A Certificate of Suitability may also be referred to as a Section 50 Certificate. It is required under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005.
You will require Certificate of Suitability certificates from each of the council’s Planning, Building Standards, and Environmental Health functions to accompany your application for a premises alcohol licence.
The law requires that premises comply with the requirements of the regulations made under section 16 of the Food Safety Act 1990 relating to construction, layout, drainage, ventilation, lighting and water supply or concerned with the provision of sanitary and washing facilities.
Environmental Health need to assess your premises and proposals to ensure that they comply with the food safety legislation. We will not issue a certificate if it does not comply with this legislation.
What information does Environmental Health need to process my Application?
A detailed layout plan of the premises to show;
- Kitchen facilities; equipment, sinks and wash hand basins
- Bar facilities; glass wash equipment, sinks and wash hand basins
- Sanitary facilities; wash hand basins, intervening ventilated spaces and bin stores
- Ventilation systems
- Food hoists
New build or conversion from non-food business premises
Applications should be submitted when the premises is complete, however, do contact Environmental Health as early as possible about the premises and provide detailed drawings of your proposals. This will allow for any alterations to be made at an early stage should there be issues with the layout from a food safety perspective.
You will not receive a certificate until all works are complete and considered satisfactory.
You will also need to register the premises with Environmental Health as a food business 28 days before it begins trading.
Existing food premises
Send your application to us so that we can to assess your premises to check that it complies with the food hygiene legislation. In some cases, this may require a visit. If the premises does not meet the standards required a certificate will not be issued and there will be no refund.
Cost
A fee of £176 is payable in advance of your application being considered.
Section 50 certificate
If everything is satisfactory we will issue a certificate which must accompany your application for an alcohol licence.
You can apply for a provisional alcohol licence without a section 50 certificate from Environmental Health or Building Standards but you must have a section 50 certificate from the Planning department.
How do I Apply for a Section 50?
Fill out the application form and submit to envhealth@argyll-bute.gov.uk together with an copy of the premises layout. Applications will not be progressed until the fee is paid in full.
Contact Environmental Health
- 01546 605519
- envhealth@argyll-bute.gov.uk
Further information