As an employer or manager you have certain responsibilities under food safety legislation that you must comply with. The following information is designed to help you understand your legal responsibilities and help you get your business off to a good start.
Registration
Prior to registering your business you must ensure you have the correct planning authorisation for your type of food operation. You must register your food business with the Local Authority even if you have purchased an existing business and this should be submitted 28 days prior to changeover / opening. Please contact us for a Food Registration Form and a Health and Safety Registration Form (OSR1 form); There is no fee for registration.
Design and Construction of Food Premises
There are many different surfaces that can be used in a kitchen for floors, walls, ceilings and equipment. The basic requirements are that surfaces are smooth, impervious to water, non-toxic, inert and easy to clean.
- Personal Hygiene Facilities:-
Toilets
Provide clean, ventilated (mechanical or natural ventilation) lavatories which do not lead directly into food rooms. Wash hand basins must be provided with a supply of hot and cold water (or water at a suitably controlled temperature), soap, and hand drying facilities.
- Wash hand basins
Provide suitable and sufficient wash hand basins in food rooms supplied with hot and cold water, soap and hand drying facilities.
- Protective Clothing
Clean, protective over-clothing must be worn by food handlers. It must only be worn at work and therefore a suitable changing area away from the food rooms must be provided.
- Extraction Systems
Sufficient ventilation must be provided. It should be designed to allow easy access for cleaning and maintenance. N.B. Planning permission may be required for certain ventilation systems. Contact the Planning Department on Tel: 01202 451323 and the Pollution Team on 01202 451296 for further advice.
- Pest Control
Pests pose serious health risks. You must have adequate systems in place to prevent and control infestations of insects and rodent pests. For further information refer to:-
- Refuse Disposal
You must make adequate arrangements for the hygienic storage and regular removal of waste materials for information on the Councils' Service call 01202 451199.
- Training
All food handlers must have specific training in food hygiene. Details of the Council’s courses are available on this site. The Level 2 Award in Safety in Catering is run monthly by Environmental Health contact us on Tel 01202 454876 for details of the next course.
- Provision of Customer Toilets
If your food premises has more than eight customer seats for consumption of food on the premises there is a requirement to provide customer toilet facilities.
For further advice on this requirement please contact us.
Food Registration Form.
Food Safety Management Systems
From 1st January 2006 the law changed and you are now required to have a documented food safety management system. Further information can be found in New Food Hygiene Laws.
Trading Standards
For further information on labelling and weights and measures visit Trading Standards web pages of contact them on 01202 451400
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