During last December, 456 improvement notices in terms of article 33 of the Food Safety Act were issued. This notice is sent to all food business operators after an unannounced inspection is performed in their establishment by Environmental Health Officers. The intention of this notice is to inform food operators about deficiencies found in their establishments and these are given a specific date in order to remedy these deficiencies. While deficiencies may vary, however when major deficiencies are noted, legal action is taken as listed hereunder.

Ten undertakings were entered into with operators during the same period. Undertakings are legal agreements between the food business operators and the Health Authority on deadlines in order to remedy deficiencies in their premises or to re-label products in compliance with existing legislation. Failure to abide with the agreed deadlines results in Court proceedings being initiated.

Almost 150kg of poultry and lamb products were destroyed under the supervision of the Health Inspectorate as they originated from unauthorized establishments. Another 598 bottles and cans of drinks were also destroyed due to irregular labelling.

During the same month, three emergency control orders in terms of article 38 of the Food Safety Act were issued. These permanent or temporary orders are given to food business operators to stop part of their activities. These Emergency Control Orders were served on three different operators, all of whom were found to be storing, processing, or packing meat such as poultry products in unauthorized premises.

No Emergency Prohibition Orders or orders to close down premises were issued during this month.

Fifty-five complaints related to food safety were lodged with the Department during this month, 37 of which were lodged anonymously, but as per procedures still investigated. The most frequent complaint was with respect to improper labelling of food; 12 complainants reporting this matter, followed by alleged risk of contamination (9 complaints), eight on alleged unhygienic conditions. The rest of the complaints were related to fitness, storage of food, personal malpractices, and similar food related complaints.

For this reason, the Department for Environmental Health once again reminds the public that it can contact the Health Inspectorate Services between 07:30am and 03:30pm on telephone number 21337333, by calling personally at its offices at 37/39, Rue D’Argens, Msida or by email complaints.ph@gov.mt .

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