Food Safety Enforcement Policy
It is this Council's policy to ensure that the public has confidence in the safety and cleanliness of food that is produced, stored, handled, distributed, sold or consumed within this District and that it is without risk to the health and safety of the consumer.
The primary responsibility for food safety however, lies with businesses and individuals, who produce, store, handle, distribute or sell food to the public.
Our enforcement policy directs what enforcement action will be taken and when it will be taken.
Enforcement options include:
Informal advice, verbal warnings, the issue of written warnings in the form of letters and schedules of work, statutory notices, prosecution or closure.
Factors which affect the choice of enforcement action are primarily based upon an assessment of risk to public health and will also take into account the following:
- The seriousness of the offence
- Past history of the premises
- Willingness of those involved to prevent a recurrence of the problem
- Whether there is satisfactory evidence of an offence
- Whether any due diligence defence exists