March 2010 Scores on the Doors update

Thursday 18 March 2010

The Agency's UK-wide Scores on the Doors Steering Group met today to continue its work on development of the national six-tier scheme.

The steering group considered recommendations for a consistency framework for operating the national scheme. These recommendations should be finalised in April.

The group also considered the Agency’s proposals for the IT platform and noted that development of this is underway.

Following media coverage about inspection of food premises and cost recovery, it was clarified that a national voluntary scheme for ‘scores on the doors’ is a key part of the FSA’s food hygiene strategy but policy on this has not changed since the Board decision in December 2008.

Food businesses will continue to be inspected by local authorities based upon risk, regardless of their scores on the doors rating and whether or not they choose to display their rating. Local authorities do not charge retailers and caterers for statutory planned food hygiene inspections. However, under the national scores on the doors scheme, the possibility for local authorities to charge for any re-inspections or re-visits requested by a food business operator with a view to being re-scored is being considered.