Quick check: running a food business in Wales
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Welsh Statutory Instrument
2006
Wales
Food Hygiene (Wales) Regulations 2006
At a glance
Enforced by
What's here
40 compliance obligations, 5 practical guides · 5 journeys
Penalty landscape
13 of 40 obligations carry up to 2 years imprisonment. 8 carry different penalties and 19 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 8
- Operator 1
- Director or Officer 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.
Relevant guidance
Practical guides for businesses affected by this Act, ordered by how closely they engage with it.
Other 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 742 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 101 duties
- Road Traffic Act 1988 1988 95 duties
- Air Navigation Order 2016 2016 83 duties
- Merchant Shipping Act 1995 1995 82 duties
- Road Traffic (NI) Order 1995 1995 61 duties
Operators also bound by 124 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Space Industry Regulations 2021 2021 71 duties
- Payment Services Regulations 2017 2017 41 duties
- Air Navigation Order 2016 2016 34 duties
- The Quarries Regulations 1999 1999 31 duties
- Reservoirs Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 2015 22 duties
Directors and Officers also bound by 221 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 73 duties
- Companies Act 2006 2006 57 duties
- Insolvency Act 1986 1986 44 duties
- CCBSA 2014 2014 21 duties
- Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 2023 18 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.
Part 1 — PRELIMINARY
Browse 5 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Title, commencement and application
Interpretation
Presumptions that food is intended for human consumption
Competent authority
Enforcement
Part 2 — MAIN PROVISIONS
Hygiene prohibition orders
2 years imprisonment- Knowingly breach a hygiene prohibition order Any Person
Hygiene emergency prohibition notices and orders
2 years imprisonment- Breach of a hygiene emergency prohibition notice or order
Remedial action notices and detention notices
2 years imprisonment- Fail to comply with a remedial action or detention notice
Offences due to fault of another person
2 years imprisonment- Cause another person to commit a food hygiene offence Any Person
- Expose a business to prosecution through your own fault or negligence
Browse 2 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Hygiene improvement notices
Defence of due diligence
Part 3 — ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT
Analysis etc. of samples
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Public analysts and food examiners must test samples and provide certificates Statutory regulator
Powers of entry
2 years imprisonment- Improper disclosure of trade secrets
Obstruction etc. of officers
2 years imprisonment- Obstructing or failing to cooperate with food hygiene officers
- Obstruct or hinder food hygiene officers Any Person
Offences and penalties
2 years imprisonment- Fail to comply with general food hygiene regulations
- Fail to comply with specified Community food‑hygiene provisions Any Person
Offences by bodies corporate
2 years imprisonment- Corporate liability for food hygiene offences Director or Officer
- Director and officer liability for food hygiene offences
Offences by Scottish partnerships
2 years imprisonment- Negligence or honeyed consent by a partner in a Scottish partnership
- Partner liable for partnership food‑hygiene offence Any Person
Browse 6 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Part 4 — MISCELLANEOUS AND SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS
Power to issue codes of recommended practice
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Local authorities must follow codes of practice and FSA directions Local authority
Browse 11 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
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 and lagomorphs slaughtered on the farm
Restriction on the sale of raw milk intended for direct human consumption
Consequential amendments
Revocation
Special health mark
Schedules
SPECIFIED COMMUNITY PROVISIONS
2 years imprisonment- Implement food safety management procedures based on HACCP principles Operator
TEMPERATURE CONTROL REQUIREMENTS
2 years imprisonment- Keep high-risk foods at or below 8°C (Chill Holding) Any Person
DIRECT SUPPLY BY THE PRODUCER OF SMALL QUANTITIES OF MEAT FROM POULTRY AND LAGOMORPHS SLAUGHTERED ON THE FARM
2 years imprisonment- Breach of hygiene rules for farm-slaughtered poultry or rabbit meat
- Fail to meet labelling and record‑keeping for farm‑direct meat sales Any Person
RESTRICTIONS ON THE SALE OF RAW MILK INTENDED FOR DIRECT HUMAN CONSUMPTION
2 years imprisonment- Sell raw milk that fails to meet safety standards Any Person
- Unlawful sale of raw milk in Wales
Offence
- Fail to comply with Schedule 3 requirements
On request, a food business operator responsible for the transport...
