Introducing the national ‘Food Hygiene Rating Scheme’ in [name of local authority]

1. Introducing the national ‘Food Hygiene Rating Scheme’ in [name of local authority] [EH Team member] [Local Authority name] [Local Authority address] : [relevant telephone number] Email: [relevant email address] [Meeting details]

2. What will this presentation cover? • What is the national ‘Food Hygiene Rating Scheme’? • How was the scheme developed and what progress is being made in rolling it out? • Why should [name of local authority] introduce the national scheme? • How is the Food Standards Agency supporting local authorities operating the scheme? • What are the benefits to local consumers and local businesses? • What are the resource implications for the Food Safety Team?

3. What is the national ‘Food Hygiene Rating Scheme’? • A local authority/Food Standards Agency partnership initiative for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. • Helps consumers choose where to eat out or shop for food by giving them information about the hygiene standards in food premises at the time they are inspected - the power of consumer choice will encourage businesses to improve their standards. • The overarching aim is to reduce the incidence of foodborne illness and the associated costs to the economy.

4. What is the national ‘Food Hygiene Rating Scheme’? • Standards found at the time of inspection are rated on a numerical scale from ‘0’ at the bottom to ‘5’ at the top. • Simple words are used to describe each rating. • Ratings are given to places where consumers eat out, e.g. restaurants, takeaways etc. • Ratings are given to places where consumers shop for food, e.g. supermarkets, bakeries etc.

5. What is the national ‘Food Hygiene Rating Scheme’? • Consumers can look up ratings at food.gov.uk/ratings. • Businesses will be encouraged to display stickers and certificates showing their rating at their premises in places where consumers can easily see them.

6. How was the scheme developed? • The scheme was developed collaboratively through a Steering Group involving local authorities, the Local Government Group, the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, consumers, the food industry, the Better Regulation Executive and the Local Better Regulation Office. • The distinctive green & black branding is based on the findings of research with consumers about what they find easiest to understand and use. • The FSA has an on-going programme for developing the IT for publishing ratings to ensure that it has the functionality needed by local authorities and is easy for consumers to use.

7. How was the scheme developed?

8. How was the scheme developed?

10. What progress is being made in rolling the scheme out? • The scheme was launched formally in November 2010 at Bluewater Shopping Centre. • Increasing numbers of local authorities are adopting the scheme - by summer 2012, it is anticipated that 95% will be committed to it. • The scheme is backed by the Government and the aim is that it will be up and running in readiness for the 2012 Olympics & Paralympics.

11. Why should [name of local authority] introduce the national scheme? • Local authorities operating ‘local’ food hygiene rating schemes have found then to be successful in encouraging businesses in their areas to improve hygiene standards. • The national scheme aims to build on this and to contribute to reducing the incidence of food-borne illness. • Having a single scheme in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will help ensure consistency for businesses and clarity for consumers across local authority boundaries. • It will avoid the proliferation of different schemes and the potential confusion this can cause.

12. Proliferation of local schemes

13. How is the Food Standards Agency supporting local authorities operating the scheme? • Free IT platform (with helpdesk support) for publishing ratings. • Certificates and stickers for businesses. • Grant funding for pre-launch activities. • Priorities Fund. • Consistency training for local authority food safety officers. • ‘Brand Standard’ on implementation & operation of the scheme. • Communications Toolkit. • Template materials for use with businesses and consumers. • Support for local promotion and national promotional activities.

14. What are the benefits to local consumers and local businesses? • The scheme will help consumers make informed choices about where to eat out or shop for food and they will be able to easily compare one business with another within their own area and more widely. • The scheme will provide businesses with an incentive to improve standards and do better than their competitors – good food hygiene ratings will be good for business whilst poor food hygiene ratings may make their customers think twice. • Businesses across the country will be rated consistently so ensuring that they are compared fairly.

15. What are the resource implications for the Food Safety Team? • Scheme based around the planned food hygiene intervention programme in order to minimise any burdens. • Food Standards Agency support means that set-up and on-going costs are minimised. • Main impact from businesses requesting a new rating when improvements have been made, as re-rating visits can be outside the planned intervention programme. • The Priorities Fund provides insurance and if evidence emerges that planned intervention programmes are being compromised, the FSA will ask the Steering Group to consider again the way that the safeguard operates.

16. Further information and questions? • Further Information: • from Food Safety Team [Officer’s name and telephone number] • on Food Standards Agency website at: www.food.gov.uk/hygieneratings