Food business - food safety inspections

The Council carries out regular checks on all food premises to ensure the public is protected and that high standards are maintained.

Visits to premises are carried out, as far as possible, without prior notification and are priority programmed according to the degree of potential risk. This ensures that higher risk premises are visited more frequently than those in lower risk categories.

During an inspection, Officers will want to reassure themselves that potential food safety risks have been identified by the business, and that there are adequate controls in place to prevent any problems. During the visit the inspecting officer will assess compliance with the following:

The standard of cleanliness.
The condition and repair of the structure and equipment.
The HACCP system/ food safety management system – i.e. the control measures you have identified and implemented to ensure that the food being produced is safe. Records, such as temperature monitoring and cleaning schedules, should be readily available (past 12 months).
Training and hygiene awareness of food handlers –training certificates should be available for all persons involved in handling open high risk foods. Staff should be able to demonstrate their food hygiene awareness, and at least one member of staff should have sufficient training and knowledge of the HACCP/ food safety management system.
Pest Control – adequate procedures must be in place to ensure that pests are controlled, any records should be available.

Where practices or conditions are not satisfactory, every attempt will be made to resolve the situation by informal means, but where poor conditions persist, or where there is a risk to public health it may be necessary to resort to formal action, which may include:

A warning letter being issued.
A Hygiene Improvement Notice being served.
Emergency closure of your premises where an imminent risk to health is identified.
The preparation of a case for prosecution due to failure to comply with legal requirements.

However, should the premises achieve a high standard of compliance with both legal requirements and recommended good practice you may be eligible for a Welsh Food Hygiene Award. Eligibility for an award will be assessed during the inspection.

Food Hygiene Awards

Local Authorities and the Food Standards Agency Wales strongly believe that there is merit in a Welsh Food Hygiene Award that will be recognised by both the public and food businesses. Rhondda Cynon Taf Council is supporting this initiative and the following information outlines the arrangements for the award scheme which is considered to promote food safety.

The Welsh Food Hygiene Award Scheme aims to give recognition to food premises which have attained and maintained high standards of cleanliness and food hygiene practices.

The businesses must also have address two key issues of the Food Safety Regulations, namely, the requirements to carry out hazard analysis for the business and the requirement for training for food handlers.

The award is given at the discretion of the Council following one unannounced inspection where the required standards have been achieved and maintained. There is a facility to take the awards away if standards are not maintained on subsequent visits.

The scheme has three levels of aware – Gold, Silver and Bronze. Those food businesses that are given a Gold award must have achieved the highest standards in all the required areas. Businesses may on subsequent inspections, be eligible for a higher level of award because they have made further improvements.

Food businesses should be pleased to receive such awards. Some may be disappointed not to receive a Gold award straight away but it must be stressed that to receive a Bronze award is a significant achievement in itself.

How do I get an Award?

If your business is involved in the sale or preparation of food you may be considered for an award:

• Workplace restaurants/canteens

• Restaurant Take-aways

• Public Houses

• Mobile food traders

• Residential care premises

• Food retailers

• Cafeterias

There are three levels of award:

• Bronze

• Silver

• Gold

The level of award you receive depends on your success in meeting standards in the following areas:

• Good food hygiene practices

• Cleanliness

• Training

• Hazard Analysis

The award and certificate is owned by the Council and can be withdrawn at any time. If your Award is taken away the reasons for this course of action will be explained, but should this happen there is an appeal (within 21 days) to the Food Safety manager by contacting us. There is a similar appeal if you are of the opinion that an award should have been granted following an inspection.

Do I keep the award forever?

After is has been issued, the award is valid until your next inspection date.

If the standards of hygiene at your business are maintained you may keep the award. Higher standards will result in a higher award at a subsequent inspection.

The Award will be taken away should food hygiene standard fall below those necessary.

How do I benefit from taking part?

All those businesses that meet the required standards will be presented with a certificate to display on their premises. The certificate will demonstrate your commitment to providing safe food and should enhance your reputation with customers. Efforts will be made to publicise the initiative locally.

The certificate issued will be dated as at the inspection date. If there is a change of management, the award will no longer be valid.

Contact Information

Public Health and Protection Division
Food and Health and Safety Project
Telephone: 01443 442100
Fax: 01443 425301
Email: food.healthandsafety@rhondda-cynon-taf.gov.uk

Cynnwys wedi’i awdurdodi gan: Food Health & Safety Team
Adolygwyd ar: 13/4/2006