THERE WAS A 31 per cent increase in the number of food safety enforcement orders issued in Ireland last year.

In total, there were 143 orders served on businesses for breaches in food safety legislation in 2013.

This is compared with 109 in 2012,  making last year the highest to date for the number of enforcement orders issued.

Unacceptable

The FSAI today said that it is “unacceptable that some food businesses were continuing to breach food safety laws”. It has warned that all food businesses must place robust food safety management systems top of their agenda “or face the full rigors of the law”.

The authority’s enforcement officers will continue to take a zero tolerance policy to breaches of food safety legislation, it said.

Between 1 January and 31 December 2013, enforcement officers served 119 closure orders, four improvement orders and 20 prohibition orders on food businesses throughout the country.

This compares with 91 closure orders, three improvement orders and 15 prohibition orders issued in 2012.

December 2013

Last month, 11 closure orders were served on food businesses.

Three closure orders were served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on:

• Aneta Dabrowska (meat and meat products): smokinghouse area only, Ednamo, Inniskeen, Monaghan
• Cronin’s Butchers (closed area: food preparation room on first floor): Strand Street, Kanturk, Cork
• Lithuanica (grocery) (the store room of the premises): Unit 4, Edgeworthstown Retail Park, Edgeworthstown, Longford

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

• Spice Heaven Indian Takeaway, Unit 9A, Porters Avenue, Coolmine Industrial Estate, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15
• Indian Taste (take-away), 43 St. Mary’s Terrace, Ballybough Road, Dublin 3
• China Garden (take-away), 8 Stockwell Street, Drogheda, Louth
• Fusion Café, 109 North Main Street, Wexford
• Conefrey’s Pub (food store/preparation room at the rear of pub), Main Street, Edgeworthstown, Longford (two closure orders were served on this premises)
• China Town (take-away), Main Street, Castlebellingham, Louth
• Market Kitchen (restaurant), Market Street, Swinford, Mayo

Also in December, the HSE successfully prosecuted Swilly Meats Limited, a butcher on Pearse Road, Letterkenny, Donegal for breaches of food additives legislation.

Prof Alan Reilly, Chief Executive of the FSAI said that it is “extremely disappointing” that there is a significant year-on-year increase in the number of enforcement orders needing to be served.

He said that it “serves as an unfortunate reminder that some food businesses continue to put their customer’s health at risk by not complying with their legal obligations of food safety and hygiene”.

Over the last five years, there has been a five per cent increase in the number of food businesses established and the FSAI offes a number of supports for such businesses.

The FSAI advice line is 1890 336677 and its website is www.fsai.ie.

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