| Guvnor

Enforced by: FSA
Status: In Force
Penalty ceiling: Imprisonment 13 of 43 obligations carry up to 2 years imprisonment. 8 carry different penalties and 22 have no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.

Does it bind you?

Business-side roles with duties under this instrument.

Any Person26 Operator5 Trader3 Director or Officer3 Manufacturer2 Distributor1 Employee1

Plus 2 duties on the regulator, Crown ministers and public bodies — folded into the section list below.

Other Acts binding the same actors

If a role above is yours, these are the other instruments that most often bind it.

Any Person — also bound by 2684 other Acts

Human Medicines Regulations 2012 184 duties

Merchant Shipping Act 1995 144 duties

Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 104 duties

Communications Act 2003 92 duties

Road Traffic Act 1988 92 duties

Operator — also bound by 803 other Acts

Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 (Air Operations) 203 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) 121 duties

Space Industry Regulations 2021 76 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) 66 duties

Air Navigation Order 2016 65 duties

Trader — also bound by 864 other Acts

Value Added Tax Regulations 1995 416 duties

Companies Act 2006 244 duties

The Large and Medium-sized Companies and Groups (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 133 duties

Companies Act 1985 85 duties

Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 62 duties

Director or Officer — also bound by 482 other Acts

Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 162 duties

Companies Act 2006 126 duties

Insolvency Act 1986 77 duties

The Large and Medium-sized Companies and Groups (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 68 duties

Building Societies Act 1986 32 duties

Manufacturer — also bound by 551 other Acts

Pressure Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 93 duties

Measuring Instruments Regulations 2016 85 duties

Non-Automatic Weighing Instruments Regulations 2016 78 duties

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2017/654 of 19 December 2016 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2016/1628 of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to technical and general requirements relating to emission limits and type-approval for internal combustion engines for non-road mobile machinery 76 duties

Human Medicines Regulations 2012 75 duties

Distributor — also bound by 201 other Acts

UK REACH Regulation (retained EU law) 44 duties

The Marketing of Fruit Plant and Propagating Material (England) Regulations 2017 28 duties

The Marketing of Fruit Plant and Propagating Material (Wales) Regulations 2017 26 duties

The Marketing of Fruit Plant and Propagating Material Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017 25 duties

Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations 2002 21 duties

Employee — also bound by 193 other Acts

Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 (Air Operations) 18 duties

Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 13 duties

The Income Tax (Pay As You Earn) Regulations 2003 11 duties

Shared Parental Leave Regulations 2014 10 duties

Paternity and Adoption Leave Regulations 2002 9 duties

What it requires

Regulations creating concrete business duties or carrying penalties, grouped as the instrument is structured. Titles link to the source text — blue means you’re leaving for legislation.gov.uk.

Part 1

PRELIMINARY

0 of 5 sections shown

5 other sections in this Part — procedural and definitional

s.001 Title, commencement and application

s.002 Interpretation

s.003 Presumptions that food is intended for human consumption

s.004 Competent authority

s.005 Enforcement

Part 2

MAIN PROVISIONS

4 of 6 sections shown

s.007 Hygiene prohibition orders Imprisonment

Knowingly breach a hygiene prohibition orderAny Person

s.008 Hygiene emergency prohibition notices and orders Imprisonment

Breach of a hygiene emergency prohibition notice or orderAny Person

s.009 Remedial action notices and detention notices Imprisonment

Fail to comply with a remedial action or detention noticeAny Person

s.010 Offences due to fault of another person Imprisonment

Cause another person to commit a food hygiene offenceAny Person
Expose a business to prosecution through your own fault or negligenceAny Person

2 other sections in this Part — procedural and definitional

s.006 Hygiene improvement notices

s.011 Defence of due diligence

Part 3

ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT

6 of 12 sections shown

s.013 Analysis etc. of samples Regulated

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

Public analysts and food examiners must test samples and provide certificatesStatutory regulator

s.014 Powers of entry Imprisonment

Improper disclosure of trade secretsDirector or Officer

s.015 Obstruction etc. of officers Imprisonment

Obstructing or failing to cooperate with food hygiene officersAny Person
Obstruct or hinder food hygiene officersAny Person

s.017 Offences and penalties Imprisonment

Fail to comply with general food hygiene regulationsAny Person
Fail to comply with specified Community food‑hygiene provisionsAny Person

s.018 Offences by bodies corporate Imprisonment

Corporate liability for food hygiene offencesDirector or Officer
Director and officer liability for food hygiene offencesDirector or Officer

s.019 Offences by Scottish partnerships Imprisonment

Negligence or honeyed consent by a partner in a Scottish partnershipAny Person
Partner liable for partnership food‑hygiene offenceAny Person

