SIX CLOSURE ORDERS were served to businesses across the country last month for breaching food safety rules.

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) said that six closure orders and one prohibition order were served on food businesses during the month of March for breaches of food safety legislation, pursuant to the FSAI Act, 1998 and the EC (Official Control of Foodstuffs) Regulations, 2010.

Three closure orders were served to:

• Lebanese Tapas (restaurant/café), 21-22 Blackrock Market, Blackrock, Co Dublin
• China Tower (restaurant/café), Main Street, Ballybofey, Co Donegal
• Gunnings (grocery), Rathconrath, Co Westmeath.

Three closure orders were served under the EC (Official Control of Foodstuffs) Regulations, 2010 on:

• Hailan Asian Cuisine Restaurant, 2 Mahers Terrace, Main Street, Dundrum
• Plaza Inn (take away) 7 Sundrive Road, Dublin 12
• Indiana (restaurant/café), 22 Main Street, Gorey, Co Wexford.

One prohibition order was served to Rene Cusack Ltd (fish processing), The Food Centre, Raheen Industrial Estate, Raheen in Limerick.

In March, a successful prosecution was carried out by the HSE in relation to Cliffords Bar a public house in Crookstown, Cork.

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Commenting on the enforcement orders served last month, Dr Pamela Byrne, Chief Executive of the FSAI said that all food businesses must comply with food safety legislation in order to protect consumers’ health.

“The legal responsibility for producing food that is safe to eat rests with food businesses. Enforcement Orders and most especially Closure Orders and Prohibition Orders are served on food businesses only when a serious risk to consumer health has been identified or where there are a number of ongoing serious breaches of food legislation.

Enforcement Orders are not served for minor breaches. Food inspectors have a range of other powers that they can use to deal with minor breaches.

More information can be read on the FSAI’s website.

Read: What does a ‘closure order’ mean for a restaurant?

Read: Ireland’s dirtiest restaurants and takeaways: Here’s where they are