Code of Practice for Northern Ireland

The Food Law Code of Practice and associated Practice Guidance for Northern Ireland is available.

The Code of Practice sets out instructions and criteria that district councils should have regard to when engaged in the enforcement of food law. District councils must follow and implement the provisions of the code. The Practice Guidance gives advice to enforcement officers on how best to apply the provisions laid down within the code.

The Code of Practice for Northern Ireland was revised in 2008 to reflect the principles of better regulation and to reduce the administrative burdens on business and on district councils, while maintaining standards of public health and consumer protection.

A significant change to the code included the introduction of interventions to provide a more flexible approach to food law enforcement. The aim of this change was to ensure that resources are directed at those food businesses that present the greatest risk to public health and consumer protection.

The most recent version of the Food Law Code of Practice for Northern Ireland (August 2008) and Practice Guidance for Northern Ireland (June 2006) can also be accessed at the links below.

There are separate but parallel Codes of Practice and Practice Guidance for England, Scotland and Wales.

If you have any queries about the Code of Practice and/or Practice Guidance for Northern Ireland please contact:
Mrs Kathryn Baker
10 A-C Clarendon Road
Belfast BT1 3BG

tel: 028 9041 7736
email: kathryn.baker@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk