The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) today stated that there were a total of 73 Enforcement Orders served for breaches in food safety legislation in 2010 compared with 54 in 2009, an increase totalling 35%.  The FSAI today re-emphasised that it is unacceptable that some food businesses were continuing to breach food safety laws and warned all food businesses to place robust food safety management systems and hygiene practices top of their agenda for the new year or face the full rigors of the law. 

Between 1st January and 31st December 2010, enforcement officers served 57 Closure Orders, four Improvement Orders and 12 Prohibition Orders on food businesses throughout the country.  This compares with 34 Closure Orders, seven Improvement Orders and 13 Prohibition Orders issued in 2009.

In the month of December 2010, three Closure Orders, one Improvement Order and one Prohibition Order were served on food businesses for breaches of food safety legislation pursuant to the FSAI Act, 1998 and the EC (Official Control of Foodstuffs) Regulations, 2010.  The Orders were issued by environmental health officers (EHOs) in the HSE West Region; the HSE Dublin Mid Leinster Region; the HSE Dublin North East Region; and the HSE South Region.

Closure Orders were served on:

• T/A Sligo Spice and Halal Point butcher shop, 14 Connolly Street, Sligo
• Pattaya Thai Restaurant, Johnstown Road, Cabinteely Village, Dublin 18
• Fish Shop (the preparation room), Main Street, Schull, Co. Cork

An Improvement Order was served on:

• Chief Changs Restaurant, Omni Park Shopping Centre, Swords Rd, Santry, Dublin 9

A Prohibition Order was served on:

• Arirang restaurant, 102 Parnell Street, Dublin 1

During the month of December, successful prosecutions were carried out by the HSE West Region on Dragon Court Chinese Restaurant and Take Away, Chapel Road, Askeaton, Limerick and by the HSE Dublin North East Region on Adezath Superstore supermarket, 298 North Circular Road, Dublin 7.

Commenting on the annual figures, Prof Alan Reilly, Chief Executive, FSAI stated that the FSAI and the enforcement officers will continue to implement a rigorous inspection policy in 2011 to ensure full compliance with food safety legislation is achieved industry wide.

    “The 2010 enforcement figures represent an increase on the 2009 figures, which is disappointing.  Notably, the Closure Order statistics have risen significantly in 2010 and it is clear from these that work still needs to be done by some food businesses to reduce the need for these Orders to be served each month.  The same recurring, but easily preventable faults continue to contribute to the closure of food businesses and this must be addressed by food business operators.”

    “Consumers must be confident that the food they are eating is safe to eat and the FSAI will continue to take a zero tolerance policy to breaches of food safety legislation.  The onus is on each individual food business to take responsibility and commit to ensuring high food safety standards.  Food businesses should take full advantage of the information and support made available by the FSAI and the enforcement officers to ensure a basic and consistent food safety management plan is developed and put in place in line with legislation”, Prof Reilly concludes. 

Details of the food businesses served with these Enforcement Orders are published on the FSAI’s website.  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.

See the ‘Enforcement Orders Database’ on our website.

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