Food hygiene rating scheme - advice for food business
If you are a food business operator and want to request any services relating to the food rating then please complete the General Food Business Enquiry online form.
The Food Standards Agency revised their brand standard guidance for the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS) in November 2018.
Local Authorities are permitted make a charge for the re-rating service visits to food premises. The current cost is publicised in our fees and charges and within the MySouthend form when you apply for a re-rating. The fee must be paid in advance and food business operators can request a re-rating visit at any time following their rating inspection provided they have undertaken measures to address the non-compliances identified at the time of the initial rating inspection. In addition, there is no limit to the number of re-rating visits that can be requested and undertaken however there is a charge for each re-rating service visit requested.
There is now a charge for replacement food rating stickers.
Appeals against ratings and the right to reply provisions in the Brand Standard remain unchanged. For further information please visit the FHRS website.
On receipt of a written request for the re-rating service and the fee, the unannounced re-rating visit will be undertaken within 3 months. Following the visit the new rating will be issued within 14 days. Please be advised that the rating can go up, down or stay the same depending on the outcome of the re-rating visit. Payment of the fee does not guarantee an improved rating.