The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has announced that during September 2012 environmental health officers served five Closure Orders and one Improvement Order for breaches of food legislation. In the same month the Health Service Executive brought a successful prosecution against a business in respect of breaches of the Hygiene of Foodstuffs Regulation (852/2004).
The number of enforcement orders served in September is less than served in July (13) and August (11) but that is no consolation to each of the organisations whose businesses were affected by the enforcement action taken by the authorities.
Food business operators must be vigilant to ensure they comply with all applicable food regulations to prevent their businesses being closed down and to avoid them being prosecuted in the criminal courts. Operators should also be aware of the powers of the regulators when officials engage with their businesses and operators and managers should understand their rights on foot of enforcement action or prosecution.