Fixed Penalty Notices issued to Takeaways

Two takeaway food businesses in Port Talbot have been fined for failing to display a valid food hygiene rating sticker in the proper way.

Council Environmental Health Officers issued fixed penalty notices to Mr Bin Qi at Happy Wok, 17 Victoria Road, Port Talbot on 16th April and to Mr Joynal Miah at Shelina’s Tandoori Indian Takeaway, 44 Commercial Road, Taibach on 23rd January.

The fixed penalty notices carry a charge of £200, which is reduced to £150 if paid within 14 days of receipt. Both businesses paid within the 14 days.

The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme is run by the local authority in partnership with the Food Standards Agency. Under the Food Hygiene Rating (Wales) Act 2013 food businesses which sell food directly to consumers or to other businesses are legally required to display their rating. Officers of the Environmental Health and Trading Standards Service continually visit various businesses throughout the county borough and where a food business fails to display a valid food hygiene rating score in a conspicuous place, enforcement action will be taken.

Cllr Ali Thomas, Leader of Neath Port Talbot Council said:

“The issuing of these fixed penalty notices demonstrates how serious the Council is about promoting food hygiene, and ensuring fairness amongst all food businesses”.

“The aim of the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme is to drive businesses to improve their standards and, as a result, reduce the number of cases of food poisoning in the UK.

“The scheme wants to help consumers judge for themselves whether the hygiene standards of a food outlet are good enough. That is why it is a legal requirement for businesses to clearly display their ratings.”

More than 350 visits were made to food businesses in Neath Port Talbot between 1st April 2014 and 31st March 2015. In addition to the two fixed penalty notices, 35 warning letters were also issued.