BUSINESSES across Gwent that serve or sell food will be required from Thursday November 28 to display their food hygiene rating on their premises, as part of a Wales-wide scheme.
Following National Assembly for Wales approval of the Food Hygiene Rating (Wales) Regulations 2013, restaurants, takeaways, mobile caterers, cafés, hotels and pubs, and places where people shop for food, such as supermarkets, bakeries and delicatessens must display a rating from that date.
It also applies to places such as schools, hospitals, children’s nurseries and residential care homes.
The scheme introduced by the legislation is based on the current voluntary Food Hygiene Rating Scheme, operated by councils and the Food Standards Agency.
Food outlets will be rated from 0-5 on criteria such as how food is prepared, cooked and stored, the condition of the premises, and how food safety within the business is managed.
A 'five' rating means hygiene standards are very good, while a 'zero' rating means urgent improvement is necessary.
Food businesses will have to display their rating in a prominent place, such as the front door or window, and at every entrance. Ratings will also continue to be avaialble on the FSA website at www.ratings.food.gov.uk
Councils must enforce the scheme, ensuring ratings are correctly displayed, and can advise businesses on the details of the regulations.
From November next year, the scheme will be extended to include food manufacturers, wholesalers, and transporters supplying premises where people eat and buy food.
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