Role of an EHO can be:
While EHOs are enforcement officers, they are also educators and advisors and they work very closely with the owners of food businesses to build compliance with the law.
The EHO ensures that the owner/operator of the food business understands that there is a law, what their obligations are under that law and what are the possible consequences are if they do not comply.
In cases where there are breaches of the law, Environmental Health Officers have a range of sanctions open to them from a Verbal Warning through to a Closure Order being served.
In general, most food businesses receive a written report from the Environmental Health Officer after every inspection outlining what needs to be improved upon and a timeframe within which they need to do it. In serious cases where an Improvement Notice is served and if this is not complied with by the date given, then the EHO can seek an Improvement Order in the District Court. This can be a costly business for the food business owner.
EHOs can also issue a Closure Order if in they think there is non-compliance with food legislation, if an Improvement Order has not been complied with or where the food business is, in the opinion of the EHO 'likely to pose a grave and immediate danger to public health'.
Closures Orders can refer to the immediate closure of all or part of the food premises, or all or some of its activities. The Orders may be lifted when the premises have improved to the satisfaction of the EHO.
There are also other enforcement actions open to the EHO including Prohibition Orders and Prosecutions.