Thursday, 8 January 2015

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) today stated that a total of 113 Enforcement Orders were served on food businesses for breaches in food safety legislation in 2014, compared with 144 in 2013, a decrease of 21%.  Whilst welcoming the reduction in numbers of Enforcement Orders needing to be served, the FSAI noted that 2014 still had the second highest number served on food businesses.  

The FSAI re-emphasised that the legal onus is on food businesses to act responsibly and ensure that the food they serve and sell is safe to eat.  The FSAI warned that all food businesses must ensure they have robust food safety management systems in place and that enforcement officers will not hold back in taking swift action against any food business that fails to meet its legal obligations in this area.

Between 1^st January and 31^st December 2014, enforcement officers served 96 Closure Orders, 16 Prohibition Orders and one Improvement Order on food businesses throughout the country.  This compares with 119 Closure Orders, 20 Prohibition Orders and five Improvement Orders in 2013. 

During the month of December 2014, four Closure Orders and two Prohibition Orders were served on food businesses for breaches in food safety legislation pursuant to the FSAI Act, 1998 and the EC (Official Control of Foodstuffs) Regulations, 2010.  Four of the Enforcement Orders were issued by environmental health officers in the Health Service Executive and two by local authority veterinary inspectors in Mayo County Council.

Three Closure Orders were served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on:

• Hairy Lemon (public house) (Closed area: Basement only), 41 Stephen Street Lower, Dublin 2

• Herterich & Sons Pork Butcher (cutting plant), Mill Street, Westport, Mayo

• Mary Merritt (bakery/confectionary), Kilmacombe, Dunmore East, Waterford

One Closure Order was served under the EC (Official Control of Foodstuffs) Regulations, 2010 on:

• Redz Chinese Restaurant and Takeaway (Closed area: kitchen and service of food only) (public house), 79 West Street, Drogheda, Louth.

One Prohibition Order was served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on:

• Belmont Organic Venison, Carrabawn, Westport, Mayo

One Prohibition Order was served under the EC (Official Control of Foodstuffs) Regulations, 2010 on:

• L&M Store, 71 Anne Street, Dundalk, Louth

Commenting on the annual figures, Prof. Alan Reilly, Chief Executive, FSAI states that, while the reduction in Enforcement Orders in 2014 is a welcome development, it is too early to say whether it is part of a downward trend.

    “There can be no room for complacency when it comes to food safety.  Every Enforcement Order is one too many and serves as a warning that food businesses need to be vigilant at all times to ensure full compliance with food regulations.  While most food businesses follow high standards and are compliant with food safety legislation, we continue to encounter cases where consumers’ health is jeopardised through a lack of compliance. This is unacceptable and will be met with the full rigors of the law,” says Prof. Reilly.

Prof. Reilly urged food businesses to take full advantage of the information and support provided by the inspectorate 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 on 1890 336677 or visit its website www.fsai.ie or facebook page.

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 Order Reports