This is the monthly report of salient activities performed by the Health Inspectorate Services of the Environmental Health Directorate within the Superintendence of Public Health during September, 2011.

The following is a summary of the report for the month of September:

o 2 premises were closed down; one due to food safety issues whilst another one was closed down due to presence of Legionella in the water system;

o 3 operators were ordered to stop an activity ;

o 1133kg of different foodstuffs were destroyed by the Health Inspectorate;

o 3 products were recalled;

o 476 total number of routine visits;

o 13 undertakings were issued;

o 7 Legionella audits carried out;

o 2 swimming pools audited during 2 audits;

o 13 abatement notices issued;

o 63 consignments imported were inspected;

o 3 packages containing tattoo equipment were withheld;

o 2731 notification for importing/trading food into Malta;

o 28 Ship Sanitation certificates issued;

o 62 applications were processed;

o 70 visits related to food business applications;

o 721 samples elevated and analysed;

o 21 citations issued/processed;

o 706 complaints lodged with the Health Inspectorate.

IMPROVEMENT NOTICES ISSUED TO FOOD BUSINESS OPERATORS

Four Hundred and Seventy Six improvement notices in terms of article 33 of the Food Safety Act have been issued to food business operators by the Health Inspectorate Services.

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

During the same month, eleven undertakings were entered into with food business operators in terms of the Food Safety Act including to improve hygiene, improper labelling, to implement HACCP and to ensure that all food handlers undergo training on food hygiene.

Another two undertakings were made under the Public Health Act with catering establishments to ensure that risk assessment is made and hence a risk assessment manual is kept with regards to Legionella exposure.

Undertakings are legal agreements between the commercial 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 September, around 1133kg of different foodstuffs were destroyed by the Health Inspectorate, ranging from:

o 871kg of dried figs due to improper traceability in terms of EC Regulation 1152 of 2009;

o 207litres of milk products for improper storage conditions;

o 35kg of doughnuts and cream confectionery due to risk of contamination;

o 20kg of miscellaneous foodstuffs due to improper labelling and unlicensed food facility;

o 10kg of coleslaw exposed to risk of contamination and

o 10kg of apples pies since these were manufactured in an unlicensed premises

LEGIONELLA AUDITS AND POOL INSPECTIONS

Seven 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, two swimming pools were inspected during two 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 September, two swimming pools were registered with this Directorate in terms of mentioned regulations. A list of registered pools can be found in the Directorate’s website mentioned below.

ABATEMENT NOTICES

Thirteen 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.

ENFORCEMENT NOTICES

During last month, one Hotel in Qawra was served with an Enforcement Notice and closed down in terms of the Public Health Act due to presence of Legionella in the water system.

FOOD CONSIGNMENTS

Sixty-three consignments of food imported/traded into Malta were also inspected during September by Environmental Health Officers attached with the Port Health Services within this Directorate.

NON-FOOD CONSIGNMENTS

During this period, officials from the Port Health Services also withheld three packages containing tattoo equipment which were being imported illegally into Malta.

CONSIGNMENTS DOCUMENTARY CHECKS

2,731 requests for importation/trading of foodstuffs were submitted to the Port Health Services as required by Trading Regulations of 2004 (Legal Notice 315 of 2004 which can be downloaded from http://www.justiceservices.gov.mt/DownloadDocument.aspx?app=lom&itemid=11120&l=1 ).

This is a considerable increase when compared to previous months, probably due to increased awareness of traders and increase in enforcement by food related authorities following a press release (PR 1531) issued in August.

All traders of food including food contact materials and food supplements are reminded to notify the Port Health Services, 48hours in advance as explained in Press Release 1531 issued on 13th August, 2011 (URL: http://www.doi.gov.mt/EN/press_releases/2011/08/pr1531.pdf )

SHIP SANITATION CERTIFICATES

During September, twenty-eight 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 September, the Health Inspectorate received sixty-two requests to process applications to operate food and non-food business. Prospective operators who wish to open such businesses 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 with the Food Safety Unit, which is involved in the licensing of food related business carried out a total of seventy visits and processed one consultation.

SAMPLES

During September, 721 samples were elevated by the Health Inspectorate and submitted to the Public Health Laboratory for analysis and/or examination for several parameters;

o 172 food samples,

o 90 potable water samples,

o 21 swabs,

o 61 infiltration water samples,

o 348 sea water samples and

o 29 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.

BATHING WATER MONITORING PROGRAMME

As stated above, during the month of August, 348 samples of sea water were collected and submitted to the Public Health Laboratory to be analysed for microbiological parameters as stipulated by EU Directive 2006/7/EC. The bathing water monitoring programme is carried out in accordance with the provisions of said EU Directive. The official bathing season started on the 16th May 2011 and will last till the 23rd October 2010. Sampling is carried out from 87 official bathing sites throughout the Maltese islands.

Up to the 20th week of the monitoring programme the 87 sites have been classified as follows: 83 sites as Excellent Quality, 4 sites as Good Quality, and No sites as Sufficient or Poor Quality.

