The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) confirmed that 69 Enforcement Orders were served on food businesses for breaches in food safety legislation in 2017, declining by over a third (35%) compared to 2016.
The FSAI outlined the importance of robust food safety management and stresses that the responsibility lies with food businesses to ensure that the food they sell is compliant with food safety legislation and is safe to eat.
Between 1 January 2017 and 31 December 2017, food inspectors served 64 Closure Orders, one Improvement Order and four Prohibition Orders on food businesses throughout the country. The types of recurring food safety issues that lead to Enforcement Orders are: evidence of rodent infestation and rodent droppings; failure to maintain temperatures of foodstuffs; filthy conditions; unsuitable food storage facilities and improper or lack of water facilities.
In late 2017, the FSAI began publishing the full details of the Enforcement Orders which is in line with its objective to increase transparency as a regulator and to raise food safety and hygiene standards in food businesses. Enforcement Orders are served on food businesses only when a serious risk to consumer health has been established or where there are a number of ongoing serious breaches of food legislation.