FHRS - How the scheme works
This page is about how the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme for the business works.
Each food business is given a ‘hygiene rating’ when it is inspected by an Environmental Health Officer. The 
hygiene rating shows how closely the business is meeting the requirements of food hygiene law.
The risk rating that is given to the business after an inspection is linked to a rating tier in the Scheme. This will appear on the search for hygiene ratings page of the Food Standards Agency website. The public will be able check and compare hygiene ratings before deciding where to eat or shop.
Checklist
To help get the best rating we have put together a checklist (Word) (Word 7.0 document [13.7Kb]) so that when your next visit is due all the maters you need to have done are in place.
Remember, if you don’t get the things done on the checklist, it is likely that you will not get the best rating for your business, and the rating you do get may stay on the public website until the next visit.
For most businesses a fully documented and operating food safety management system is required. If you do not have one then you will only be able to achieve 1 out of 5 on the hygiene scheme, as this will be indicated on the public website.
Achieving a higher score is well within any businesses’ capability if it ensures food hygiene is taken seriously and remains a priority with all.
The hygiene ratings
At the end of your inspection, you will be issued a certificate and sticker indicating one of the following hygiene ratings:
- 0 - Urgent improvement necessary
- 1 - Major improvement necessary
- 2 - Improvement necessary
- 3 - Generally satisfactory
- 4 - Good
- 5 - Very Good.
See also
In order to ensure that the scheme is fair to businesses, it has been designed to include a number of safeguards.
- appeal procedure
- right to reply
and an opportunity to request a re-visit when improvements have been made in order to be re-assessed for a new rating.
- Also see the the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme Flow chart (Word) (Word 7.0 document [14.9Kb]).
Related websites
A summary of the information for food businesses about these different safeguards - The national 'Food Hygiene Rating Scheme' - safeguards for food businesses (PDF, FSA website).
Contact
Email: food.safety@reigate-banstead.gov.uk
Telephone: 01737 276417.
Write to:
Food Safety Team
Environmental Health Services
Reigate & Banstead Borough Council
Castlefield Road
Reigate
RH2 0SH.
Last updated : 22/12/2010
