www.food.gov.
uk
www.eatwell.gov.uk
Clicia ar ‘Cymraeg’
25th August 2010 Reference: Progress Update 7
Dear Sir/ Madam,
Food Hygiene Rating Scheme – the national approach
Please find enclosed the latest update on progress towards the introduction of the
national Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS) for Wales, England and Northern
Ireland. The update will also be published on our website and I should be grateful if
you would draw it to the attention of relevant colleagues. The implementation date of
1st October agreed by the Wales Implementation Group is close and I am looking
forward to the scheme being up and running.
The agreement earlier in the summer of guidance on consistency measures marks
the completion of the work by the UK-wide Steering Group on the underpinning
framework for the scheme. This is a major achievement for the Group and we
believe that this framework provides a legally robust and sustainable scheme.
The branding for the scheme has also been agreed and we are extremely pleased
with the look and feel that this gives. It reflects the findings of independent research
with consumers and we believe provides the best means of making it easy for
consumers to understand and use food hygiene ratings.
Our work now is focusing on drawing up guidance on use of the FHRS branding, on
data requirements, and on the formal „sign up‟ process for participating local
authorities - we aim to finalise this guidance at the end of the month. Development
of the IT platform continues and we are now in the testing phase with the system
scheduled to go live in mid-September.
We remain conscious that the success of the scheme depends on local authority
participation and we are continuing to add to the support package for them. We
have updated resource materials, we are developing a „Communications Toolkit‟ and
we have launched a second round of grant funding for „early adopters‟.
The scheme is a key element for the Agency in meeting its strategic objective to
improve food safety and we would like to re-emphasise our commitment to it- not
__________________________________________
Asiantaeth Safonau Bwyd, Llawr 11, Tŷ Southgate, Wood Street, Caerdydd CF10 1EW
Food Standards Agency, 11th Floor, Southgate House, Wood Street, Cardiff CF10 1EW
Ffôn / Tel: +44 (0)29 2067 8957 Ffacs / Fax: +44 (0)29 2067 8918
E-bost / E-mail: [email protected]
just now in getting it set up but also in the future and working in partnership with
local authorities and with the food industry to ensure its long term success.
If you have any questions about any of these issues, please get in touch with a
member of the General Enforcement Team. Our contact details are given at the end
of this update.
Yours sincerely
Rob Wilkins
Arweinydd Tîm, Gorfodi Cyffredinol / Team Leader, General Enforcement
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FOOD HYGIEENE RATING SCHEME: PROGRESS UPDATE 7 (AUGUST 2010)
Introduction
1. Progress on the development of the national Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS)
has continued apace since Update 6 in late February. We now have a name for the scheme
and we have agreed the symbols and descriptors that will be used for the different ratings
as well as all the elements of the underpinning framework. We are now working on the final
areas of guidance needed for participating local authorities, we are testing the IT platform,
we are adding to the local authority support package and we are providing a further round of
grant funding for „early adopters‟.
2. We are on schedule for implementation of the FHRS in Wales in the autumn and are
very much looking forward to working with „early adopters‟ to help ensure these go
smoothly. We are impressed with the enthusiasm of these „early adopters‟ for getting the
scheme up and running – see what they are saying at para 19. The scheme is a key
element for the Agency in meeting its strategic objective to improve food safety and we
would like to re-emphasise our commitment to it – not just now in getting it set up but also in
the future and working in partnership with local authorities and with the food industry to
ensure its long term success.
FHRS Branding
3. The branding that has been designed for the scheme is based in the findings of
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independent research with consumers. This was qualitative research that was designed to
gain a thorough understanding of consumer opinion. The main findings showed that
consumers preferred the name of the initiative to say exactly what it does and that they liked
the ratings shown on a simple numeric scale with associated descriptors. In light of this,
and taking account of the views of the UK-wide Steering Group, it has been decided that the
national scheme will be called the „Food Hygiene Rating Scheme‟ and that the tiers will be
represented as shown below.
Rating 0 1 2 3 4 5
Descriptor Urgent Major Improvement Generally Good Very
improvement improvement necessary satisfactory Good
necessary necessary
4. Branding for the scheme in the form of logos, certificates and stickers etc. (both
English and bilingual Welsh/English versions) has been developed to reflect these
decisions. The full range of materials is being published on our website at the link below but
some examples are appended. Guidance on use of the branding is being developed – see
para 9 below.