- Provide documentary evidence to enforcement authority on request
In fulfilling the obligations under Article 5(1) of Regulation 852/2004...
- Treat cleaning as critical control point and check previous cargo for raw sugar sea transport
The captain of a sea-going vessel transporting, in tanks, bulk...
- Keep records of previous cargoes and cleaning for bulk liquid oils/fats
Where the cargo has been trans-shipped, in addition to the...
- Keep records proving previous cargo was transported and tanks cleaned properly
Upon request, the captain of the vessel must provide the...
- Provide documentary evidence of bulk cargo on request
The receptacles, containers or tankers referred to in paragraph 7...
- Clean and inspect transport containers before loading raw sugar
A food business operator who is responsible for the transport...
- Keep records of previous cargo and cleaning for raw sugar shipped by sea
Chill holding requirements
- Fail to keep food at safe chill holding temperature (including mail order)
Upward variation of the 8°C temperature by manufacturers etc.
- Do not recommend a higher storage temperature without scientific evidence
Hot holding requirements
- Keep hot food below 63°C
Requirements
- Label meat correctly and keep weekly production records
Offence
- Fail to comply with Schedule 5 requirements
Any person who sells raw milk intended for direct human...
- Sell raw milk for direct human consumption without complying with requirements
Any person who sells raw milk in contravention of paragraph...
Unlimited fine- Sell raw milk in breach of regulations
Any person who sells raw milk in contravention of paragraph...
- Sell raw milk in breach of regulations
(1) If any person other than the occupier of a...
- Sell raw cows' milk for direct human consumption illegally
A distributor may only sell raw cows' milk intended for...
- Sell raw cows' milk only in original sealed containers from a registered vehicle
Browse 47 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
DEFINITIONS OF LEGISLATION
The documentary evidence must 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...
Raw sugar
REQUIREMENTS REFERRED TO IN REGULATION 17(5)
REQUIREMENTS REFERRED TO IN REGULATION 17(6)
REQUIREMENTS REFERRED TO IN REGULATION 17(7)
REQUIREMENTS REFERRED TO IN REGULATION 17(8)
Scope
General exemptions from the chill holding requirements
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...
Except in cases to which paragraph 7B applies, the container...
In the case of any raw milk which is not...
In addition to the English text that must be included...
In addition to the English text that must be included...
Nothing in this Schedule prevents the following being marked or...
In this Schedule— “catering establishment” (“ sefydliad arlwyo ”) means...
THE SPECIAL HEALTH MARK
The special health mark must consist of a square mark...
When applied to carcases, the special health mark must measure...
The Colours in Food Regulations 1995
In regulation 10 (restriction on movement of animal by-products)—
In paragraph (1) of regulation 12 (enforcement)—
The Food Labelling Regulations 1996
In Schedule 3 (generic names in list of ingredients) in...
The words are “(g) the product obtained by removing the...
The Beef Bones Regulations 1997
In paragraph (1) of regulation 2 (interpretation)—
In regulation 12 (enforcement)— (a) for paragraph (1) there is...
In regulation 4 (health marking etc. of certain meat and...
The Animal By-Products (Identification) Regulations 1995
In paragraph (1) of regulation 2 (interpretation) —
In paragraph (a) of regulation 4 (scope) for the words...
In paragraph (2)(c) of regulation 5 (exemptions) for the words...
For regulation 6 (staining of animal by-products in cold stores,...
For regulation 8 (freezing of animal by-products in any animal...
In regulation 9 (storage and packaging of animal by-products)—
Official guidance
Authoritative sources published by regulators or government explaining this legislation.
- Food and feed codes of practice (opens in a new tab) from FSA Detailed Guidance
- Natural Resources Wales: Environmental permits (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- Food Standards Agency — Welsh language site (opens in a new tab) from FSA Detailed Guidance
- Find your local authority (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- Waste (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- Foodanddrink (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- Starting a food business (opens in a new tab) from FSA Detailed Guidance
- Safer Food Better Business packs (opens in a new tab) from FSA Detailed Guidance
- Food hygiene for your business (opens in a new tab) from FSA Detailed Guidance
- Food business approval (opens in a new tab) from FSA Detailed Guidance
- ... and 3 more
Enforcement and responsible bodies
The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.
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 …
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Browse legislation
Find other UK business legislation with related guidance.
Regulators
Learn more about the bodies that enforce this legislation.