Information for caterers
Your questions answered on how the new food hygiene legislation will affect you.
How will catering businesses be affected by the new regulations?
Catering businesses will need to have a food safety management system based on the principles of HACCP. They are already required to produce food that is safe to eat, but the new regulations say that catering businesses must be able to show what they do to make food safely - and have this written down.
The type of system they need will depend on the size and type of business. Many small catering businesses will only need a simple system.
What is there to help small catering businesses set up a food safety management system?
Packs will be available to small catering businesses throughout the UK via their local authorities. These have been produced by the FSA in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and by local authorities in Wales.
Catering businesses do not have to use any particular pack or model, but they must make sure they have a food safety management system that is suitable for their business. Some businesses will already have a suitable system, so they will not need to introduce a new one.
England - 'Safer food, better business', an innovative and practical approach to food safety management, has been developed by the FSA in partnership with small catering businesses and more than 50 local authorities. If you would like to order a hard copy of 'Safer food, better business' call 0845 606 0667 or email foodstandards@ecgroup.uk.com
Wales - Several local authorities have previously developed guidance packs on HACCP for caterers and FSA Wales has encouraged the sharing of these packs throughout Welsh local authorities. Businesses should contact their local authority for more information.
Scotland - FSA Scotland has drawn on expertise from the food industry including small businesses, local authorities and the Scottish Food Advisory Committee to develop a HACCP-based system called 'CookSafe'. Businesses that would like a copy should contact their local authority.
Northern Ireland - FSA Northern Ireland has produced guidance for the catering sector called 'Safe Catering', working with caterers and local authorities. This guidance, which has been developed and refined over a number of years, is widely accepted by the catering sector in Northern Ireland. Businesses should contact their local authority for information.
If you have any questions regarding the packs above, please contact your local authority.