Yes, with free advice about the application of the law to your
business.
The Food Standards Agency also provides useful information
and advice on starting a food business at
http://www.food.gov.uk/enforcement/applicense/startingup/startingup.
In addition you may find the webpage Business
Advice - Setting Up and Running a Business helpful.
Visit the Council's Planning
Services web page for advice and information.
Visit the street
trading web page for advice and information from the
Council's Licensing Services.
Email food_trading_standards@bathnes.gov.uk
to make contact with a member of the food team to discuss your
proposals and perhaps arrange a site visit for free advice.
Food handlers must receive appropriate supervision and be
instructed and/or trained in food hygiene to enable them to handle
food safely. Those responsible for developing and maintaining
the business's food safety procedures, based on HACCP principles, must have received adequate
training. The requirements for training should be seen in the
context of the nature and size of the business. There is no
legal requirement to attend a formal training course or get a
qualification, although many businesses may want their staff to do
so. The necessary skills may also be obtained in other ways,
such as through on-the-job training, self-study or relevant prior
experience. The operator of the food business is responsible
for ensuring this happens.
See the Council's Training web
page for a list of trainers and advice on online training.
Visit the Council's Planning
Services web page for advice and information.
Visit the Food Standards Agency (FSA) website for advice and
information at http://www.food.gov.uk/foodindustry/regulation/foodlaw/
Visit the Council's "
Register Your Food Business" page for advice and
information.
HACCP stands for 'Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point'.
It is an internationally recognised and recommended system of
food safety management. It focuses on identifying the
'critical points' in a process where food safety problems (or
'hazards') could arise and putting steps in place to prevent things
going wrong. This is sometimes referred to as 'controlling
hazards'. Keeping records is also an important part of HACCP
systems.
Catering businesses will need to have a food safety management
system based on the principles of HACCP. They are already
required to produce food that is safe to eat, but the new
regulations say that catering businesses must be able to show what
they do to make food safely - and have this written down.
The type of system they need will depend on the size and type of
business. Many small catering businesses will only need a
simple system.
Packs will be available to small catering businesses throughout
the UK via their local authorities. These have been produced
by the FSA in England.
Catering businesses do not have to use any particular pack or
model, but they must make sure they have a food safety management
system that is suitable for their business. Some businesses
will already have a suitable system, so they will not need to
introduce a new one.
England - 'Safer Food, Better Business', an
innovative and practical approach to food safety management, has
been developed by the FSA in partnership with small catering
businesses and more than 50 local authorities. If you would
like to order a hard copy of 'Safer Food, Better Business' call
0845 606 0667 or email foodstandards@ecgroup.uk.com
Safer Food, Better Business (SFBB) is an innovative and
practical approach to food safety management. It has been
developed to help small businesses put in place food safety
management procedures and comply with food hygiene regulations.
There are a number of SFBB packs available which are designed to
meet the specific needs of different food businesses. There
are packs for small catering businesses, small retail businesses
and restaurants and takeaways that serve different cuisines, such
as Chinese or Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan
cuisines.
To accompany the SFBB packs a DVD guide, available in 16
different languages, has been produced to help food businesses
implement SFBB and train staff on SFBB. An online version of
the DVD is currently being developed and will be available
soon.
If you would like to order an SFBB pack or the DVD guide call
Food Standards Agency Publications on 0845 606 0667 or email
foodstandards@ecgroup.co.uk.
Alternatively contact the Council's Food Team on 01225
477508 or email food_trading_standards@bathnes.gov.uk
