Food Hygiene Inspections and Food Standards Inspections

An authorised officer has a right to enter a food premises at all reasonable hours and whenever the premises is in operation on producing, if so required, proof of his or her authority.

In any programmed inspection if significant contraventions are found a further visit to check on compliance will be carried out.

Food standards inspections establish whether legal requirements covering quality, composition, labelling, presentation and advertising of food are being met. Materials or articles in contact with food are also covered.

Premises, food vehicles and events requiring licences are assessed for compliance with food safety legislation. Examples include:

• Late hours catering licence
• Street Traders licence
• Public Entertainment licence
• Occasional licence

Wherever practicable programmed inspections will be combined.

For example food hygiene inspections will be combined with:-

• a food standards inspection;
• another visit for food hygiene purpose (e.g. to investigate a complaint);
• Licensing visits.