THE FOOD SAFETY Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has said that a total of 109 enforcement orders were served in 2012 for breaches in food safety legislation. This represents a 30 percent increase on the 84 served in 2011 making last year the highest to date for the number of enforcement orders issued.

The FSAI today re-emphasised that it is unacceptable that some food businesses were “continuing to breach” food safety laws and warned all food businesses to place robust food safety management systems and hygiene practices top of their agenda or face the full rigors of the law.

In 2012, enforcement officers served 91 closure orders, three improvement orders and 15 prohibition orders on food businesses throughout the country. This compares with 66 closure orders, seven improvement orders and 11 prohibition orders issued in 2011.

During the month of December 2012, seven closure orders and one prohibition order were served on food businesses for breaches in food safety legislation pursuant to the FSAI Act, 1998 and the EC (Official Control of Foodstuffs) Regulations, 2010.

Closure orders were served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on:

• Cumann Baire Setanta Teoranta, Hurling and Camogie Club (public house), Beside Library, Ballymun Road, Dublin 11
• Kanum Thai Ltd (food stall), rear of 7 Bohernabreena Cottages, Tallaght, Dublin 24
• Pesce Grande (take away) (closed area: the rear food preparation kitchen), Main Street, Aughrim Village, Wicklow
• Mitsuba Limited, Premises occupied by Mitsuba Ltd (restaurant), 154 Parnell Street, Dublin 1

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

• Dynasty Chinese Restaurant & Take Away, Unit 9, College View, Ballymun Town Centre, Ballymun Road, Dublin 9
• J&V Rahara Farm Meats Ltd trading as May Kearneys (public house) (closed area: ground floor kitchen, food preparation, storage, cooking service and ancillary staff and wash up facilities – bar service areas not included in Closure Order), 10 Lifford Road Ennis, Clare
• The Anner Hotel (activity affected by the Closure Order: ceasing use of current water supply for drinking and culinary purposes), Dublin Road, Thurles, Tipperary

A prohibition order was served on:

• Dynasty Chinese Restaurant & Take Away, Unit 9, College View, Ballymun Town Centre, Ballymun Road, Dublin 9

During the month of December two successful prosecutions were carried out by the Health Service Executive on:

• Fat Kats (take away), Pugin Court, St Michaels Road, Gorey, Wexford
• Golden Mill Chinese Restaurant, Sarsfield Street, Kilmallock, Limerick

Commenting on the annual figures, Chief Executive of the FSAI, Professor Alan Reilly said the increase is “extremely disappointing”.

Reilly stated that consumers must be confident that the food they are eating is safe to consume and that the FSAI and the food safety inspectors will continue to take a zero tolerance policy to breaches of food safety legislation.

He said the FSAI is urging food businesses to take full advantage of the information and support provided by the FSAI and the food safety inspectors to ensure that they have the correct food safety management systems in place. If any food business operator is unsure of what is required of them by law, they can contact the FSAI advice line on 1890 336677 or visit its website www.fsai.ie or Facebook page.

Related: October highest month in 10 years for enforcement orders>
Read: Organisations honoured for putting food safety first>

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