Businesses Given Help Complying With Food Safety Regulations

SHARED Regulatory Services, the body responsible for enforcing the likes of food hygiene regulations across the Vale, has been giving businesses advice on how best to meet standards at a packed Principality Stadium event. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The breakfast forum gave food businesses across Bridgend, Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan an insight into the advice and support services available in areas such as food hygiene, health and safety, allergens and food labelling. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Attended by more than 100 businesses, from coffee shops to restaurants, hotels, nurseries and caterers, delegates received tips on scoring a high food hygiene rating, the importance of understanding allergens and how to keep staff and the public safe in a food establishment. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Shared Regulatory Services offers tailored advice to businesses which can be delivered on a consultancy basis or via a Primary Authority partnership. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Services include staff training, auditing of terms, conditions, policies and procedures and and mock food hygiene inspections to better prepare businesses for the real thing. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Gwyn John, chair of the Joint Committee for Shared Regulatory Services, said: “Thriving local businesses are at the heart of successful communities, which is why our Officers have a clear focus on helping to ensure compliance and relieving some of the regulatory pressure. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Officers act as dedicated points of contact for Primary Authority partners, meaning we can handle queries from other regulators and offer advice proactively, so the business can benefit. We also review and verify documents such as food safety management systems, which means less time checking paperwork during a food hygiene inspection.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Shared Regulatory Services set up its first Primary Authority partnership in 2015, and is now working with 11 businesses across the region and beyond. The service received a ‘highly commended’ award at the Primary Authority Awards in London in May 2016 for its innovative approach to business engagement. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Primary Authority scheme was established in 2009, initially offering services only to larger companies. At present, the scheme is only available to businesses trading across more than one local authority area, or trading online, but changes in the scheme from October 2017 will mean most businesses will be able to apply for a partnership. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

To discuss Primary Authority and the bespoke services that may be available to your business, please contact Shared Regulatory Services by calling 0300 1236696 or email: businessadvice-srswales@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​