New food hygiene legislation was introduced in the UK from January 2006, affecting all food businesses, including caterers and retailers.
How it affects you will depend on the size and type of your business. The new regulations focus on protecting public health in a way that is effective, proportionate and based on risk.
From 1 January 2006, the Food Hygiene (England) Regulations 2005 replaced most of the existing food hygiene legislation. Most of the actual requirements have not changed. Download or order the Food Hygiene Guide for Businesses booklet for a summary of what the law says.
Food Safety Management Systems
The main change under the new legislation is that all food businesses need to have a written food safety management system based on the principles of HACCP (hazard analysis critical control points), an internationally recognised and recommended system to control hazards.
Under previous legislation, businesses were already required to produce food that is safe to eat, but the new regulations say that catering businesses must be able to show what they do to make food safely – and have this written down.
The type of system needed will depend on the size and type of business. Many small catering businesses will only need a simple system. Many medium size and larger businesses will already have their own written systems in place and they can continue to use those.
Help for Small Businesses
If you do not have procedures in place, you can develop your own procedures based on the principles of HACCP, or use a food industry guide recognised by the Food Standards Agency. Help is available for smaller businesses who do not have a documented system.
A food safety management system called Safer Food, Better Business (SFBB) has been developed to help small catering businesses such as restaurants, cafés and takeaways comply with the new regulations.
Find out more in this section and go to Related Pages to download or order the free Safer Food, Better Business Packs and DVD. Visit the Food Standards Agency website for further information.
