FSAI issues 16 Enforcement Orders to food businesses in October
Some of the reasons for the Enforcement Orders in October include rat infestation, significant build-up of rodent droppings and presence of fruit and drain flies
Print13 November 2024
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) recently reported that 16 Enforcement Orders were served on food businesses during the month of October for breaches of food safety legislation, pursuant to the FSAI Act, 1998 and the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020.
The Enforcement Orders were issued by Environmental Health Officers in the Health Service Executive (HSE), veterinary inspectors in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and sea-fisheries protection officers in the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority.
These include nine Closure Orders and two Prohibition Orders under the FSAI Act, 1998, four Closure Orders and one Prohibition Order under EU food legislation, and one Improvement Order under the FSAI Act.
Reasons for Orders
Some of the reasons for the Enforcement Orders in October include: rat infestation; significant build-up of rodent droppings; presence of fruit and drain flies; live maggots on old food residue; extensive rodent droppings; no wash hand basin with hot and cold water for food workers; an inaccessible wash hand basin; a complete lack of cleaning; accumulation of grease and food debris; dirty food contact equipment; lack of adequate food storage and contamination prevention procedures; persistent and historical failure to comply with food law; no evidence of a food safety management system.
Dr Pamela Byrne, Chief Executive, FSAI, reiterated the need for food businesses to have adequate pest control systems in place, adding that businesses must operate strict food safety procedures at all times and that they need to be especially vigilant during this particularly busy time of year leading up to Christmas.
Inadequate pest control
“Inadequate pest control measures, filthy premises and unsafe food storage are once again the primary reasons for the Enforcement Orders served in October. A high number of the Enforcement Orders were associated with issues related to pests as well as failures to maintain adequate cleaning. These issues are all preventable and food businesses must ensure that they always adhere to a high standard of food safety and hygiene.
“It is imperative that every food business has a proper pest control system in place and that this is checked very regularly to avoid infestations of rodents and insects. With the busy Christmas period nearly upon us, food businesses must be especially vigilant to ensure compliance with the law and to protect the health of their customers,” said Dr Byrne.
Details of the food businesses served with Enforcement Orders are published on the FSAI’s website at www.fsai.ie.
Closure Orders and Improvement Orders will remain listed in the Enforcement reports on the website for a period of three months from the date of when a premises is adjudged to have corrected its food safety issue, with Prohibition Orders being listed for a period of one month from the date the Order was lifted.
Read more: FSAI issues 16 Enforcement Orders to food businesses in September
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