz: 7991
Hattie: 6920
Ambersparkle: 6670
JoannaS: 4800
Terrier: 4518
eileen54: 4397
Xahha: 4231
Member Stats:
Guest Posters: 9
Members: 16072
Moderators: 2
Admins: 2
Forum Stats:
Groups: 6
Forums: 25
Topics: 2260
Posts: 122693
Newest Members:
richardItedy, Jamesgot, lightroomSof, RosarioFes, EvelynGlOme, JameswoozyModerators: Toffeeapple: 16274, AdminTA: 10
Administrators: fn: 322, Danny: 5516
Copyright © 2006-2012 Cottage Smallholder Our Privacy Policy Advertise on Cottage Smallholder
