2012 food Enforcement Orders highest ever

109 Enforcement Orders were served in 2012, an increase of 30% on the 2011 figure of 84 according to the Food Safety Authority, making 2012 the highest year to date for issuing Enforcement Orders for breaches of food safety legislation.

These consisted of 91 Closure Orders, three Improvement Orders and 15 Prohibition Orders on food businesses which compares to 66 Closure Orders, seven Improvement Orders and 11 Prohibition Orders in 2011.

Last month saw seven Closure Orders and one Prohibition Order served under the FSAI Act 1998 and the EC (Official Control of Foodstuffs) Regulations 2010, issued by EHOs.

Closure Orders were served on Cumann Baire Setanta Teoranta, Hurling and Camogie Club (public house), Beside Library, Ballymun Road, D11 and on J&V Rahara Farm Meats Ltd trading as May Kearneys public house on Lifford Road in Ennis, County Clare, where the closed area consisted of the ground floor kitchen, food preparation, storage, cooking service and ancillary staff and wash-up facilities. The bar service areas were not included in the Closure Order.

The Anner Hotel on the Dublin Road, Thurles, County Tipperary, was also subject to a Closure Order where the activity consisted of ceasing the use of the current water supply for drinking and culinary purposes.