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The report of this research is published at: http://www.food.gov.uk/news/newsarchive/2010/jun/research
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http://www.food.gov.uk/safereating/hyg/scoresonthedoors/hygienescoresresources/
5. Certificates - These will be generated from the IT platform or the local authority‟s
own Information Management System and printed onto branded template paper and will
include the logos of both the Agency and the local authority.
6. Stickers – Two options will be available:
Option 1 - these show the Agency‟s logo and include a statement „this scheme is operated
in partnership with your local authority; and
Option 2 – these show the Agency‟s logo and have a space for the local authority logo.
7. The Agency will cover the costs of certificate template paper and, subject to gaining
Cabinet Office approval (required given current spending restrictions), proposes to also
cover the costs of Option 1 stickers and part cover costs for Option 2 stickers. Information
about how to obtain/order materials will be made available as soon as plans have been
confirmed.
Guidance on implementation and operation of the scheme.
8. The UK-wide Steering Group has continued its work on developing guidance on
implementation and operation of the scheme. In June, the Group endorsed guidance on
establishing and operating a consistency framework. This provides local authorities with
the flexibility to base their consistency framework on existing mechanisms. The Guidance is
published on our website at the link below. This marks completion of work on the
underpinning framework for the scheme and is a major achievement for the Steering Group.
http://www.food.gov.uk/enforcement/enfcomm/scoresdoorssteeringgroup/sotdguidance/.
9. The Group is now considering proposals for guidance on use of FHRS branding
and on use of the national database/public-facing website. This is needed to ensure that
the credibility and integrity of the scheme is maintained and to safeguard the reputations of
the scheme‟s partners – the Agency, participating local authorities and businesses covered
by the scheme. The Steering Group is also considering revised proposals on the process
for formal ‘sign up’ to the scheme. This will be based on an agreement between the
Agency and each participating local authority that will set out their respective responsibilities.
The three sets of proposals being considered by the Steering Group are available at:
http://www.food.gov.uk/safereating/hyg/scoresonthedoors/hygienescoresresources/
10. Once these proposals are finalised, the guidance on all aspects of the scheme will
be drawn together in one single consolidated guidance document. This consolidated
guidance will, in effect, constitute the „brand standard‟ ‟for the FHRS. This is scheduled to
be issued in mid-September.
11. The question of charging for re-inspections/re-visits is still being considered
within the Agency. It is anticipated that the matter will be discussed further by the Steering
Group at its September meeting and stakeholders will be kept up-to-date with the position
on this.
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IT platform
12. Development of the IT platform (which comprises a local authority portal, a central
database and a public-facing website) is well underway and User Acceptance Testing and
consumer testing is scheduled to take place in the second half of August. The
development work has been informed by the discussions held with the Local Authority IT
Advisory Group which met in April and June.2 Members of this Group are also assisting with
system testing in the first half of September. The system is scheduled to go live in mid
September in time for „early adopters‟ to start roll out the scheme in their areas in the
autumn.
13. Guidance on FHRS data requirements will be included in the consolidated guidance
document on all aspects of the scheme – see paras 9 and 10 above. Separate user
documentation for local authorities covering technical issues and practical aspects of using
the IT platform is being prepared.
Local authority support
14. Grant funding for ‘early adopters’ - The Agency announced a second round of
grant funding for local authorities intending to be „early adopters‟ of the FHRS. This
followed the success of the funding scheme run earlier this year and was in response to the
feedback received from local authorities about the type of support they need. The funding is
being provided to support „start up activities that will be key to a successful launch or roll out
of the scheme and is for projects taking place between 1 October 2010 and 31 March 2011.
Local authorities must apply by Friday 27 August 2010, but earlier applications would be
welcome. Full details are available at:
http://www.food.gov.uk/news/newsarchive/2010/jul/lagrants
15. Consistency training – The Agency is organising and funding a programme of
consistency training for local authorities based on guidance developed by the SotD Steering
Group on application of Annex 5 of the Code of Practice. Pilot courses took place earlier
this year and the training material will be amended to take account of the feedback we
received. The training is for all local authorities in Wales, England and Northern Ireland. I
am pleased to inform you that three regional courses have been arranged for Wales and
delegates‟ names are currently being forwarded to us.
