Food Hygiene Rating (Wales) Act 2013
The Food Hygiene Rating (Wales) Act 2013 (‘the Act’) establishes a food hygiene rating scheme for Wales. The scheme provides for food authorities in Wales to inspect and produce food hygiene ratings of food business establishments in their areas.
A food hygiene rating is to be produced by scoring the food hygiene standards of an establishment against criteria published by the Food Standards Agency (“FSA”).
A food business establishment may appeal against its food hygiene rating and comment on it.
A food authority must inform the FSA of the food hygiene rating of an establishment in its area, and the FSA must publish the rating.
A food business establishment must inform the public of its food hygiene rating.
Failure to inform the public is a criminal offence, punishable by a fine or fixed penalty.
A food business establishment may in certain circumstances request a re-rating.
Powers and responsibilities of food authorities and the FSA, and responsibilities of operators of food business establishments are also set out in the Act.
The Explanatory Notes to the Act provide detailed commentary on the various provisions.
Coming into force:
Section 27 (Commencement) came into force at the end of the period of 2 months beginning with the day on which the Act received Royal Assent.
The remaining provisions of this Act come into force on a day appointed by order made by the Welsh Ministers, in accordance with section 27(2).
The following orders have been made:
• The Food Hygiene Rating (Wales) Act 2013 (Commencement No.2) Order 2014
• The Food Hygiene Rating (Wales) Act 2013 (Commencement No.1) Order 2013
Subordinate legislation made under the Act:
| Title | Citation number | Made date | Coming into force date | Supporting documents |
| The Food Hygiene Rating (Promotion of Food Hygiene Rating) (Wales) Regulations 2016 | 2016 No. 429 (W. 138) | 18 March 2016 | 28 November 2016 | Explanatory Memorandum |
| The Food Hygiene Rating (Wales) Regulations 2013 | 2013 No. 2903 (W. 282) | 12 November 2013 | 28 November 2013 Regulation 8 came into force on 28 November 2014. | Explanatory Memorandum |
Consideration of the legislation by the Senedd:
The Bill was introduced on 28 May 2012 by Lesley Griffiths MS, who was the Minister for Health and Social Services at the time. The Bill was passed by Senedd Cymru (then known as National Assembly for Wales) on 22 January 2013.
More information about the Bill is available on the Senedd website including a record of the passage of the Bill through Senedd Cymru and the Explanatory Memorandum that was prepared by the Welsh Government (as revised after Stage 2).
The Act received Royal Assent on 4 March 2013.
Related articles and information:
Food hygiene ratings | GOV.WALES