New Rules Introduced To Ensure Takeaways Promote Food Hygiene Ratings On Publicity Materials

From 28 November 2016 – the third anniversary of the introduction of the statutory Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS) coming into force in Wales, takeaway food businesses will be required to publish a bilingual statement on certain hardcopy publicity materials. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

If a takeaway leaflet or menu shows food for sale, the price and a way of ordering the food without visiting the premises, it will also have to include a statement which will remind customers they can check the hygiene rating of the business on the FHRS website: http://ratings.food.gov.uk/ , and also remind consumers they can ask the food business for their food hygiene rating when they order. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Wales was the first country in the UK to introduce a statutory food hygiene rating scheme in November 2013 when the Food Hygiene Rating (Wales) Act 2013 made it mandatory for food businesses to display their food hygiene rating on their premises. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Since the introduction of the scheme there has been a positive impact on hygiene standards in Wales. Over 94% of food businesses in Wales now have a generally satisfactory rating or higher (3 or above). ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Dafydd Meurig, Gwynedd Council Cabinet Member for Regulatory matters which includes Public Protection said: “The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme has gone from strength to strength since it was first introduced and has been a key factor in driving up food hygiene standards”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​