Food hygiene at events is not optional — it is a legal requirement enforced by local authorities across Scotland. As an event organiser, you carry responsibility for ensuring every food trader on your site meets Scottish food safety standards. Get this wrong and the consequences range from enforcement notices to prosecution.
This guide explains what Scottish food hygiene law requires, how to verify trader compliance, and how to protect yourself and your event.
The Legal Framework
Food safety at events in Scotland is governed by several pieces of legislation:
- Food Safety Act 1990 — the primary legislation covering food safety in the UK
- Food Hygiene (Scotland) Regulations 2006 — the Scottish implementation of EU food hygiene regulations
- Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 — retained EU law covering general food hygiene requirements
- Food Information (Scotland) Regulations 2014 — covering allergen information requirements
These regulations apply to every food business operating in Scotland — including mobile food traders at events. There is no exemption for temporary or event-based trading.
Food Hygiene Ratings in Scotland
Food Standards Scotland operates the Food Hygiene Information Scheme (FHIS). Unlike the numbered rating system in England and Wales, Scotland uses a Pass/Improvement Required system for most premises. However, many mobile traders also display the equivalent of a 5-star rating from their local authority inspection.
When vetting traders for your event, look for:
- A "Pass" rating from Food Standards Scotland, or a minimum 4-star rating under the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme
- A current inspection report — ratings are based on the most recent inspection. Ask when it was last carried out.
- Registration with their local authority — every food business must be registered with the local authority where they are based
What Traders Must Provide
Before any food trader operates at your event, they should provide:
- Proof of food hygiene rating — certificate or link to their rating on the Food Standards Scotland website
- Public liability insurance certificate — minimum £5 million cover, current and valid on your event date
- Gas safety certificate — for any equipment using LPG (liquefied petroleum gas), which includes most mobile catering setups
- Allergen information — a documented list of the 14 major allergens present in each menu item
- Food safety management documentation — evidence of a food safety management system (HACCP-based)
Allergen Requirements: Natasha's Law
Since October 2021, Natasha's Law requires food businesses to provide full ingredient lists and allergen labelling on all pre-packed for direct sale (PPDS) food items. For food prepared to order at events, traders must be able to communicate allergen information clearly to customers upon request.
The 14 major allergens that must be declared are: celery, cereals containing gluten, crustaceans, eggs, fish, lupin, milk, molluscs, mustard, nuts, peanuts, sesame seeds, soybeans, and sulphur dioxide.
As an event organiser, you should confirm that every trader can provide this information. Failure to manage allergens is one of the most serious food safety risks at events.
Your Responsibilities as an Event Organiser
While traders are responsible for their own food safety compliance, event organisers have a duty of care to ensure that the food operations at their event are safe. This includes:
- Due diligence — verifying trader compliance documentation before the event
- Adequate facilities — ensuring traders have access to clean water, waste disposal, and hand-washing facilities if not self-contained
- Cooperation with enforcement — local authority environmental health officers can inspect food operations at events. You should cooperate with any inspection and ensure traders do the same.
Common Mistakes Event Organisers Make
Not checking documentation in advance. Asking for certificates on event day is too late. If a trader arrives without valid paperwork, you face a choice between turning them away (leaving a gap) or letting them trade (accepting the risk). Neither is good.
Assuming social media presence equals compliance. A trader with 10,000 Instagram followers and beautiful food photos may have an "Improvement Required" rating. Compliance is not visible from the outside — you have to check.
Ignoring gas safety. LPG is the primary fuel source for most mobile caterers. A gas leak or equipment failure in a crowded event environment is extremely dangerous. Gas safety certificates exist for a reason.
Not planning for allergen emergencies. At least one attendee at every event will have a serious food allergy. If a trader cannot confirm whether their food contains allergens, that is a medical risk you are carrying.
How We Handle Compliance
At Bite Me, every trader in our network is verified for food hygiene rating, public liability insurance, gas safety, and allergen management before they are accepted. When we supply traders for your event through our full-service catering, all compliance documentation is collated and provided to the organiser in advance.
This is one of the primary reasons event organisers choose a managed catering supplier over sourcing traders individually — the compliance burden is handled for you.
Conclusion
Food hygiene compliance at Scottish events is non-negotiable. The legal requirements are clear, the consequences of failure are serious, and the administration of verifying every trader is time-consuming. Build compliance verification into your event planning timeline — or work with a supplier who does it for you.
Questions about event catering compliance? Get in touch — we are happy to advise.