Breaches of Food Safety Legislation Among Irish Businesses Increased by 19 Percent in 2023
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The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) issued 92 enforcement orders to businesses for breaches of food safety legislation in 2023, an increase of 19 percent from the 77 enforcement orders served in 2022. FSAI expressed disappointment at the increase, and reminded food businesses of the importance of training staff on proper food safety protocol.
The enforcement orders issued in 2023 included 76 closure orders, 3 improvement orders and 13 prohibition orders, resulting in 6 prosecutions. Recurring issues of food safety negligence identified in food businesses resulted in the enforcement orders being issued, including inadequate food storage with the risk of contamination; a lack of pest control procedures such as monitoring and pest proofing; inadequate temperature control in food storage, preparation, and distribution; and insufficient staff training in food safety, personal hygiene, and record keeping.
Inspections that led to the enforcement orders were conducted by Environmental Health Officers in the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), local authority veterinary inspectors, Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority officers, and FSAI officers.
Details of food businesses served with enforcement orders are published on FSAI’s website. Closure orders and improvement orders remain listed in enforcement reports on the website for a period of three months from the date of when a premises is decided to have corrected its food safety issue, with prohibition orders being listed for a period of one month from the date the order was lifted.
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