The following is a summary of some activities undertaken by the Health Inspectorate Services of the Environmental Health Directorate within the Public Health Regulation Department during the month of April, 2011.

Improvement Notices Issued to Food Business Operators

610 improvement notices in terms of article 33 of the Food Safety Act have been issued to food business operators by the Health Inspectorate Services; a slight increase over the previous month.

This notice is sent to all food business operators following an unannounced inspection by Environmental Health Officers within their establishment. The intention of this notice is to inform food operators about deficiencies noted in their establishments while the operator is given a specific deadline by when the deficiencies need to be remedied. Though the seriousness of deficiencies might vary, legal action is initiated when major deficiencies are noted.

Undertakings with Food Business Operators

During the same month, nine undertakings were entered into with food business operators. Eight concerned hygiene of premises such as provision of washing facilities, HACCP, food hygiene training etc and one concerned improperly labelled food.

Undertakings are legal agreements between the food business operators and the Health Authority specifying deadlines by when deficiencies in their premises should be remedied or to re-label products in compliance with standing legislation. Failure to abide with the agreed deadlines results in Court proceedings being initiated.

Destruction of Food

In April, over 684kg of different foodstuffs were destroyed by the Health Inspectorate, ranging from: Over 600kg of several food items with lapsed durability date; 47kg of food with improper labelling; 11kg of eggs due to traceability issues; and Almost 5kg of poultry since these were being marketed as fresh whilst being frozen;

Legionella Audits and Pool Inspections

Eighteen audits at Hotels, and other similar premises to ascertain compliance with Control of Legionella Regulations, 2006 (L.N. 5 of 2006) and the Registration of Cooling Towers and Evaporative Condensers Regulations, 2006 (L.N. 6 of 2006) were performed by the Health Inspectorate during last month.

During the same month, twenty-six swimming pools were inspected during twelve relevant audits carried out by the Health Inspectorate to verify compliance with Swimming Pools Regulations, 2005 (L.N. 129 of 2005). This regulation specifies that all swimming pools with the exception of those situated at a single family residence need to register with this Directorate.

During April, three swimming pools were registered with this Directorate in terms of mentioned regulation. A list of registered pools can be found in the Directorate’s website mentioned below.

Inspections of Schools

During April, eighteen schools were inspected to ensure compliance with general hygiene requirements. Such inspections are carried out in private, government or church owned schools and whether, primary, secondary, tertiary or language or special schools.

Abatement Notices

Nineteen abatement notices were issued during the previous month by the Health Inspectorate in terms of the Public Health Act and in view of inspections and audits carried out in the previous days.

Food Consignments

Eighty-nine consignments of food imported into Malta were also inspected during April by Environmental Health officers attached with the Port Health Services within this Directorate.

Ship Sanitation Certificates

During April, thirty-one Ship Sanitation Certificates were issued by the Port Health Services. Such inspections are carried out in terms of the International Health Regulations of 2005 and involve the assessment of the general hygienic conditions and control measures undertaken on ships. Such certificate needs to be renewed every 6 months at an authorised port; Malta being an authorised port.

Applications and Consultations

During April, another unit within the Environmental Health Directorate, the Food Safety Unit, received fifty-two requests to process applications to operate a food business. Prospective operators who wish to open a food business are obliged to apply for a permit with the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) and then apply for the actual licence with the competent authority such as the Trade Licensing Unit or Malta Tourism Authority. At every stage, this Directorate is consulted in order to verify suitability of proposed premises.

During the same month, Environmental Health Officers deployed within this unit carried out a total of 102 visits.

With regards to non-food applications, the Health Inspectorate received another twenty applications for clearance with respect to proposed outlets such as tattooists, beauticians, hairdressers, etc.

Samples

During April, 338 samples were elevated by the Health Inspectorate and submitted to the Public Health Laboratory for analysis and/or examination for several parameters;

o 156 food samples,

o 50 potable water samples,

o 29 swabs,

o 71 infiltration water samples,

o 4 pool water samples and

o 28 other samples.

During the last months, the Directorate also launched its sampling programmes as has been done in recent years. Throughout this year, 16 microbiological sampling programmes and 28 chemical sampling programmes are planned.

Recalls

Throughout last month, no food products were recalled by this Directorate but one product was voluntarily recalled by the Company.

Contraventions

In the past month, nine contraventions were issued/processed by the Health Inspectorate, six of which were food related as follows: Four doughnut hawkers, as follows: at Triq Hompesh, Zabbar for not having adequate facilities for washing of hands and equipment besides that food handler and stall were not registered with Food Safety Commission; Three at Ta Qali Market for different deficiencies such as lack of washing facilities, exposing food to risk of contamination, food handlers’ malpractices, failing to register vehicles, and food handlers; Retailer in Burmarrad for keeping poultry at irregular temperature and improper labelling; Operator of a temporary stall at Crafts Village, Ta Qali for disposing of sealed items without prior approval from Health Authority; Another fast food hawker at Ta Qali for having equipment that might cause risk of contamination; An ice cream manufacturer in Gzira for not complying with an undertaking

The following environmental related citation (one) was also issued / processed:

o Owner of a site at l-Ghallis area, l/o Naxxar for keeping an accumulation of refuse and similar material;

Emergency Control and Prohibition Orders

During April, no food businesses were closed down or served with emergency control orders.

Complaints

In April, 387 complaints were lodged with the Directorate which were categorised in one or more category, as follows:

Food related complaints

Eighty complaints were related to food. The most common type of food complaints concerned improper labelling of food (13 complaints), unfit food (12 complaints), odours and other emissions from food premises (9 complaints) and unhygienic premises (8 complaints).

Other Environmental Health related complaints

Another 342 complaints were environmental health related. The most common type concerned infiltrations (74 complaints), presence of pests (74 complaints), foul smells (28 complaints), discharge of foul water (24 complaints), and accumulations of refuse (20 complaints).

Note: The number of complaints and the number of categories do not tally, since one complaint received may encompass one or more categories.

The Environmental Health Directorate takes this opportunity to remind the public that it can contact the Health Inspectorate Services between 7:30am and 3:30pm on telephone number 21337333, by calling personally at its offices at 37-39, Rue D’Argens, Msida or by email complaints.ph@gov.mt .

For further information, the public is also encouraged to visit the Directorate’s website at URL: https://ehealth.gov.mt/HealthPortal/public_health/environmental-health/department_for_env_health.aspx

Permalink: Over 684kg of different foodstuffs destroyed in April