Meet food safety requirements for your business
- 7 steps
UK Statutory Instrument
2013
England
Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013
At a glance
Enforced by
What's here
29 compliance obligations, 23 practical guides across 2 topics · 10 journeys
Penalty landscape
11 of 29 obligations carry up to 2 years imprisonment. 9 carry different penalties and 9 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 19
- Operator 4
- Distributor 1
- Director or Officer 1
- Occupier 1
- Manufacturer 1
Plus 2 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.
Respond to a food safety incident
- 2 steps
Start a food business for the first time
- 6 steps
Food safety quick compliance check
- 3 steps
Improve your food hygiene rating
- 5 steps
Start a brewery or distillery
- 2 steps
Relevant guidance
Practical guides for businesses affected by this Act, ordered by how closely they engage with it.
Direct — cites this Act
3 guidesSupporting — topic alignment
19 guidesMentioned 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 2338 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 169 duties
- Merchant Shipping Act 1995 1995 144 duties
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 101 duties
- Road Traffic Act 1988 1988 95 duties
- Air Navigation Order 2016 2016 95 duties
Operators also bound by 730 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 (Air Operations) 2012 138 duties
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/2066 of 19 December 2018 on the monitoring and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions pursuant to Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and amending Commission Regulation (EU) No 601/2012 (Text with EEA relevance) 2018 121 duties
- Commission Regulation (EU) No 601/2012 of 21 June 2012 on the monitoring and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions pursuant to Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (Text with EEA relevance) (repealed) 2012 112 duties
- Space Industry Regulations 2021 2021 75 duties
- Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016 on transmissible animal diseases and amending and repealing certain acts in the area of animal health (‘Animal Health Law’) (Text with EEA relevance) 2016 66 duties
Distributors also bound by 177 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- The Marketing of Fruit Plant and Propagating Material (England) Regulations 2017 2017 28 duties
- The Marketing of Fruit Plant and Propagating Material (Wales) Regulations 2017 2017 26 duties
- The Marketing of Fruit Plant and Propagating Material Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017 2017 25 duties
- Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations 2002 2002 21 duties
- THE ELECTRICITY SAFETY, QUALITY AND CONTINUITY REGULATIONS (NORTHERN IRELAND) 2012 2012 19 duties
Directors and Officers also bound by 425 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 161 duties
- Companies Act 2006 2006 108 duties
- Insolvency Act 1986 1986 72 duties
- The Large and Medium-sized Companies and Groups (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 2008 55 duties
- The Housing Administration (England and Wales) Rules 2018 2018 26 duties
Occupiers also bound by 259 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- The Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations 2021 2021 39 duties
- Avian Influenza and Influenza of Avian Origin in Mammals (England) (No. 2) Order 2006 2006 34 duties
- The Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) Regulations 1995 1995 34 duties
- Highways Act 1980 1980 23 duties
- Nitrate Pollution Prevention Regulations 2015 2015 18 duties
Manufacturers also bound by 472 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Pressure Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 2016 91 duties
- Lifts Regulations 2016 2016 70 duties
- The Ecodesign for Energy-Related Products and Energy Information Regulations 2021 2021 70 duties
- Non-Automatic Weighing Instruments Regulations 2016 2016 67 duties
- Pyrotechnic Articles (Safety) Regulations 2015 2015 64 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
Specified EU provisions
- Maintain food safety, hygiene, and traceability standards Operator
Bulk transport in sea-going vessels of liquid oils or fats and the bulk transport by sea of raw sugar
2 years imprisonment- Breach bulk sea‑transport requirements for oils/fats or raw sugar Any Person
Direct supply by the producer of small quantities of meat from poultry or lagomorphs slaughtered on the farm
2 years imprisonment- Fail to keep required records of farm‑slaughtered meat Any Person
Offence
- Fail to comply with food hygiene requirements in Schedule 3 Any Person
On request, a food business operator responsible for the transport...
- Provide documentary evidence to enforcement authority on request Operator
In fulfilling the obligations under Article 5(1) of Regulation 852/2004...
- Treat cleaning as a critical control point and consider previous cargo for raw sugar sea transport Operator
A food business operator who is responsible for the transport...
- Keep records of previous cargo and cleaning for raw sugar sea transport Operator
Chill holding requirements
- Keep chill foods at safe temperatures to prevent bacterial growth Any Person
Hot holding requirements
Unlimited fine- Fail to keep hot food at required temperature Any Person
Requirements
- Label meat with farm name and keep weekly records Manufacturer
Offence
Unlimited fine- Fail to comply with Schedule 5 requirements Any Person
Any person who sells raw milk intended for direct human...
- Sell raw milk without authorisation Any Person
Any person who sells raw milk in contravention of paragraph...
- Sell raw milk in breach of regulations Any Person
Any person who sells raw milk in contravention of paragraph...
Unlimited fine- Sell raw milk illegally Any Person
(1) Any person, other than the occupier of a production...
- Sell raw cows' milk for direct human consumption illegally Occupier
A distributor may only sell raw cows' milk intended for...
- Sell raw cows' milk only under strictly controlled conditions Distributor
Browse 30 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
DEFINITIONS OF LEGISLATION
The Special Health Mark
The documentary evidence shall accompany the consignment of raw sugar...
