Food Control
The responsibility for food safety enforcement falls largely to two organisations, namely the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) and the 26 Councils across Northern Ireland. DARD has responsibility for primary production including farms, slaughterhouses and large manufacturers of certain foodstuffs, such as meat and milk. Councils have responsibility for virtually all other safety aspects of food production, including meat products, meat preparations, dairy products, fishery products as well as total responsibility for the composition and labelling of foodstuffs.
Councils currently carry out their statutory responsibilities in the area of food control through the Environmental Health Service. Authorised officers carry out a programme of planned inspections of all food premises over which they have jurisdiction as well as providing advice on both a proactive and reactive basis. In carrying out the food function, EHOs enforce the requirements of the Food Safety (NI) Order 1991 and associated regulations dealing with standards of hygiene and the composition and labelling of food.
EHOs also investigate consumer complaints in relation to food, including suspected food poisoning outbreaks. The Environmental Health Department carries out a planned food-sampling programme, which covers both microbiological safety and compositional standards.
The aim of this area of work is to ensure the protection of consumers in Dungannon and South Tyrone by promoting and maintaining high standards of safety and quality within the food manufacturing, catering and retail businesses.
In working to achieve this aim, the following roles are undertaken:
- Planned inspections of all food businesses within the Borough area
- Sampling of food products for microbiological examination and compositional analysis
- Investigation of consumer complaints relating to unsatisfactory food or food premises
- Investigation of incidences of food poisoning and alleged food poisoning
- Provide advice to new food businesses opening in the Borough area
Click here for Food Safety Enforcement Policy
Click here for Food Standards Enforcement Policy
Contact for information:
Environmental Health Office
Telephone: 028 87720367
Fax: 028 87720368
E-mail: environmental.health@dungannon.gov.uk
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