All food businesses are inspected according to a national system of priority rating.

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
• a clear distinction between requirements and recommendations
• a 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 Hygiene Inspection of Premises

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.

Reports of Inspection

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

Additional Inspections

Additional inspections are undertaken:

• in response to complaints
• for licensing purposes
• for routine sampling of food and drink

Compliance

Inspections are undertaken to assist business in complying with the Food Safety Act 1990, and relevant Regulations.

Where an Officer is confident that prompt compliance will be secured an informal letter will be sent confirming the points identified and/or agreed during the inspection.

In some cases formal action may be necessary and, normally this would involve the issue of an Improvement Notice detailing the action required within a specified time period.

Service of Improvement Notices

Improvement Notices will be issued if it is considered necessary to secure compliance with the Law.

Closure of Premises

Closure of premises or the prohibition of the use of equipment or processes by the use of Emergency Prohibition procedures is only contemplated in circumstances which are regarded as potentially serious.

Prosecution

Prosecution is only considered appropriate in cases such as:

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

In general terms prosecution is not the preferred action of the Service.

Advice

Advice on compliance is available free of charge, however the proprietor of the business will, in the end,  require to decide how to resolve problems in the way most appropriate and practical to his/her particular business.  In some cases the proprietor may require to seek specialist advice from another external provider.

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

Food Hygeine Inspection Leaflet