Raw sugar which has been transported by sea in receptacles,...
Interpretation
Liquid oils or fats
The bulk transport in sea-going vessels of liquid oils or...
The captain of a sea-going vessel transporting, in tanks, bulk...
Where the cargo has been trans-shipped, in addition to the...
Upon request, the captain of the vessel shall provide the...
Raw sugar
The receptacles, containers or tankers referred to in paragraph 7...
Scope
General exemptions from the chill holding requirements
Upward variation of the 8 degrees centigrade temperature by manufacturers etc.
Chill holding tolerance periods
Hot holding defences
Interpretation
Scope
The occupier of a production holding may only sell raw...
The raw milk must meet the following standards: Plate count...
In the case where farm premises are being used for...
In any case where the Agency carries out sampling, analysis...
Subject to paragraph 7C, and except in cases to which...
Subject to paragraph 7C, in the case of any raw...
The provisions of paragraphs 7A and 7B do not apply...
In this Schedule — “catering establishment” means a restaurant, canteen,...
For the purposes of this Part the “EU TSE Regulation”...
The special health mark shall consist of a square mark...
When applied to carcases, the special health mark shall measure...
Hygiene improvement notices
2 years imprisonment- Fail to comply with a hygiene improvement notice Any Person
Hygiene prohibition orders
2 years imprisonment- Contravene a hygiene prohibition order Any Person
Remedial action notices
Unlimited fine- Fail to comply with a remedial action notice Any Person
Detention notices
2 years imprisonment- Fail to comply with a detention notice Any Person
Offences due to the fault of another person
2 years imprisonment- Cause another person to commit a food safety offence Any Person
Analysis etc. of samples
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Public analysts and examiners must test samples and provide certificates Statutory regulator
Powers of entry
2 years imprisonment- Disclose trade secret information obtained during inspection Any Person
Obstruction etc. of officers
3 months imprisonment- Obstruct or mislead food safety enforcement officer Any Person
Offences and penalties
2 years imprisonment- Fail to comply with EU food‑safety provisions Any Person
Offences by bodies corporate
2 years imprisonment- Corporate and officer liability for food safety offences Director or Officer
Offences by Scottish partnerships
2 years imprisonment- Partner liable for partnership food safety offence Any Person
Amendments to the Official Feed and Food Controls (England) Regulations 2009
2 years imprisonment- Import or sell sprouts/seeds without required certification Any Person
Review
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- FSA must review food hygiene regulations every five years Statutory regulator
Browse 29 other sections — procedural / definitional / commencement
Title, application, commencement and extent
The requirements are that — (a) on 31st December 2005...
Interpretation
Presumptions that food is intended for human consumption
Competent authorities
Enforcement authorities
Hygiene emergency prohibition notices and orders
Defence of due diligence
Defence in relation to exports
Procurement of samples
Time limit for prosecutions
Right of appeal
Appeals to the Crown Court
Appeals against hygiene improvement notices and remedial action notices
Application of section 9 of the Food Safety Act 1990
Power to issue codes of recommended practice
Protection of officers acting in good faith
Revocation and suspension of designations and appointments
Food which has not been produced, processed or distributed in accordance with the Hygiene Regulations
Service of documents
Bulk transport in sea-going vessels of liquid oils or fats and the bulk transport by sea of raw sugar
Temperature control requirements
Direct supply by the producer of small quantities of meat from poultry or lagomorphs slaughtered on the farm
Restrictions on the sale of raw milk intended for direct human consumption
Special health mark
Consequential amendment to the Act
Consequential amendments to the Animal By-Products (Enforcement) (England) Regulations 2013
Consequential amendment to the Trade in Animals and Related Products Regulations 2011
Revocations
Official guidance
Authoritative sources published by regulators or government explaining this legislation.
- Online food safety training guidance (opens in a new tab) from FSA Detailed Guidance
- Running a food business: Your responsibilities - GOV.UK (opens in a new tab) from FSA Detailed Guidance
- FSA — Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) (opens in a new tab) from FSA Detailed Guidance
- GOV.UK: freshwater rod and net fishing (opens in a new tab) from Environment Agency Detailed Guidance
- FSA: shellfish classification (opens in a new tab) from FSA Detailed Guidance
- GOV.UK: marine licensing (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- FSA — acrylamide legislation (opens in a new tab) from FSA Detailed Guidance
- FSA — chemical contaminants in food (opens in a new tab) from FSA Detailed Guidance
- Infection prevention control (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- FSA: applying for approval of a meat establishment (opens in a new tab) from FSA Detailed Guidance
- ... and 24 more
Enforcement and responsible bodies
The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.
Local Authority
PrimaryLocal Authority (Environmental Health / Licensing / Planning)
Local councils enforce food safety (via Environmental Health Officers), issue alcohol licences, grant planning permission, and regulate certain business activities at local …
Food Standards Agency
Food safety and hygiene regulation across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Enforces food law, provides guidance to food businesses, investigates incidents. Approves …
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Government department responsible for environmental protection, food production and standards, agriculture, fisheries, and rural communities. Sets environmental policy and works with agencies …
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Browse legislation
Find other UK business legislation with related guidance.
Regulators
Learn more about the bodies that enforce this legislation.