Food hygiene law in Wales

Wales has introduced a law, which will take effect on Thursday, that will force outlets to prominently display food hygiene ratings.

12:07 28 November 2013

Wales has introduced food hygiene law that will take effect on Thursday. This will force outlets, which are rated based on how they prepare, cook, and store food, to prominently display their food hygiene ratings. For the next 18 months, supermarkets, takeaways, and restaurants are expected to display 0-5 ratings.

Health Minister Mark Drakeford said that with this scheme, customers could now make “informed decisions” about where to eat or buy food.

"People want to know that the places where they are buying or eating their food are hygienic and safe," he said.

"It is not easy to judge hygiene standards on appearance alone, so the rating gives people information of the hygiene practices in the kitchen.

"The new scheme is also good for business in that establishments given higher ratings could see an increase in their trade.”

But the FSB in Wales are concerned about untimely re-inspection.

Spokesman Rhodri Evans said: "There are always going to be those businesses who feel they've been unfairly inspected and want recourse to a rating that they feel reflects the true nature of their business.

"But there are also those businesses that have addressed issues raised by inspectors and have put things right, and we should be rewarding businesses for doing that.

"A failure to provide timely re-inspections is in danger of undermining the scheme and stands in the way of its ultimate aim, which must be to drive up standards for Welsh consumers."