Powers and responsibilities

14Duties of Food Standards Agency

(1)

The FSA must—

(a)

in exercising its functions under this Act, have regard to guidance issued by the Welsh Ministers;

(b)

publish the matters to which a food authority must have regard when preparing and keeping under review an inspection programme under section 2 (where those matters have been approved by the Welsh Ministers);

(c)

publish the rating criteria against which a food hygiene rating is scored under section 3;

(d)

at the end of the period of 1 year beginning with the commencement of the scheme, and each subsequent period of 1 year, conduct a review of the operation of the appeals system established under section 5 during that period;

(e)

at the end of the period of 1 year beginning with the commencement of the scheme, and each subsequent period of 3 years, otherwise review the implementation and operation of the food hygiene rating scheme established under this Act during that period;

(f)

make recommendations to food authorities to assist them to comply with their responsibilities under the scheme;

(g)

promote the scheme to food business establishments and consumers in Wales;

(h)

supply food hygiene rating stickers in the prescribed form to food authorities without charge.

(2)

No later than 3 months after the end of the period to which a review under subsection (1)(d) relates, the FSA must lay a report before the National Assembly for Wales containing—

(a)

details of the review that was undertaken;

(b)

the recommendations for change, if any, to the appeals system it considers appropriate and its reasons for reaching that conclusion.

(3)

No later than 3 months after the end of the period to which a review under subsection (1)(e) relates, the FSA must lay a report before the National Assembly for Wales containing—

(a)

details of the review that was undertaken;

(b)

the recommendations for change, if any, to the food hygiene rating scheme it considers appropriate and its reasons for reaching that conclusion.

(4)

The FSA must send a copy of each report produced under this section to the Welsh Ministers.