CONTRAVENTIONS

In the past month, twenty-one contraventions were issued/processed by the Health Inspectorate, seventeen of which were related to environmental health as follows:

o Four outlets in Qormi, three in Qawra, two in Zebbug and two in Rabat, and one in Bugibba, St. Paul’s Bay, Naxxar and Siggiewi due to improper health warning on cigarette packets;

o Two residences in Qormi for being kept in unhygienic conditions.

Another four contraventions were related to food safety issues:

o Catering outlet in Bahar ic-Caghaq for failing to provide washing facilities, exposing food to risk of contamination, and unhygienic equipment;

o Catering outlet in Zabbar for failing to keep food in proper storage conditions, lack of hand washing facilities, improper lighting and ventilation;

o Manufacturer/retailer in Zabbar for exposing food to risk of contamination;

o Confectionery in St. Julians for not providing proper pest control measures, equipment and

premises not in good state of repair, exposing food to risk of contamination even through the drainage layout, improper toilet facilities, food handlers not registered, and no hot water over hand washing facilities.

FROM THE LAW COURTS

During the last three months, thirty six cases (out of 222 cases) were decided by the Magistrate’s Court during seven Health Sittings held. From these cases, fifteen cases were new whilst the remaining were brought forward from other months/years. Twelve cases out of these fifteen new cases were decided.

From these cases, those found guilty were sentenced conditional discharges ranging from 1 months to 1 year and to fines, the total of which amounted to €916. The fines were imposed on the operators of:

o TaS-sghir Pastizzerija, 4, Misrah ir-Repubblika,sejtun for not abiding with an undertaking dating back 3rd June, 2010 (€466)

o Hawker with vehicle JAI 361 at Ta Qali open Market for storwage of food in non food grade plastic bags on 17th April, 2011 (€450).

The following were given conditional discharges for a stipulated period:

One year

o One of the operators of Tower Supermarket, High Street, Sliema on 24th November 2010 for having in possession eggs packaging, the labelling iof which might mislead consumers; and

o Operator of M & S Discount Store, of 69, Triq Matty Grima, Cospicua for exposing food to risk of contamination and unhygienic storage of food during January, 2011;

Six months

o Operator of vehicle number ZUZ269, at Triq San Edwardu, Birgu for having in possession foodstuffs with improper labelling, hawker stand not registered with the Food Safety Commission, no facilities for washing of hands and no supply of hot and cold water in February, 2011; and

o Operator of doughnut hawker with vehicle no. DCL 111 at Ta’ Qali Open Market for not having adequate washing facilities, for not being registered with the Food Safety Commission, no effective separation and thus for exposing food to risk of contamination, no protective clothing and for smoking during handling of food in April, 2011.

Three months

o Operator of fish hawker EAU 664, at Stella Maris Street, Sliema for not having adequate washing facilities and no hot and cold water in April, 2011.

o Operator of Heidi Bazaar, AuSe Pace Street, Hamrun for carrying out food handling without being registered in May, 2011

o Hawker in Marsaxlokk for selling foodstuffs without proper labelling back in March 2006;

o Operator of Chinese Melody, Triq Piscopo Macedonia, Xemxija for unhygienic conditions/state of repair of premises, risk of contamination, improper lighting and ventilation, lack f hand washing facilities in certain areas, improper equipment which come in direct contact with food, premises not registered with Food Safety Commission, swimming pool not registered with Health Authority, besides not having adequate signs, manuals, no proper monitoring and no showers in October, 2008.

o Operator of vehicle number BAC 262 at Triq Mile End, Hamrun for having in transporting milk products in improper conditions in July, 2004.

One month

o Operator of doughnut hawker JES 652 at Ta’Qali Open Market for not having adequate washing facilities and food handler not registered in April, 2011

EMERGENCY CONTROL AND PROHIBITION ORDERS

During September, one premises, namely 36, Misrah is-Sliem, Zabbar was closed down by the Health Authority due to an imminent risk to public health. This prohibition order was lifted on the 14th September, 2011 and amended into a control order (i.e. premises reopened but operator still instructed not to operate as food business). Two of the prohibition orders issued during August on Fuyi Cantonese Cuisine, Triq il-Hgejjeg, Bugibba and Caffe Al Latte, Pioneer Corps Road, Bugibba were lifted on the 6th September following remedial action by the operator and hence premises reopened.

During the same month another three operators were served with emergency control orders as follows:

1. One catering establishment in Swieqi for using a contaminated borehole for human consumption (order lifted on 29th September)

2. One outlet in Zabbar for manufacturing foodstuffs in an unlicensed premises (as above) and;

3. One confectionery in St. Julians for operating in unhygienic conditions (order lifted on the 29th September).

COMPLAINTS

In September, 706 complaints were lodged with the Directorate which were categorised in one or more category, as follows:

o Food related complaints

113 complaints were related to food. The most common type of food complaints concerned unfit food (36 complaints), unhygienic premises (18 complaints), risk of contamination (13 complaints), improper labelling of food (8 complaints), and another eight on improper storage of food.

o Other Environmental Health related complaints

Another 644 complaints were environmental health related. The most common type concerned presence of pests (218 complaints), infiltrations (95 complaints), accumulations of refuse (65 complaints), foul smells (48 complaints), foul water (46 complaints), and keeping of animals in unhygienic conditions (39 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 .

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