Mandatory display of food hygiene ratings in Wales

Posted 15 January 2014
Written by Lisa Jacobs
Food Hygiene Ratings

Since 28th November 2013, Wales has become the first part of the UK to force food businesses to display their food hygiene rating.  The new law builds on the previous voluntary scheme (which is still in effect in England), in which restaurants, takeaways and supermarkets in Wales must display their food hygiene rating after an EHO inspection. Ratings must be displayed in a prominent position or businesses will face a fixed penalty ticket or fine.

At the end of a food hygiene inspection, the EHO is required to produce a rating, scored against the criteria published by the Food Standards Agency. The EHO must send notification of the rating and written reasons for the rating and send the hygiene rating sticker within 14 days of the inspection. The operator has 21 days to appeal from the date the rating notification is received. After 21 days the food business must display the sticker in a prominent position in their business which can be easily seen by customers.

A recent survey by the Food Standards Agency found that 86% of the public considered hygiene standards to be more important than price or location and therefore a poor hygiene score has the real potential to effect those food businesses with poor hygiene scores.

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