Food Hygiene Information Scheme

Information will be made available to consumers in two ways:

• Businesses will be given a certificate which states the outcome of the inspection – and be invited to display this within view of customers, and

• Details of the inspection outcome will be displayed on the Food Hygiene Information Scheme website.

The potential inspection outcomes are as follows:

• Pass
  Indicates that the business broadly meets legal requirements relating to food hygiene. These requirements relate to the conditions found as well as the management procedures in place for providing safe food. The display of a "Pass" certificate should provide reassurance that the business met legal requirements at the time of the inspection.
   
• Improvement required
  Where a business has failed to meet the requirements for a "Pass", it will be issued with an "Improvement Required" certificate.
   
• Awaiting inspection
  Where a business has not yet been inspected, it will be issued with a temporary certificate advising consumers of that fact. Premises will also require to be re-inspected where they have changed ownership.
   
• Pass with eat safe
  A number of businesses have achieved excellent food hygiene compliance and have been recognised under the Food Standards Agency’s eat safe award scheme. 

If a business is awarded an improvement required rating, a request for a revisit can be made by the business operator. The request should be made to the officer conducting the inspection or by using the contact details provided below. On receipt of such a request, the Council is required by the Scheme to visit within 7 working days. Business operators are advised that any outstanding matters should have been addressed before such a revisit is requested.

Where a business operator feels that the officer’s judgement is incorrect in relation to the application of the Scheme, an appeal can be lodged by using the contacts below.