6 other sections in this Part — procedural and definitional

s.012 Procurement of samples

s.016 Time limit for prosecutions

s.020 Right of appeal

s.021 Appeals to Crown Court

s.022 Appeals against hygiene improvement notices and remedial action notices

s.023 Application of section 9 of the Food Safety Act 1990

Part 4

MISCELLANEOUS AND SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS

1 of 12 sections shown

s.024 Power to issue codes of recommended practice Regulated

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

Local authorities must follow codes of practice and FSA directionsLocal authority

11 other sections in this Part — procedural and definitional

s.025 Protection of officers acting in good faith

s.026 Revocation and suspension of designations and appointments

s.027 Food which has not been produced, processed or distributed in accordance with the Hygiene Regulations

s.028 Service of documents

s.029 Bulk transport in sea-going vessels of liquid oils or fats and the bulk transport by sea of raw sugar

s.030 Temperature control requirements

s.031 Direct supply by the producer of small quantities of meat from poultry and lagomorphs slaughtered on the farm

s.032 Restriction on the sale of raw milk intended for direct human consumption

s.033 Consequential amendments

s.034 Revocation

s.special health mark Special health mark

Schedules

25 of 69 shown

s.002 SPECIFIED COMMUNITY PROVISIONS Imprisonment

Implement food safety management procedures based on HACCP principlesOperator

s.004 TEMPERATURE CONTROL REQUIREMENTS Imprisonment

Keep high-risk foods at or below 8°C (Chill Holding)Any Person

s.005 DIRECT SUPPLY BY THE PRODUCER OF SMALL QUANTITIES OF MEAT FROM POULTRY AND LAGOMORPHS SLAUGHTERED ON THE FARM Imprisonment

Breach of hygiene rules for farm-slaughtered poultry or rabbit meatAny Person
Fail to meet labelling and record‑keeping for farm‑direct meat salesAny Person

s.006 RESTRICTIONS ON THE SALE OF RAW MILK INTENDED FOR DIRECT HUMAN CONSUMPTION Imprisonment

Sell raw milk that fails to meet safety standardsAny Person
Unlawful sale of raw milk in WalesAny Person

s.sch003 Offence Regulated

Fail to comply with Schedule 3 requirementsAny Person

s.sch003 The documentary evidence must accompany the consignment of raw sugar... Regulated

Retain documentary evidence for raw sugar consignmentsManufacturer

s.sch003 On request, a food business operator responsible for the transport... Regulated

Provide documentary evidence to enforcement authority on requestOperator

s.sch003 In fulfilling the obligations under Article 5(1) of Regulation 852/2004... Regulated

Treat cleaning as critical control point and check previous cargo for raw sugar sea transportOperator

s.sch003 The captain of a sea-going vessel transporting, in tanks, bulk... Regulated

Keep records of previous cargoes and cleaning for bulk liquid oils/fatsAny Person

s.sch003 Where the cargo has been trans-shipped, in addition to the... Regulated

Keep records proving previous cargo was transported and tanks cleaned properlyAny Person

s.sch003 Upon request, the captain of the vessel must provide the... Regulated

Provide documentary evidence of bulk cargo on requestEmployee

s.sch003 The receptacles, containers or tankers referred to in paragraph 7... Regulated

Clean and inspect transport containers before loading raw sugarOperator

s.sch003 A food business operator who is responsible for the transport... Regulated

Keep records of previous cargo and cleaning for raw sugar shipped by seaOperator

s.sch004 Chill holding requirements Regulated

Fail to keep food at safe chill holding temperature (including mail order)Any Person

s.sch004 Upward variation of the 8°C temperature by manufacturers etc. Regulated

Do not recommend a higher storage temperature without scientific evidenceTrader

s.sch004 Hot holding requirements Regulated

Keep hot food below 63°CAny Person

s.sch005 Requirements Regulated

Label meat correctly and keep weekly production recordsManufacturer

s.sch005 Offence Regulated

Fail to comply with Schedule 5 requirementsAny Person

s.sch006 Any person who sells raw milk intended for direct human... Regulated

Sell raw milk for direct human consumption without complying with requirementsAny Person

s.sch006 Any person who sells raw milk in contravention of paragraph... Prosecution

Sell raw milk in breach of regulationsAny Person

Unlimited fine

s.sch006 Any person who sells raw milk in contravention of paragraph... Regulated

Sell raw milk in breach of regulationsAny Person

s.sch006 (1) If any person other than the occupier of a... Regulated

Sell raw cows' milk for direct human consumption illegallyAny Person

s.sch006 A distributor may only sell raw cows' milk intended for... Regulated

Sell raw cows' milk only in original sealed containers from a registered vehicleDistributor

s.sch006 Except in cases to which paragraph 7B applies, the container... Regulated

