The food hygiene rating Act 2013 introduces a mandatory scheme requiring food businesses to openly display their hygiene rating and advise customers of their hygiene rating on request. The scheme applies to restaurants, pubs, cafés, takeaways, hotels, supermarkets, manufacturers and other food shops.
Each business is given their hygiene rating when it is inspected by a food safety officer from Conwy Council. More information can be found on the Food Standards Agency website (FSA).
How does the scheme work?
Each business is given a rating following an inspection by a food safety officer. This is based on how well the business is meeting the requirements of food hygiene law at that time. The assessment is based on a consideration of the following three elements:
- how hygienically the food is handled - safe food preparation, cooking, re-heating, cooling and storage
- the condition of the structure of the premises - cleanliness, repair, layout, lighting, ventilation and other facilities
- how the business manages what it does to make sure food is safe and so that the officer can be confident standards will be maintained in the future.
The rating is only about the hygiene standards of the food business - it is not about the quality of the food or about the standards of service provided to customers.
What are the different ratings?
The level of compliance determines the Food Hygiene Rating of a business, which ranges from the lowest rating ‘0’ – Urgent Improvement Necessary to the highest rating ‘5’ Very Good. A business is given one of these ratings:
Rating scales
Food Rating Scales Image
All businesses should be able achieve the top rating of 5. To get the top rating of ‘5', If they do not, the food safety officer will outline the improvements they need to make and advise on how to achieve a higher rating.
Published Ratings
After an inspection, the rating will be uploaded by the local authority so that it is published on www.food.gov.uk/ratings. Ratings of '5 - very good' will be published as soon as the information is uploaded by your local authority. Ratings of 0 – 4 will be published 3 – 5 weeks after the date of inspection to allow for an appeal to be submitted.
Businesses that fail to display their rating can be fined £200.
Not happy with your rating?
Appeal
If you consider your business rating is unjust or you wish to discuss your rating, please contact the officer who carried out the inspection in the first instance. If they are unable to resolve the matter you may appeal by completing the online appeal form.
The appeal must be made within 21 days of the date the business receives the food hygiene inspection report. The appeal will be considered by an officer from the authority who was not involved in the original assessment of the food hygiene rating being appealed. The local authority will decide the appeal and notify the business of the outcome within 21 days of receiving the appeal. During the period of the appeal process, no sticker should be displayed nor referred to in any advertising, web site content etc.
Right to reply
Businesses have a “Right to Reply”. The Right to Reply allows a food business operator to comment on the rating given to the business. For example, a business may wish to publish information in relation to what they consider to be particular circumstances at the time of the inspection that affected the rating. These comments must be made in writing to the local authority using the online Right to Reply form and will be published on the Food Standards Agency website along with the rating.
Requesting a re-rating Inspection
If a business has addressed all the non-compliances raised in the inspection report, they can apply for a re-rating visit. The request for a further inspection and assessment of the food hygiene standards of the establishment for the purpose of considering whether to change its food hygiene rating can be made at any time, subject to the following conditions having been met:
- any appeal against the current food hygiene rating has been determined
- the operator has notified the food authority of improvements made to hygiene standards at the establishment
- the food authority considers it reasonable to further inspect and assess the establishment in view of the improvements said to have been made
- the current food hygiene rating sticker is displayed at the establishment in accordance with the requirements of section 7 of the Food Hygiene Rating (Wales) Act 2013
- the business has agreed to ensure that a food authority will be given access to carry out an inspection of the establishment for the purpose of the re-rating
- the business has paid the reasonable costs of the re-rating, as determined by the food authority in accordance with section 13 of the Food Hygiene Rating (Wales) Act 2013
To request a re-rating inspection please complete the online Re-rating request form with payment link.
The current cost of a re-rating inspection is £255.
Early publication of rating
Business owners or managers can request that a rating is published before the end of the appeal period using the online form below.
Contact for Advice
E-mail: foodsafety-healthandsafety@conwy.gov.uk