FOOD SAFETY LAW

If you run or intend to start up a business which prepares, handles and sells food, you must comply with hygiene rules to make sure the food is safe to eat. RS Food Hygiene can work with you to ensure that you comply with current food safety legislation.

Some crucial pieces of legislation can be seen below:

Food Safety Act 1990

The Food Safety Act 1990 makes it an offence to render any food injurious to health with the intention of selling it for human consumption. In addition, it is an offence to sell food that is not the nature, substance or quality demanded by the consumer.

Regulation (EC) No.852/2004 on the hygiene of foodstuffs

Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No.852/2004 on the hygiene of foodstuffs requires that food business operators must put in place, implement and maintain permanent procedures based on HACCP principles.

Chapter XII of Regulation (EC) No.852/2004 on the hygiene of foodstuffs requires that food business operators must ensure that:

• Food handlers are supervised and instructed and/or trained in food hygiene matters commensurate with their work activity.
• Those responsible for the development and maintenance of procedures based on HACCP principles or for the operation of relevant guides have received adequate training in the application of HACCP principles.

Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013

These contain specific requirements for food businesses such as the need to provide hand wash basins, keeping premises clean and protecting food from contamination.

Food Information Regulations 2014

The Food Information Regulations 2014 replaced the majority of the provisions of the Food Labelling Regulations 1996. A key part of the Food Information Regulations 2014 is that there are 14 allergens listed (including peanuts, milk, eggs and cereals containing gluten) which need to be specifically highlighted to the customer.