Food safety regulations
Food safety legislation places an obligation on food business
operators to ensure that all their activities are carried out in a
hygienic way and makes it an offence to supply food which is unsafe
or harmful to human health. This applies to all premises that
provide food, whether money is exchanged or not.
The food safety team is responsible for ensuring that businesses
comply with these requirements under the Food Safety Act 1990 and
Food Hygiene (England) Regulations 2006. They deal with
hygiene except at primary production (farms), where Trading
Standards and other bodies have responsibility.
Food safety
The council sets the following standards for food.
We aim to ensure that:
- food businesses are registered
- food is correctly labelled and described and meets quality
standards
- manufacturers and retailers of food are regularly
inspected
- restaurants and other food premises meet strict hygiene
standards
- food is safe to eat
The food safety team is responsible for the inspection of food
retailers and providers in the borough. They ensure that the
food hygiene and quality being made available in premises meets
legal requirements. It is also responsible for ensuring food
is correctly labelled and compositional standards are met.
All premises registered with the council are inspected on a
priority basis according to risk. New premises should register with
the council so that an initial visit can be carried out and advice
given. They also deal with any health and safety issues in
food premises.
If you are a retailer seeking advice about how to handle food or
you have a food safety issue you wish to tell the council about
details are below.
Copies of the Food Safety Act 1990 and Food Hygiene (England)
Regulations 2006 can be obtained from Office of Public Sector
Information (opens in new window), or a copy can be
inspected at the council offices where you may also obtain further
help or advice.
For further information contact:
Environmental Health Commercial Team –
Food
Mulberry Place (AH)
PO Box 55739
5 Clove Crescent
London E14 1BY
Open: 9am to 5pm on Monday to Friday
Tel: 020 7364 5008
Fax: 020 7364 6901
Email: foodsafety@towerhamlets.gov.uk
View the Council’s Annual Food Law
Enforcement Service Plan 2009-10 (Pdf 745k)