12% Increase In Food Safety Enforcement Orders

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) today stated that there were a total of 82 Enforcement Orders served for breaches in food safety legislation in 2011 compared with 73 in 2010, an increase totalling 12%.

The FSAI also re-emphasised that it is unacceptable that some food businesses were continuing to breach food safety laws and warned all food businesses to place robust food safety management systems and hygiene practices top of their agenda for the New Year or face the full rigors of the law.

Between 1st January and 31st December 2011, enforcement officers served 66 Closure Orders, six Improvement Orders and 10 Prohibition Orders on food businesses throughout the country. This compares with 57 Closure Orders, four Improvement Orders and 12 Prohibition Orders issued in 2010.

In the month of December 2011, five Closure Orders were served on food businesses for breaches of food safety legislation pursuant to the FSAI Act, 1998. The Orders were issued by environmental health officers (EHOs) in the HSE West Region; the HSE Dublin Mid Leinster Region and the HSE Dublin North East Region.

Commenting on the annual figures, Prof Alan Reilly, Chief Executive, FSAI stated that the FSAI and the enforcement officers will continue to implement a rigorous inspection policy in 2012 to ensure full compliance with food safety legislation is achieved industry wide.

"The 2011 enforcement figures represent an increase on the 2010 figures, which were themselves the highest seen in the past decade, a disappointing statistic to be reporting. 2011 also saw two instances whereby thebreach of closure orders led to High Court action being taken by the FSAI. The High Court's decisions to uphold the closure orders were welcomed and should serve as a warning that non-compliance with enforcement orders will not be tolerated."

(CD)