A new publication, "The Food Industry Guide to Good Hygiene Practice: Wholesale Distributors", which provides advice to food wholesalers on how to comply with Regulation (EC) No. 852/2004 on the hygiene of foodstuffs, has been published by The Stationery Office.
The guide, which is officially recognised by the Food Standards Agency, has been developed by the Federation of Wholesale Distributors and the drafting was undertaken by a team of wholesale industry health and safety experts drawn from FWD members Bestway Cash & Carry, Booker, Brakes, Costco Wholesale UK and Musgrave Retail Partners GB.
The guide will help food wholesalers meet their legal requirements and ensure food safety - and covers hygiene of foodstuffs, temperature control requirements and compliance with the relevant microbiological criteria for foods.
John Murphy, director general of FWD, said: "This document is an essential tool for every wholesale depot - cash and carry, delivered retail or foodservice.
"It does exactly what its title implies. If a wholesaler follows its advice, he will not fall foul of the myriad food and safety laws that must be complied with."
Officers from food authorities must take the wholesalers use of the guide into account when assessing compliance with the regulations. The publication aims to help food wholesalers meet both their regulatory obligations and ensure food safety.
It has special status in law and the enforcement authority must take this in to account when assessing compliance with the legislation.
Priced at £10 per copy (or 10 copies for £90), The Food Industry Guide to Good Hygiene Practice: Wholesale Distributors (ISBN 9780112431015) can be ordered online at [http://www.tsoshop.co.uk] as well as from TSO stores or telephone 0870 600 5522.
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