Label raw milk containers with the required health warningTrader

s.sch006 In the case of any raw milk which is not... Regulated

Display statutory warning when selling unpasteurised raw milk at a catering businessTrader

44 other schedules

s.001 DEFINITIONS OF LEGISLATION

s.sch003 Raw sugar which has been transported by sea in receptacles,...

s.sch003 Interpretation

s.sch003 Liquid oils or fats

s.sch003 The bulk transport in sea-going vessels of liquid oils or...

s.sch003 Raw sugar

s.sch003a REQUIREMENTS REFERRED TO IN REGULATION 17(5)

s.sch003b REQUIREMENTS REFERRED TO IN REGULATION 17(6)

s.sch003c REQUIREMENTS REFERRED TO IN REGULATION 17(7)

s.sch003d REQUIREMENTS REFERRED TO IN REGULATION 17(8)

s.sch004 Scope

s.sch004 General exemptions from the chill holding requirements

s.sch004 Chill holding tolerance periods

s.sch004 Hot holding defences

s.sch004 Interpretation

s.sch005 Scope

s.sch006 The occupier of a production holding may only sell raw...

s.sch006 The raw milk must meet the following standards: Plate count...

s.sch006 In the case where farm premises are being used for...

s.sch006 In any case where the Agency carries out sampling, analysis...

s.sch006 In addition to the English text that must be included...

s.sch006 Nothing in this Schedule prevents the following being marked or...

s.sch006 In this Schedule— “catering establishment” (“ sefydliad arlwyo ”) means...

s.sch006a THE SPECIAL HEALTH MARK

s.sch006a The special health mark must consist of a square mark...

s.sch006a When applied to carcases, the special health mark must measure...

s.sch007 The Colours in Food Regulations 1995

s.sch007 In regulation 10 (restriction on movement of animal by-products)—

s.sch007 In paragraph (1) of regulation 12 (enforcement)—

s.sch007 The Food Labelling Regulations 1996

s.sch007 In Schedule 3 (generic names in list of ingredients) in...

s.sch007 The words are “(g) the product obtained by removing the...

s.sch007 The Beef Bones Regulations 1997

s.sch007 In paragraph (1) of regulation 2 (interpretation)—

s.sch007 In regulation 12 (enforcement)— (a) for paragraph (1) there is...

s.sch007 In regulation 4 (health marking etc. of certain meat and...

s.sch007 The Animal By-Products (Identification) Regulations 1995

s.sch007 In paragraph (1) of regulation 2 (interpretation) —

s.sch007 In paragraph (a) of regulation 4 (scope) for the words...

s.sch007 In paragraph (2)(c) of regulation 5 (exemptions) for the words...

s.sch007 For regulation 6 (staining of animal by-products in cold stores,...

s.sch007 For regulation 8 (freezing of animal by-products in any animal...

s.sch007 In regulation 9 (storage and packaging of animal by-products)—

Help complying

Guvnor’s practical routes through this instrument.

Improve your food hygiene rating

Practical steps to improve a poor food hygiene rating. Understand what inspectors scored, fix the issues, and request a re-inspection.

Quick check: running a food business in Wales

Quick compliance check for Wales-specific food business obligations. Covers mandatory hygiene ratings, food waste separation, registration, and environmental permits.

Respond to a poor food hygiene rating in Wales

Problem path for food business operators in Wales who have received a food hygiene rating of 0, 1, or 2. Covers immediate …

Respond to food safety enforcement action in Wales

What to do if your food business in Wales receives an improvement notice, prohibition order, or prosecution. Covers your rights, response deadlines, …

Understand your food hygiene rating obligations in Wales

Learning path for food business operators in Wales covering the mandatory Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS). Explains what ratings mean, where and …

Start a food business in Wales

A comprehensive learning path for starting a food business in Wales. Covers Wales-specific requirements including local authority registration, the mandatory Food Hygiene …

Get approved food establishment status in Wales

How to apply for approved establishment status through FSA Wales for businesses processing meat, dairy, fish, or egg products. Covers the application …

How food safety enforcement works in Wales

How food safety is enforced in Wales, including the role of the Food Standards Agency Wales and local authority environmental health officers. …

Register a food business in Wales

How to register a food business with one of the 22 Welsh local authorities. Covers the Welsh-specific registration process, bilingual forms, what …

Starting a food business in Wales: what you need to know

Overview of what makes starting a food business in Wales different from the rest of the UK. Covers the mandatory Food Hygiene …

Wales food business compliance checklist

Quick verification checklist for Wales-specific food business obligations. Covers local authority registration, mandatory food hygiene rating display, food waste separation, Natural Resources …

1 more guide that reference this instrument

Control food temperatures safely

Duty extraction and severity labels are Guvnor’s analysis of the instrument, not the instrument itself. Always verify against the linked source text.