Environmental health officers carried out more than 800 inspections of food premises last year in response to complaints.

There are 1,321 food businesses registered with the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture. Last year, there were 170 routine inspections, plus a further 846 visits ’associated with complaints’.

A risk-based system is used to schedule visits by environmental health officers. The programme follows guidance in the European Union and UK Food Standards Agency Codes of Practice.

After the initial inspection, a risk score is created to determine the frequency of future visits, a DEFA representative confirmed.

Risk’-based inspections typically range from six-monthly to five-yearly,’ said the representative, in a written response to Legislative Council questions by Bill Henderson.

’Occasionally premises are visited more frequently due to customer complaint and industry initiatives, such as national food alerts.

’The type of food business operation determines the frequency of inspection. For instance, butchers’ shops selling raw and cooked products are considered a high-risk premises whereas a sweet shop selling wrapped confectionery is low risk.’

Scheduled inspections are carried out to ensure premises are operating safely and comply with hygiene laws.

All premises used as a food business must be registered with DEFA and receive a visit when an application for registration is received.

The requirements also apply to traders visiting the island, for instance for the TT.

Food businesses include ’any premises used to produce, prepare, store, distribute and sell food’.

Environmental health officers give hygiene training to about 180 food sector employees each year.