Food Hygiene Rating Scheme

The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme came to Oxford on 1 April 2012.

Oxford City Council moved from Scores on the Doors to the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme on 1 April 2012.

Food Hygiene Rating Scheme - what is it?

The national scheme is a Food Standards Agency initiative to provide consumers with at-a-glance information about hygiene standards in food businesses found during planned inspections. The aim is to help them to make informed choices about where they eat out or shop for food.

Will your business be included in the scheme?

The new scheme is specifically aimed at establishments supplying food directly to consumers.

Are some businesses excluded from the scheme?

Yes, some businesses will be excluded and cannot participate in the scheme. Premises that are excluded are those who do not supply food directly to the public and include manufacturers, packers, distributors and wholesalers.

Exempt Businesses

Some premises are exempt from the scheme, such as newsagents selling sweets only, chemists and gift shops that sell packaged biscuits and sweets along side other goods. Certain establishments operating from private addresses are also exempt such as childminders and other caring services.

However such establishments can opt into the scheme for commercial purposes, if they wish. The details of these premises will be treated as sensitive and your home details not published on the website. Home caterers will be included, as the public expect them to be part of the scheme.

How do I find out what my food hygiene rating is?

Before 1 April 2012 you will receive a certificate telling you what your rating is, based on the last inspection. A business will be given a 0 - 5 rating.

The rating is assessed by looking at compliance in three areas:

• Food hygiene and safety procedures
• Structural requirements
• Confidence in management

• 0 - Urgent improvement necessary
• 1 - Major improvement necessary
• 2 - Improvement necessary
• 3 - Generally satisfactory
• 4 - Good
• 5 - Very good

The old Scores on the Doors certificate must be destroyed and the new one displayed.

Your business details and rating will be made publicly available on the Food Standards Agency website.

How to find out more

• Visit the Food Standards Agency website
• FHRS Business Guide (PDF)
• FHRS Consumer Guide (PDF)

Food Hygiene Rating Scheme Forms

• Right to reply form (DOC)
• Revisit request form (228kB DOC)
• Appeal form (DOC)

Contact Us

For any further enquiries please contact the Commercial Regulation Team on 01865 249811 or Email Us.

Page last reviewed 30 April 2012