Food Hygiene Rating Scheme

Fermanagh leads the way as first Council in Northern Ireland to introduce the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme


Fermanagh District Council will be the first Council in Northern Ireland to launch the food hygiene rating scheme on Wednesday, 1st December 2010 at the Killyhevlin Hotel, Enniskillen.  This follows the official launch of the scheme in England and Wales by the FSA on 30th November 2010.

This national scheme, developed by the Food Standards Agency in partnership with local authorities, provides information on food hygiene standards to help people to choose where to eat out or shop for food. 

Approximately 700 food outlets throughout the County are regularly inspected by the Council’s Environmental Health Officers to check that hygiene standards meet legal requirements. 

After each planned inspection the food business is awarded an overall number rating from zero at the bottom to the top rating of five based on food safety standards found at the time of the inspection. 

Food businesses will be given a certificate and sticker indicating one of the following hygiene ratings:
 

Businesses are encouraged to display these at the entrance to their premises so that they can be easily seen by customers. 

Good food premises will be proud to display their rating, however, the ratings for all premises that are included in the scheme will be available for anyone to view on the Food Standards Agency website at www.food.gov.uk/ratings. 

Further information about the scheme and access to the ratings is also available at the Council website at www.fermanagh.gov.uk/ratings.