Respond to a poor food hygiene rating in Wales
- 1 step
UK Act of Parliament
1999
United Kingdom
Food Standards Act 1999
At a glance
Enforced by
What's here
13 compliance obligations, 1 practical guide · 3 journeys · 15 statutory instruments
Penalty landscape
2 of 13 obligations carry an unlimited fine. 1 carries different penalties and 10 have no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.
Who this Act binds
Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.
- Any Person 3
Plus 10 non-business duties on Crown ministers, regulators, local authorities or tribunals — shown collapsed under each section below.
Step-by-step journeys using this legislation
Walkthroughs that take you from a real business situation to compliance.
Relevant guidance
Practical guides for businesses affected by this Act, ordered by how closely they engage with it.
Mentioned in related content
1 guidesOther Acts binding the same actors
For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.
Any Person also bound by 749 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 110 duties
- Licensing Act 2003 2003 105 duties
- Merchant Shipping Act 1995 1995 97 duties
- Road Traffic Act 1988 1988 95 duties
- Air Navigation Order 2016 2016 86 duties
What this Act requires
Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.
Schedules
Browse 6 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
Constitution etc. of the Agency
Advisory committees
Accounts and audit
The Agency’s functions under other enactments
Minor and consequential amendments
Repeals
Appointment of members etc.
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Secretary of State and devolved authorities must appoint Food Standards Agency members Crown / Minister / Government department
Appointment of chief executive and directors.
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- FSA and Ministers must appoint a Chief Executive and Directors Statutory regulator
Annual and other reports.
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- FSA must publish and present annual reports on performance Statutory regulator
Development of food policy and provision of advice, etc. to public authorities.
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- FSA must develop food safety policies and advise public authorities Statutory regulator
Provision of advice, information and assistance to other persons.
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- FSA must provide food safety advice and assistance to the public and businesses Statutory regulator
Acquisition and review of information.
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- FSA must collect and review information on food safety and consumer interests Statutory regulator
Power of entry for persons carrying out observations.
Unlimited fine- Obstructing food safety inspections or providing false information Any Person
Monitoring of enforcement action.
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- FSA must monitor and report on food law enforcement performance Statutory regulator
Power of entry for persons monitoring enforcement action.
Unlimited fine- Unauthorized disclosure of trade secrets Any Person
Statement of general objectives and practices.
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- FSA must publish its objectives and consultation practices Statutory regulator
Obstruction of food crime officers
3 months imprisonment- Obstructing or misleading a food crime officer Any Person
Arrangements for sharing information about food-borne zoonoses.
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- FSA and Ministers must share information on food-borne diseases Statutory regulator
Consultation on veterinary products.
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Secretary of State must consult the Food Standards Agency on veterinary policy Crown / Minister / Government department
Browse 31 other sections — procedural / definitional / commencement
The Food Standards Agency.
Advisory committees.
General functions in relation to animal feedingstuffs.
Power to carry out observations.
Power to request information relating to enforcement action.
Meaning of “enforcement authority” and related expressions.
Offences relating to sections 13 and 14.
Delegation of powers to make emergency orders.
Functions under other enactments.
Publication etc. by the Agency of advice and information.
Power to issue guidance on control of food-borne diseases.
Supplementary powers.
Consideration of objectives, risks, costs and benefits, etc.
Directions relating to breach of duty or to international obligations.
Power to modify enactments about disclosure of information.
Statutory functions ceasing to be exercisable by Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland.
Notification of tests for food-borne disease.
Animal feedingstuffs: Great Britain.
Animal feedingstuffs: Northern Ireland.
Modification of certain provisions of this Act.
Consequences of Agency losing certain functions.
Duty to take account of functions of the Food Safety Promotion Board.
Devolution in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Interpretation.
Subordinate legislation.
Crown application.
Financial provisions.
Minor and consequential amendments and repeals.
Transfer of property, rights and liabilities to the Agency.
Power to make transitional provision etc.
Short title, commencement and extent.
Enforcement and responsible bodies
The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.
FSA
PrimaryFood Standards Agency
Food safety and hygiene regulation across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Enforces food law, provides guidance to food businesses, investigates incidents. Approves …
Food safety and standards in Scotland. Independent public body with similar remit to FSA but for Scotland specifically. Administers Food Hygiene Information …
Connected legislation
15 statutory instruments
These instruments amend, apply, or refer to this Act. They may not all create direct business obligations.
Secondary legislation (15)
- Food Standards Act 1999 (Transitional and Consequential Provisions and Savings) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000 2000
- Infant Formula and Follow-on Formula (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000 2000
- The Addition of Vitamins, Minerals and Other Substances (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 2010
- The Addition of Vitamins, Minerals and Other Substances (Amendment) (Revocation) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 2020
- The Fish Labelling (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2014 2014
- The Food Hygiene (Wales) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2014 2014
- The Food Information (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 2020
- The Food Information (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 2016
- The Food Information (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 2020
- The Food Standards Act 1999 (Commencement No. 1) Order 2000 2000
- The Food Standards Act 1999 (Commencement No. 2) Order 2000 2000
- The Food Supplements (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007 2007
- The Food Supplements and the Addition of Vitamins, Minerals and Other Substances (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 2009
- The Infant Formula and Follow-on Formula (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 2008
- The Spreadable Fats (Marketing Standards) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007 2007
Explore more
Browse legislation
Find other UK business legislation with related guidance.
Regulators
Learn more about the bodies that enforce this legislation.