Resources for businesses
How to achieve a good food hygiene rating
To help food business operators improve the food hygiene rating score of their food business, a checklist is available. The checklist will help you to ensure you are meeting legal requirements and following good hygiene practices. Please download the checklist and use it to take an honest look at your food business by completing the questions. For any question you are unsure of or do not know the answer to, then answer “No” and take action to find information and make improvements.
- Food hygiene rating scheme - checklist for food businesses (PDF - 49.07 KB)
- Resources for your business to help you get the most out of your food hygiene rating
- Frequently asked questions about the food hygiene rating scheme
You can use the information on our food safety pages to help you improve your food business.
Request a food hygiene re-rating inspection
There is a charge for food hygiene re-rating to improve the food hygiene rating of your food business. Bromley Council charges £250 for re-rating inspections.
Before requesting a food hygiene rating inspection, please check that a routine food hygiene inspection is not due. Check the food business risk category in the inspection letter or the food hygiene rating letter you received after your last inspection. Use the table to calculate the time of the next inspection, if the inspection falls due within the next three months please do not apply for a re-rating inspection.
If you cannot find the food business risk category on the inspection letter or the food hygiene rating letter please email the food team at food@bromley.gov.uk to request the current risk category of your food business.
Frequency of routine inspections of food premises
| Risk category | Minimum inspection frequency |
|---|---|
| A | At least every 6 months |
| B | At least every 12 months |
| C | At least every 18 months |
| D | At least every 24 months |
| E | At least every 3 years |
Notes for businesses
- As the food business operator / proprietor you have a right to request a re-rating inspection if you have taken action to rectify the things that were wrong, identified at the time of the statutory inspection.
- You may request a re-rating inspection at any time after a planned statutory inspection if you have made the required improvements.
- The council charges a fee for each re-rating inspection you request, see apply and pay for a food hygiene rating inspection. There is no limit on the number of requests you may make.
- The re-rating inspection will be carried out within three months of the receipt of your request and payment of the fee.
- You must provide details of the improvements made with your request including supporting evidence where appropriate.
- The inspecting officer will visit again only if satisfied that you have provided sufficient evidence that the requested improvements to food hygiene have been made.
- The re-rating inspection will be unannounced and will be carried out within three months of the receipt of your request and payment of the fee.
- After the re-rating inspection, the officer will give you a ‘new’ food hygiene rating based on the level of compliance that is found at the time of the re-rating inspection. You should be aware that your rating could go up, down or remain the same.
- To request a re-rating inspection, please complete the online form where you will also be able to pay the fee for the re-rating inspection.
Apply and pay for a food hygiene rating inspection
Safeguards
Businesses can also appeal their rating and have a ‘right to reply’ to their local authority following an inspection.
Appeals
Before making an appeal, business owners or managers should contact the local authority food safety officer first to understand why the rating was given.
Email: food@bromley.gov.uk
If the business owner or manager still thinks that the rating is unfair or wrong, they can appeal in writing to their local authority. Details on how to appeal can be found on the Food Standards Agency website.
Businesses right to reply
The right to reply allows the business to tell customers how the business has improved its hygiene standards or if there were unusual circumstances at the time of inspection. This response will be published online, alongside the rating, by the local authority. Details on how to submit a right to apply form to your local authority can be found on the Food Standards Agency website.
Email: food@bromley.gov.uk
Post: to Food Safety Team, Public Protection, Civic Centre, Stockwell Close, Bromley BR1 3UH.