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Food Hygiene Inspections

Environmental Health Officers inspect food premises and give advice to proprietors of food businesses within Denbighshire County Council.  There are currently several pieces of key legislation covering the preparation, storage and sale of food. Advice is available from this Department for those people wishing to set up a new catering business.

How Are Premises Inspected?

Officers of the Department will look at the way a business is operated to identify potential hazards and to make sure it complies with the law. Problems will be discussed with proprietors and advice given on possible solutions. Powers are also available to Officers which can be used to ensure the public’s health is protected.

What Are Food Businesses Entitled To Expect From Denbighshire’s Food Safety Team?

• a courteous manner;
• to be shown identification;
• to have feedback from inspections, i.e. information about hazards found and guidance on how they could have been avoided;
• a clear distinction between what the officer recommends is done (as good practice), and what must be done to comply with the law;
• to be given the reasons in writing for any actions you are asked to take;
• where there is an apparent breach of law, a statement of what that law is;
• reasonable time to meet statutory requirements, except where there is an immediate risk to public health;
  to be told the procedures for appealing against local authority action.

What Powers Do Denbighshire’s Food Safety Team Have?

• the right to enter and inspect premises at all reasonable times;
• the right to take samples and photographs. Officers must not be obstructed;
• the serving of improvement notices;
• the right to seize suspect foods;
• the recommending of prosecution, which may lead the court to prohibit the use of premises;
• the serving of Emergency Prohibition Notices where there is an imminent risk to health, which forbids the use of the premises.

It should finally be remembered that we are ready to help and advise; closer partnerships between food businesses and Local Authorities means better public protection.