Information for retailers
Monday 4 December 2006
Your questions answered on how the new food hygiene legislation will affect you.
How can small retailers get help to set up a food safety management system?
Food hygiene regulations introduced in January 2006 require retail businesses selling food to put in place a food safety management system. Retailers 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 would not need to introduce a new one.
The FSA has produced a food safety management pack, 'Safer food, better business for retailers', which is suitable for small retail businesses that sell food, including any food that needs to be kept cold to keep it safe, such as milk. These include small convenience stores, �corner shops� and confectioners, tobacconists and newsagents.
You can order a copy of the pack by calling 0845 606 0667 or view the retail pack online.
Is the Safer food, better business pack suitable for specialist retailers?
'Safer food, better business for retailers' has not been designed for specialist retailers such as butchers, fishmongers and bakers, but these types of business may find parts of it helpful, for example for staff training. Specialist retailers should contact their local authority as a first step and some trade associations may also provide advice. Further advice is also available in the Good Practice Guides, which are developed by the industry.
Butchers can obtain further advice and support from the Meat and Livestock Commission.