What To Expect When You're Inspected
Preparing for the Isle of Man Food Hygiene Scheme
The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture (DEFA) has launched the Isle of Man's new Food Hygiene Scheme (FHS) for cafés, restaurants and takeaways.
The scheme aims to provide consumers with clear information about food hygiene standards while supporting businesses to achieve and maintain high standards of food safety.
Under the scheme, businesses within scope will be inspected by Environmental Health Officers and awarded a food hygiene rating based on the standards found at the time of inspection. The assessment approach is aligned with the Food Standards Agency's Food Hygiene Rating Scheme used in England and Wales, together with comparable schemes operating elsewhere in the British Isles.
Inspections under the scheme will commence from January 2027, with food hygiene ratings being published online shortly afterwards. The period between now and the start of inspections provides businesses with an opportunity to understand how the scheme operates, prepare for inspection and make any improvements necessary before ratings are awarded and published.
What will be assessed?
During an inspection, officers will consider three key areas:
How hygienically food is handled – including food preparation, cooking, cooling, storage and contamination controls.
The condition and cleanliness of the premises – including layout, maintenance, cleanliness and facilities.
Confidence in management – including food safety systems, procedures, record keeping, staff training and overall management of food safety risks.
Based on these findings, businesses will receive a rating from:
5 – Hygiene standards are very good
4 – Hygiene standards are good
3 – Hygiene standards are generally satisfactory
2 – Some improvement is necessary
1 – Major improvement is necessary
0 – Urgent improvement is necessary
About the Presentation
This presentation has been designed to help businesses understand exactly what to expect when an Environmental Health Officer visits their premises and how food hygiene ratings will be determined.
The session will cover:
An overview of the new Food Hygiene Scheme
How inspections are carried out in practice
What officers look for during an inspection
How food hygiene ratings are calculated
Common issues that affect ratings
Examples of good practice
Food safety management and record-keeping expectations
Staff training and supervision requirements
Practical steps businesses can take to improve compliance
What happens following an inspection
Publication of ratings and what businesses can expect from 2027 onwards
Further support, guidance and resources available from DEFA
There will also be an opportunity to ask questions directly to members of the Environmental Health Team.
Who Should Attend?
This presentation is suitable for:
Business owners
Food business operators
Restaurant and café managers
Head chefs and kitchen supervisors
Staff responsible for food safety and compliance
Event Details
Venue: Barroole Suite, Tynwald Buildings, Douglas
Cost: Free of charge
Attendance: Places are limited to two representatives per business
As places are limited, early booking is recommended.
Please note that this presentation is currently only open to business that fall within the scope of the scheme (e.g. restaurants, cafés and takeaways). All other reservations will be cancelled.