New Takeaway Requirements

New rules have been introduced in Wales to ensure takeaways promote food hygiene ratings on publicity materials. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

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

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 per cent of food businesses in Wales now have a generally satisfactory rating or higher (3 or above). ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Carmarthenshire County Council executive board member for environmental and public protection Cllr Jim Jones 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.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​