Food Hygiene ratings now required by law

Businesses selling food in Northern Ireland are now required by law to display a Food Hygiene Rating.

The Food Hygiene Rating Act (Northern Ireland) 2016 came into force today, replacing the voluntary scheme run since the end of 2011 by district councils and the Food Standards Agency (FSA).

The ratings range from ‘5’, meaning the standards are very good, down to ‘0’ where urgent improvement is necessary.

Restaurants, supermarkets, hospitals, and other businesses involving the preparation or selling of food will now have to display their scores, with companies selling online having to display their rating next year.

It’s expected that around 90% of food business will display the sticker within two months.

When inspected by a food safety officer from the local district council are assessed on hygiene, the condition of the buildings structure, how food safety is managed and how the business records what it does to make food safe.

Head of Local Authority Policy and Delivery at the FSA in Northern Ireland, Michael Jackson, says:

“This is a major step forward in providing people with hygiene information to help them make informed choices about where to eat out or purchase food and it will also help to improve food hygiene standards in food businesses, as the mandatory display will encourage businesses with a poor rating to improve their standards and strive for a better rating.

“Any food business should be able to achieve and maintain a 5 rating as it only requires compliance with hygiene requirements set down in law.

“We know that display of stickers has been low in the voluntary scheme, but with this new legislation you will soon be able to check the rating by looking for the sticker and choose somewhere that has a rating of 3 or above. If you can’t see the sticker, then ask the staff. Under the Act staff must tell you the rating if asked.”