106 Enforcement Orders Served on Food Businesses in 2016
Monday, 9 January 2017
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) today stated that 106 Enforcement Orders were served on food businesses for breaches in food safety legislation in 2016, equalling the same amount for 2015. The FSAI underlined the importance of food safety practices and reaffirmed that the responsibility rests with food businesses to ensure that the food they sell is compliant with food safety legislation and is safe to eat. The FSAI also stressed that all food businesses must have a detailed food safety management system in place and are legally obliged to have HACCP (Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Point) based procedures in place.
Between 1st January and 31st December 2016, food inspectors served 94 Closure Orders, 3 Improvement Orders and 9 Prohibition Orders on food businesses throughout the country. The types of recurring food safety issues which lead to Enforcement Orders are: poor cleaning and sanitation of premises; poor personal hygiene; lack of running water; inadequate hand washing facilities; incorrect food storage; lack of or ineffective pest control programme; structural problems arising from lack of ongoing maintenance and; lack of or an inadequate food safety management system.
During the month of December 2016, four Closure Orders, one Prohibition Order and two successful prosecutions were served on Irish food businesses for breaches of food safety legislation, pursuant to the FSAI Act, 1998 and the EC (Official Control of Foodstuffs) Regulations, 2010. The Enforcement Orders were issued by environmental health officers in the Health Service Executive (HSE) and by the FSAI.
Two Closure Orders were served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on:
- A Chef Kebab Foodstall, At Daltons Pub car park, Fuerty, Roscommon
- Day to Day (retailer), 54 Georges Street Upper, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin
Two Closure Orders were served under the EC (Official Control of Foodstuffs) Regulations, 2010 on:
- Palak Restaurant, High Street, Tuam, Galway
- Ali Baba (restaurant/café), Bank Place, Rathkeale, Limerick
One Prohibition Order was served under the EC (Official Control of Foodstuffs) Regulations, 2010 on:
- T/A I&A Organic Gardening and Catering (food processor), 21 Shandon Way, Shandon, Cork
During the month of December two prosecutions were carried out by the HSE in relation to:
- Auckley Ltd., The Palace (public house), 17 Ludlow Street, Navan, Meath
- Largo Foods (manufacturer), Kilbrew, Ashboune, Meath
Commenting on the annual figures, Dr Pamela Byrne, Chief Executive, FSAI stressed the serious nature of a food business being served an Enforcement Order.
“Enforcements and most especially Closure Orders and Prohibition Orders are never served for minor food safety breaches. They are served on food businesses only when a serious risk to consumer health has been identified or where there are a number of ongoing breaches of food legislation and that largely tends to relate to serious and grave hygiene or other operational issues. There is no excuse for careless food safety practices. Food inspectors are encountering the same issues time and time again. The typical reasons why Enforcement Orders have to be served are easily avoidable. While the vast majority of food businesses are compliant with food safety legislation, we still continue to face negligent practices that are potentially putting consumer’s health at risk.”
Dr Byrne urged food businesses to take full advantage of the information and support provided by food inspectors and the FSAI to ensure that they have the correct food safety management systems in place. If any food business owner is unsure of what is required of them by law, they can contact the FSAI advice line at info@fsai.ie or visit its website or facebook page.
Details of the food businesses served with Enforcement Orders are published on the FSAI’s website at www.fsai.ie. Closure Orders and Improvement Orders will remain listed on the website for a period of three months from the date of when a premises is adjudged to have corrected its food safety issue, with Prohibition Orders being listed for a period of one month.
