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At its
open meeting held recently in Edinburgh, the FSA Board agreed that a
single nationwide scores on the doors scheme should be put in place
to make food business hygiene ratings available to consumers.
This decision
was based on experience with over 100 schemes which have been running
over the past two years and demonstrates the Agency's commitment to
enable consumer choice.
The Agency
will consult on two possible schemes:
* a four
tiered system, with three stars and a fail rating
* a scheme
with 'Pass' or 'Improvement Required' certificates being issued,
alongside a fail rating - as per the scheme which has been piloted in Scotland
A 12-week
consultation will launched and be made available on the FSA website.
The Agency is asking all interested parties to respond to this.
Once this
consultation has closed and the Agency has reviewed the responses we
will work with local authorities to finalise and implement the scheme.
Dame Deirdre
Hutton, Chair of the FSA said: 'We had a lively and interesting
discussion. The Board agreed that we should adopt a UK wide Scores on
the Doors scheme. It also felt that it was only proper that as well
as consulting on the scheme that our research shows is popular with
consumers we should also ask people to think about the scheme which
has been running in Scotland for the last 18 months.
'Scores on
the doors is an important step in empowering consumers to make
informed choices about the food they eat. The pilot schemes have
provided valuable data to inform the decision of the Board and I
would like to extend the Agency's thanks to all of the local
authorities who implemented and maintained these and other scores on
the doors schemes.
Our data
shows that the introduction of a single nationwide scheme is clearly
supported by all stakeholders and we will work with local authorities
and food businesses across the country to put this in place.'
The FSA is
currently recommending a voluntary approach to the display of scores.
These scores will also be available to consumers via the Internet. We
will continue to work with local authorities to monitor how this
operates in practice. At this stage the Agency does not believe
advocating a mandatory approach would be in line with the principles
of better regulation.'
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