The Council protects public health through the enforcement of a range of food safety laws.
Enforcement officers (Environmental Health Officers and technical staff) have wide powers to inspect any stage of the production, manufacturing, distribution and retail chain. Food premises are inspected at a frequency dependent upon risk. Frequency of physical inspections can vary from once every six months to once every two years.
Enforcement officers also have the power to take samples of food and drink and swabs of the environment food is prepared in, for testing to ensure compliance with food legislation.
Local authorities also have a responsibility to investigate any food complaints passed on to them by consumers. These may include food fitness, contamination and unsatisfactory food premises
The enforcement officers have powers to take action against a food premises which does not comply with food law. This enforcement action can range from issuing warnings and improvement or prohibition notices, to instigating prosecutions. The courts can inflict heavy penalties for non-compliance, including the closure of a business where conditions are particularly bad.
We are keen to provide advice and information to food businesses in the local area, to ensure that all food supplied is wholesome and produced in a clean, hygienic manner.
Notifications of cases and suspected cases of food borne disease are also monitored. If there is a risk that food or water is involved, further investigations may be carried out.
What general responsibilities does a food business have?
Food businesses have legal responsibilities for ensuring food safety, quality and presentation, and for safety, presentation, the keeping of traceability records and withdrawal, recall and notification of unsafe food.
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Food Premises Registration
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Food Standards Agency
The FSA is an independent food safety watchdog set up by an Act of Parliament in 2000 to protect the public’s health and consumer interests in relation to food. It is concerned with the whole food industry – from farming, food production and distribution, to retail and catering. It addresses food safety issues at every stage of the chain, providing information and guidance on best practice and legal requirements
A wide range of publications are available for the public and the food industry. Many of these free of charge.
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Safer food, better business
The Food Standards Agency has developed food safety management packs and guides to help small businesses such as restaurants, cafés and takeaways comply with food hygiene regulations.
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Eat well, be well
What we eat can make a big difference to our health and well-being. The Food Standards Agency ‘Eat Well Be Well’ campaign stresses the importance of a healthy diet and safe storage and preparation of food.
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Health Protection Agency
The functions of the HPA are "to protect the community (or any part of the community) against infectious diseases and other dangers to health" (HPA Act 2004)
Its role is to provide an integrated approach to protecting UK public health through the provision of support and advice to the NHS, local authorities, emergency services, other arms length bodies, the Department of Health and the devolved administrations.
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Health Protection Unit
The network of local health protection units operating in England are the ‘eyes and ears’ of the Health Protection Agency.
They continually monitor health issues in a local area and give advice and support to the local NHS, civil and emergency authorities if a medical or environmental incident happens.