The Food Safety Act, 1990 gives local enforcement officers wide powers to inspect any stage of the production, manufacture, distribution and retail chain. Food premises are inspected at a frequency dependent upon risk. The frequency of programmed inspections varies from once every 6 months to once every 5 years. Our performance in carrying out these inspections within the programmed time is measured.
You can view our statutory performance indicators |for 2006-2007 and previous years.
Other visits are made from time to time, for example to take samples of food for testing to make sure it complies with food standards. Councils also have a responsibility to investigate any food complaints| passed on to them by consumers.
Enforcement officers have powers to take action against food businesses that do not comply with food law. This can range from issuing warnings and Improvement or Prohibition Notices, to starting a prosecution. The Sheriff Court can impose heavy penalties for non-compliance, including the closure of a business where conditions are particularly bad.