Overview of Food Safety Enforcements for 2024

10 January 2025

Overview of food safety enforcements for 2024 by Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) reported that 133 Enforcement Orders were served on food businesses for breaches of food safety legislation in 2024. To put it differently, this is a staggering increase of 45% on the 92 that were served in 2023.

 

Food Safety Enforcements by Category

Between 1 January and 31 December 2024, 133 enforcements were issued by service contract agencies. These include Environmental Health Officers in the Health Service Executive, sea-fisheries protection officers in the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority and inspectors in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine on food businesses throughout the country. Food safety enforcements by category were as follows:

  • 115 Closure Orders,
  • 16 Prohibition Orders, and
  • 2 Improvement Orders.

Detailed information about enforcement orders and prosecutions issued on premises can be found on FSAI Enforcement information page.

 

Common Reasons for Food Safety Enforcements

A number of recurring food safety issues identified in food businesses resulted in Enforcement Orders being issued. For example, some of these included:

  • Lack of pest control procedures,
  • Inadequate regular and thorough cleaning,
  • Failure to maintain correct temperatures of foodstuffs,
  • Unsuitable food storage facilities, and
  • Inadequate staff training in relation to food safety and hygiene.

 

Food Safety Training

It is a legal requirement that staff who are involved in a food environment are trained and/or supervised commensurate with their work activity.

To learn more about food poisoning and how to prevent it, the eLearn Safety has developed fully online food safety courses. These courses are designed to introduce participants to food safety and hygiene issues. In addition, all courses are based on the training criteria set down by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland’s Guide to Food Safety Training at appropriate level.

Afterwards, on completion of any of our food safety training courses, participants will be able to understand their requirements under Irish food safety legislation as well as following best work practices at appropriate level.

Likewise, you can find further useful information on how you can stop the spread of food poisoning bacteria and other food safety relevant information on the FSAI website.

 

About Enforcement Actions

While EHOs are enforcement officers, they are also educators and advisors. They work very closely with the owners of the food business to build compliance with the law. The EHO ensures that the operator of the food business understands that there is a law, what their obligations are under that law and what the possible consequences are if they do not comply.

In cases where there are breaches of the law, Environmental Health Officers have a range of sanctions open to them. These range from a verbal warning through to a Closure Order being served.

In general most food businesses receive a written report from the Environmental Health Officer after every inspection. For example, this report outlines what needs to be improved upon and a timeframe within which they need to do it. In serious cases where an Improvement Notice is served and if this is not complied with by the date given, the EHO can seek an Improvement Order in the District Court. This can be a costly business for the food business owner.

EHOs can also issue a Closure Order. A Closure Order is issued when there is non-compliance with food legislation. In addition, a Closure Order can be issued if an Improvement Order has not been complied with or where the food business is in the opinion of the EHO ‘likely to pose a grave and immediate danger to public health’.

Closures Orders can refer to the immediate closure of all or part of the food premises. Furthermore, the order can cover all or some of food safety related activities. The Orders may be lifted when the premises has improved to the satisfaction of the EHO.

 

Authorised Officers

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland has authorised officers who have extensive powers to enter and inspect food premises. In addition, they have authority to secure these premises for later inspection, to inspect and, if necessary, remove records. These officers may take samples of food or related materials and have these samples analysed. It is an offence for any person to obstruct an officer in carrying out this duty.

 

Online Food Safety Training

Please remember – it is a legal requirement that staff who are involved in a food environment are trained and/or supervised commensurate with their work activity!

Myelearnsafety offers fully online Food Safety (HACCP) courses.

To find out more, please check our Courses page.

Alternatively, should you need any additional information, please do not hesitate to let us know via email info@elearn.ie

eLearn Safety – Online Health and Safety Training

eLearn Safety – Online Health and Safety Training