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During an inspection

 
The inspection will be carried out by an environmental health officer. (You will be shown identification if you wish). You will not normally receive prior notice of our visit. The time taken varies considerably and is dependant on the size, nature and extent of your operations.

We will need to:
  • talk to staff about your quality control systems and practices (where these exist)
  • inspect all parts of your premises and equipment
  • talk to you about staff training, risk assessment and temperature control
  • the inspecting officer may also request relevant documentations including recipes and productions records.
Environmental health officers can:
  • Take samples and photographs, and inspect records. A food business must not obstruct inspectors.
  • Write informally asking the proprietor to put right any problems they find. Where breaches of the law are identified, which must be put right, they may serve an Improvement Notice.
  • Detain or seize foods.
  • In serious cases they may decide to recommend a prosecution. If the prosecution is successful, the Court may impose prohibitions on processes and the use of premises or equipment, fines and possibly imprisonment.
  • If there is an imminent health risk to consumers, inspectors can serve an Emergency Prohibition Notice that forbids the use of the premises or equipment. The Courts must confirm such a notice.

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About Greenwich

Environmental health department

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