What legal action can be taken if a food business fails to meet the standards required?
Where a business fails to meet the required food hygiene standards, an authorised officer can serve a Hygiene Improvement notice/Improvement notice requiring the proprietor of the business to take action to ensure that the premises complies with the standard. In certain circumstances, an authorised officer may serve a Hygiene Emergency Prohibition notice/Emergency Prohibition notice which prevents the use of the premises or part of the premises. Alternatively, or in addition to this, an authorised officer can report matters to the Procurator Fiscal with a view to prosecution via the court system.
