Hazard Analysis in Food Premises

(Food safety Act 1990)

 

Hazard Analysis is the term normally used to describe the food safety management system required by law in all food businesses.

 

 

Enforcement Strategy

 

The City Council has adopted the principles of good enforcement in respect of standards, openness, helpfulness, complaints, proportionality and consistency.

 

These include:

  • confidentiality, courtesy and advice on compliance
  • clear distinction between requirements and recommendations
  • statement of the legal basis for any requirements
  • information re appeal and complaints procedures

 

 


Environmental Protection Services

 

Environmental Protection Services has responsibility within the Glasgow City Council area for Building Control, Consumer and Trading Standards, Environmental Health, Cleansing and Scientific Services.


 

Food Safety - Hazard Analysis

 

Current legal requirements include that all food businesses take appropriate measures to set up a hazard analysis system ((Regulation 4(3) of the Food Safety (General Food Hygiene) Regulations 1995).


 

Inspections


All food premises in Glasgow are inspected according to a priority rating system at frequencies of 6 months, 1 year and 2 years according to the perceived risk, at which time the Hazard Analysis System is assessed.

A written report of inspection is issued to the proprietor of the food business after each inspection.


 

Compliance


The Food Safety Advice Team is available to assist food businesses in the development of hazard analysis systems.  

 

This is achieved by progression through a structured programme:

  • initially an assessment is undertaken to confirm whether or not assistance is necessary or appropriate
  • inappropriate premises would be any premises that already have a system in place whether multiple operators or individual premises 
  • in appropriate circumstances the proprietor of the business is invited to a free two-hour seminar when various materials including examples of documentation and records are issued. 
  • thereafter the premises are visited, by appointment, at a convenient time to the proprietor, to assess progress and give further advice and support 
  • weekly drop-in sessions are also available for one to one discussions should they be required


 

Enforcement

 

After this initial period of advice and assistance hazard analysis systems are assessed for implementation during routine inspections.

 

However should businesses either not wish or require assistance from the Hazard Analysis Group they will be assessed at the next inspection.

 

Formal action is only considered appropriate in certain circumstances as detailed in the Food Safety  Inspection Policy document:

 

 

 

  • failure to comply with an Improvement Notice
  • flagrant breach of the law
  • failure to correct a serious potential risk to public health
  • a food poisoning incident
  • history of similar offences

 

In general terms this is not the preferred action of the Department.


 

Advice

 

Advice on compliance is freely available, initially from the Hazard Analysis Group and thereafter from enforcement officers.  It is the responsibility of the proprietor of the food businesses to have a hazard analysis system in place and in some cases the proprietor may require to seek specialist advice from another external provider.  Some materials are also available in languages other than English.  Advice on the progression from Hazard Analysis to a full HACCP system is also available.


 

For further information and advice please contact:

 

Head of Food Safety

231 George Street

Glasgow

G1 1RX

 

Phone: 0141 287 6539/40

E-mail: food.safety@eps.glasgow.gov.uk

 

Office hours:

Monday - Thursday: 9.00am - 5.00pm                   
Friday: 9.00am - 4.00pm

 

 

Hazard Analysis Leaflet

 

This leaflet can be downloaded in PDF format.