European Communities (Hygiene of Foodstuffs) Regulations, 2000 (S.I. No. 165 of 2000).

These Regulations give effect to Council Directive 93/43/EEC on the hygiene of foodstuffs. They cover all stages after primary production and set down the obligations on proprietors of food businesses, including the requirement that such business is operated in a hygienic way. The rules of hygiene cover requirements for premises, rooms where food is prepared, foodstuffs, transportation, equipment, food waste, water supply, personal hygiene and training. Proprietors are also obliged to identify steps in the activities of the business which are critical to ensuring food safety and ensure that adequate safety procedures are identified, implemented and reviewed. The Regulations also give effect to Commission Directives 96/3/EC and 98/28/EC which provides a derogation from part of the Annex to Directive 94/43/EEC and lays down equivalent conditions to ensure the protection of the public health and safety of food in the case of the bulk transport in sea going vessels of liquid oils or fats and the transport by sea of bulk raw sugar. The Regulations also provide for the Food Safety Authority of Ireland to approve Guides to Good Hygiene Practice which may be used voluntarily by food businesses as a guide to compliance with these Regulations.