Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS)

The Food Hygiene Rating Act (Northern Ireland) 2016 means that the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme is now mandatory, replacing the voluntary scheme run since the end of 2011 by District Councils and the Food Standards Agency (FSA).

The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme developed by the FSA, in partnership with District Councils, helps consumers choose where to eat out or shop for food by giving them information about the hygiene standards in restaurants, takeaways and food shops.

The Scheme provides you, the consumer, with information via the rating, about hygiene standards in food premises at the time the premises were inspected by Environmental Health Officers, to check compliance with legal requirements.  The FHRS rates food outlets on a scale ranging from ‘0’ (meaning urgent improvement necessary) to a top rating of 5 (excellent).

How do I know what rating a business has?

The legislation makes it a legal requirement for food businesses which have received a statutory food hygiene rating, to display a sticker relating to that rating at or near each public entrance into their establishment, where it can be readily seen and easily read by customers before they enter.  No matter what the rating of the food business, they will have to, by law, display the rating sticker given by the District Council following inspection.

You can check the rating of a business by clicking here.

Scheme Disclaimer

The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme is not an endorsement of current standards but merely reflects the score awarded to the premises at the time of inspection.  Nevertheless, the Council tries very hard to make sure the information available is correct.  The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme adheres to the FSA’s brand standard.