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13th May 2025
12:48pm BST
Eight closure orders and two improvement orders were served on Irish food businesses during April 2025, according to the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI).
The enforcement orders were issued for breaches of food safety legislation, pursuant to the FSAI Act, 1998 and the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020, by Environmental Health Officers in the Health Service Executive (HSE).
Two closure orders were served under the FSAI Act on:
And six closure orders were served under the EU regulations on:
Two improvement orders were served under the FSAI Act on:
Under the FSAI Act 1998, closure orders are issued if - in the opinion of the authorised officer - there is or there is likely to be a grave and immediate danger to public health at/or in the food premises.
They may also be served under the European Union Regulations, 2020 if, in the opinion of the authorised officer, there is non-compliance with food legislation by a food business operator.
Closure orders can refer to the immediate closure of all or part of the food premises, or all or some of its activities. The orders may be lifted when the premises have improved to the satisfaction of the authorised officer.
Meanwhile, under the FSAI Act 1998, an improvement order may be issued by the District Court if an Improvement Notice is not complied with within a defined period.
Further non-compliance can result in a Closure Order also being served.
An Improvement Notice is served when it is deemed that any activity involving the handling, preparation, etc. of food or the condition of a premises (or part thereof) is of such a nature that if it persists it will or is likely to pose a risk to public health.
According to the FSAI, some of the reasons for enforcement orders in April include the following:
"No documentation of pest control checks; multiple mouse droppings throughout the premises, including in a cupboard, under a sink and wash hand basin used for storing cleaning equipment; flies observed in the kitchen with no fly screen in place; failure by staff to demonstrate any knowledge of food safety management procedures; inadequate and uncalibrated equipment used to monitor temperatures; lack of evidence to support use-by dates on defrosted food; lack of cleaning and disinfection; no hot water or designated hand wash basin in the food preparation area; a heavily stained kitchen, with visible dirt and grease on cooking equipment and stainless steel surfaces; customer toilets and urinals that had not been cleaned; an outdoor sink unit positioned over an open drainage gully, posing a contamination risk."
Commenting on the enforcement order, Chief Executive of the FSAI, Mr Greg Dempsey, warned that there is an obligation for food businesses to act responsibly and ensure the food they provide to their customers is safe to eat.
“Food businesses owe it to their customers that the food they are selling is safe to eat.
"Not only is it the right thing to do, it’s also a legal requirement under food law. Consumers have a right to trust that the food they buy is safe to eat and that it complies with all relevant food safety legislation."
He continued: "The findings that led to these Enforcement Orders highlight an unacceptable disregard for basic food safety and hygiene practices. These are preventable issues, and there are simply no excuses for failing to comply with the law.
"Food businesses must remain vigilant, ensuring regular checks, effective pest control, and thoroughly cleaned well-maintained premises to protect their customers’ health and uphold consumer trust in the food chain.”
