Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how food safety inspections are enforced in small businesses.

Food safety legislation, and the Food Law Code of Practice (England) (the Code) places a statutory duty on competent authorities to undertake official food controls that verify whether food businesses, including small and microbusinesses, comply with relevant food law requirements.

Food safety official controls are carried out by appropriately authorised officers from local authorities and port health authorities. These are competent authorities and use a range of statutory powers set out in food legislation.

Officers assess compliance with legal requirements by observing and discussing food handling practices, hygiene conditions, and by examining food safety management systems. Where noncompliance is identified, officers determine the most appropriate and proportionate course of action, taking account of the seriousness of the issue and any potential public health risk. This may include providing advice, issuing written requirements, or taking more formal enforcement action where necessary.