Moving to the national ‘Food Hygiene Rating Scheme’ in Torridge from the local Traffic Light scheme Daryl Littlejohns Food and Safety Team  :

What will this presentation cover? What is the national ‘Food Hygiene Rating Scheme’? How and why was the scheme developed and what progress has been made in rolling it out? Why should Torridge migrate to the national scheme? How is the Food Standards Agency supporting local authorities operating the scheme? What are the benefits to local consumers and local businesses? What are the resource implications for the Food Safety Team?

What is the national ‘Food Hygiene Rating Scheme’? A local authority/Food Standards Agency partnership initiative for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It will help consumers choose where to eat out or shop for food by giving them information about the hygiene standards in food premises at the time they are inspected - the power of consumer choice will encourage businesses to improve their standards. The overarching aim is to reduce the incidence of foodborne illness and the associated costs to the economy.

What is the national ‘Food Hygiene Rating Scheme’? Standards found at the time of inspection are rated on a numerical scale from ‘0’ at the bottom to ‘5’ at the top. Simple words are used to describe each rating. Ratings are given to places where consumers eat out, e.g. restaurants, takeaways etc. Ratings are given to places where consumers shop for food, e.g. supermarkets, bakeries etc.

Consumers can look up ratings at food.gov.uk/ratings. Businesses will be encouraged to display stickers and certificates showing their rating at their premises in places where consumers can easily see them. What is the national ‘Food Hygiene Rating Scheme’?

How was the scheme developed? The scheme was developed collaboratively through a Steering Group involving local authorities, Local Government Regulation, the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, consumers, the food industry, the Better Regulation Executive and the Local Better Regulation Office. The distinctive green & black scheme branding is based on the findings of research with consumers about what they find easiest to understand and use. The FSA has an on-going programme for developing the IT platform set up for publishing ratings to ensure that it has the functionality needed by local authorities and is as easy as possible for consumers to use.

How was the scheme developed?

What progress is being made in rolling the scheme out? The scheme was launched formally in November 2010 at Bluewater at an event organised jointly by Dartford Borough Council and the FSA. Increasing numbers of local authorities, including many running their own ‘local’ scheme, are committing to it - by the end of June, it is anticipated that around 170 will be operating it in their areas. The scheme is backed by the Government and the aim is that it will be up and running in all authorities in readiness for the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics.

Although the Traffic Light Scheme has been successful, there are additional benefits of operating the national model. The scheme will be supported and promoted by the Food Standards Agency. Having a single scheme in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will help ensure consistency for businesses and clarity for consumers across local authority boundaries. It will avoid the proliferation of different schemes like ours and the potential confusion this can cause. Why should Torridge migrate to the national scheme?

Proliferation of local schemes

How is the Food Standards Agency supporting local authorities operating the scheme? Free IT platform (with helpdesk support) for publishing ratings. Certificates and stickers for businesses. Grant funding for local authorities adopting the scheme in 2011/12. Consistency training for local authority food safety officers. ‘Brand Standard’ on implementation & operation of the scheme. Communications Toolkit. Template materials for use with businesses and consumers. Support for local promotion and national promotional activities.

For consumers, the national promotional activities will raise awareness and understanding of food hygiene ratings and will help them to use the scheme, and they will be able to easily compare one business with another not just within their own area but also more widely. For businesses, they will have reassurance that they are being treated fairly and consistently with their local competitors and with competitors more widely All businesses, no matter the size or nature of their operation, will be able to achieve the top rating. What are the benefits to local consumers and local businesses?

Scheme based around the planned food hygiene intervention programme in order to minimise any burdens. Food Standards Agency support means that set-up and on- going costs are minimised. Main impact from businesses requesting a new rating when improvements have been made, as re-rating visits can be outside the planned intervention programme. The mechanism has been designed to minimise the impact of this and the Agency is committed to keeping this under close review to ensure that it does not compromise public health protection. What are the resource implications for the Food Safety Team?

Further information and questions? Further Information: - from Food Safety Team - Daryl Littlejohns on Food Standards Agency website at: