Food safety - regulations
Approval of food premises
We are required to inspect and approve
any premises defined as products of animal origin such as meat,
dairy, egg or fish product plants under EC legislation. We have
around 20 of these premises in Rochdale which require in-depth
inspections and detailed record keeping. These include
manufacturers and wholesale businesses which rewrap food and also
some cold stores. The Regulations do not apply to catering or
retail applications.
Food premises approved under these regulations
must meet more stringent requirements than other food premises as
they usually involve more high risk operations.
This includes a written food safety management
plan to ensure the the food business operator is controlling risks
at identified critical control points.
All food premises producing products of animal
origin such as meat, milk or fish products are required to be
approved unless exempted. Further information on the
Regulations is available on the Food Standards Agency
website. Exemptions are detailed in the Food Law Practice
Guidance (England) and are based on the premises being retail or
supplying other retailers on a marginal, localised and restricted
basis. For further clarification contact the Food Safety Team.
Food Standards Agency
How do I apply?
If you wish to apply for approval under the
above regulations please contact the Food Safety Team or fill in
the application form below.
Food Safety
Approval Application Form (181kb Word file)
Managing Food Safety - Introducing Safer Food Better
Business
If you run a food business, recent changes in the law mean you
must have a documented food safety management system saying how you
will make sure the food you handle is safe for others to eat.
Many large food businesses will already have such a system
in place such as 'Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point' system
(HACCP); however they can be difficult for small businesses to put
together.
Caterers
To help, a new pack has been developed by the Food Standards
Agency (FSA). Principally aimed at restaurants, cafes and
takeaways it is designed to make creating your own food safety
management system easy. Called Safer Food Better Business
(SFBB). The pack is free and you can pick up a copy by
calling 0845 606 0667 or visit the Food Standards Agency
website.
SFBB advice for caterers
SFBB is a new approach which offers simple, easy to use
practical guidance. Using the pack will help you to:-
- Comply with the new regulations
- Show what you do to make sure food is safe
- Train staff
- Protect your reputation
The pack contains safe method sheets on :-
- cross contamination
- cleaning
- chilling
- cooking
- management
There is also a daily diary for completion by the
Manager/owner
Different Cuisines
SFBB has been adapted for businesses such as restaurants and
takeaways that serve either Chinese cuisine or Indian, Pakistani,
Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan cuisines.
By using the following link, you can download just those safe
methods that are different to SFBB for caterers.
SFBB advice for different cuisines
Retailers
The SFBB pack has also been developed to help retail businesses
across the UK comply with new regulations introduced in January
2006. It is ideal for small retail businesses that sell food,
including any food that needs to be kept cold to keep it safe, such
as milk. These include small convenience stores, 'corner
shops' and confectioners, tobacconists and newsagents.
SFBB advice for retailers
For further advice on how to introduce the SFBB packs contact
the Food Safety Team.
Rochdale Council provide Food Hygiene
Update Courses which includes training on SFBB.
We provide a list of trainers that
may provide training/consultancy on implementing a food safety
management system.