On 1st October 2010 Neath Port Talbot Council’s Environmental Health Department joined the National Food Hygiene Rating Scheme in partnership with the Food Standards Agency.
Council Leader Ali Thomas said, “We would encourage local businesses to display their hygiene scores as it is this transparency that will be popular with customers. It is also an opportunity for food businesses who practice good standards to positively promote themselves”.
Huw Jones, Environmental Health Manager added, “Qualified officers inspect food premises throughout the County Borough on a regular basis and we are committed to ensure food businesses improve standards of hygiene.
This is done by education, advice, written warnings, formal notices, closure of the business and sometimes prosecution. Any premises found to have serious breaches of hygiene regulations are dealt with immediately”.
The new scheme will apply to all businesses who provide food to the public from sweet shops to hospitals. As part of the new system, individual hygiene ratings will be made public on a national website and food premises will be expected to display their ratings.
