Code of Practice for Northern Ireland

Sunday 20 August 2006

The Food Law Code of Practice and associated Practice Guidance for Northern Ireland is available.

The most recent version of the Food Law Code of Practice for Northern Ireland, version August 2008, has now been published and can be found at the link below. The Practice Guidance for Northern Ireland, version June 2006, can also be accessed at the link below.

The Code of Practice sets out instructions and criteria that district councils should have regard to when engaged in the enforcement of food law. District councils must follow and implement the provisions of the code. The Practice Guidance gives advice to enforcement officers on how best to apply the provisions laid down within the code.

The Code of Practice for Northern Ireland has been revised to reflect the principles of better regulation and to reduce the administrative burdens on business and on district councils, while maintaining standards of public health and consumer protection. A significant change to the Code includes the introduction of interventions to provide a more flexible approach to food law enforcement. The aim of this change is to ensure that resources are directed at those food businesses that present the greatest risk to public health and consumer protection. A summary of the main changes to the Code can be found in the letter sent to district councils in Northern Ireland. The letter can be found at the link below.

There are separate but parallel Codes of Practice and Practice Guidance for England, Scotland and Wales.

If you have any queries about the Code of Practice and/or Practice Guidance for Northern Ireland please contact:
Mrs Kathryn Baker
10 A-C Clarendon Road
Belfast BT1 3BG
tel: 028 9041 7736
email: kathryn.baker@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk.