A total of 77 enforcement orders were served on food businesses for breaches of food safety legislation in 2022, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has said.

This represents an increase of 31% on 2021 (59 enforcement orders), following an almost full year of normal food business operations after the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions.

65 closure orders and 12 prohibition orders were issued on food businesses throughout the country last year, the FSAI said.

Food safety issues identified included improper storage of food; a lack of pest control procedures; and a lack of proper temperature control in the storage, preparation and distribution of food, and personal hygiene.

The orders were issued by environmental health officers in the Health Service Executive (HSE), sea-fisheries protection officers in the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA), and FSAI officers.

"Food businesses should not be falling short on their legal requirements. They should adhere to food safety regulations at all times.

"It is disappointing that month after month, food inspectors find similar, basic and fundamental breaches of food law," FSAI chief executive, Dr. Pamela Byrne said.

Six closure orders were served during December 2022, of which four were issued under the EU Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation Regulations, 2020:

Two closure orders were served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on:

Some of the reasons for the closure orders in December included:

The FSAI also published the details of one closure order served by the HSE in November 2022 under the FSAI Act, 1998 on Brambles Deli Café Limited, Wells House and Gardens, Wells, Gorey, Co. Wexford.

The closure order had been subject to an appeal which was subsequently withdrawn, the FSAI said.

Eight prohibition orders (also subject to an appeal which was subsequently withdrawn) were served by the HSE in July 2022 under the EU Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation Regulations, 2020.

The orders related to unauthorised novel foods (CBD products) on the market and were served on Holland and Barrett, Units 5 and 6, Cedar Drive, Dublin Airport Logistics Park, Saint Margarets Road, Saint Margarets.

The FSAI continues to urge all food businesses to adhere to food safety legislation, appropriately train staff to produce, serve and sell food that is safe to eat and ensure premises are adequately pest proofed.