16. Resource materials - The Agency has developed a number of resource materials to
help local authorities that intend to adopt the national scheme. We are updating these to
reflect the progress that has been made on development of the scheme and the decisions
that have been made on the name and on the symbols and descriptors etc. The materials
include template briefings and presentations for informing elected members about the
national scheme, and template letters and presentations for businesses telling them that the
scheme is coming. The materials are on the website at the following link:
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The agenda and papers for these meetings and the minutes/draft minutes are on our website at:
http://www.food.gov.uk/enforcement/enfcomm/scoresdoorssteeringgroup/sotdlaitag/laitagmeet/
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http://www.food.gov.uk/safereating/hyg/scoresonthedoors/hygienescoresresources/
17. Communications Toolkit – The Agency‟s Communications Team is currently
developing this. It will include materials to help local authorities promote the FHRS locally
such as template press releases. It will also provide advice and guidance on building
partnerships with local organisations and bodies that will help promote the scheme. The
Toolkit will be available for distribution by mid-September and will be updated regularly, for
example, with case studies on successful communications activity.
18. In the meantime the Agency is keen to support local authorities in communicating the
scheme and has set up a dedicated email address for communications related enquiries -
[email protected]. Our Communications Team is particularly keen to
speak to the local authority communications teams in „early adopters‟ areas to see what
plans are in place and where the Agency may be able to help, We would encourage those
responsible for communications to get in touch with us as early as possible via the email
address The Agency‟s Communications Team is also continuing to develop a strategy for
regional and national promotion of the scheme and is in particular investigating opportunities
for low cost/no cost activity.
FHRS roll out
19. As highlighted, we are on schedule for local launches of the FHRS to begin in the
autumn. All 22 local authorities in Wales are planning to roll out the scheme from 1 October
and we are really pleased that there will be a truly national scheme for the country.
In welcoming the forthcoming implementation of the FHRS, Emlyn Jones, Food and
Health and Safety Manager, Denbighshire County Council, said, “It will help
consumers to decide where to eat or buy food and they will be able to easily compare
one business with another locally and further afield.”
A number of local authorities in the South West are also planning early roll out and we are
looking forward to working with them through our Regional Presence Team there, looking in
particular at how we can work with regional partners in this important tourist area.
Phil Park, Commercial Services Manager, at Stroud District Council told us “We have
opted to migrate to the Agency’s Food Hygiene Rating Scheme because for us
consistency is absolutely essential - consumers and businesses have a right to expect
that hygiene ratings mean the same thing wherever they are eating out or shopping for
food. Our current scheme has worked very well but the prospect of a single scheme
which is recognisable nation-wide is well worth supporting and really quite exciting.”
There are a number of „early adopters in the East and South East regions including Norwich
City Council which has been involved with „scores on the doors‟ since the beginning, and
some in the Midlands.
Jaan Stanton, Food Safety Team Manager at Norwich said, “Norwich has run its own
very successful food hygiene rating scheme since the spring of 2005. We are going to
change it! We recognise the country needs a single national scheme and are pleased
to be working in partnership with the FSA. We are looking forward to our local launch
of the national Food Hygiene Rating Scheme during September.”
Amber Valley Borough Council‟s Regulation Manager, Steve Haslam, told us “The
Council supports the FSA scheme and welcomes the support provided - both the grant
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and supporting documents. The branding matches consumer expectations and means
that we will not be rewarding non-compliant premises with stars.”
Further information
20. Detailed information on the Steering Group is available on the FSA website at:
http://www.food.gov.uk/enforcement/enfcomm/scoresdoorssteeringgroup/
21. If you require any further information, please contact the general Enforcement Team.
Rob Wilkins 029 20678957 [email protected]
Delyth Murray-Lines 029 20678927 [email protected]
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FHRS branding
Details of suppliers of the materials will be provided in the FHRS Communications Toolkit
that is being developed
Bilingual Welsh/English bilingual versions will be provided for use by local authorities in
Wales.
Logos
Stickers
Examples for the rating of “1” „3‟, „5‟ and are used. There will also be an “awaiting
inspection” sticker
There are two options for stickers: 1) FSA logo plus statement that scheme is operated in
partnership with the local authority; and 2) FSA logo and space for the local authority logo to
be added. The Agency is not able to provide this without cost to local authorities.
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Certificates
Examples for the rating of „3‟ and „awaiting inspection are used
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