Hygiene ratings for eateries to be introduced

Eateries on the Isle of Man will be given hygiene ratings for the first time from next year.

The Food Hygiene Scheme will cover about 300 outlets that serve food, including restaurants, pubs, cafes and takeaways.

The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture (Defa) said inspections, due to begin in early 2027, would "give consumers greater confidence and encourage high standards".

The new system would not change the standards required of local businesses, the department said, but would align the island with the Food Standards Agency Food Hygiene Rating Scheme in England and Wales.

Previous plans to roll out a rating system were scrapped in November 2024 due to budgetary pressures at the time.

At that time, the department said, the island's environmental health team could not allocate the number of staff needed to carry out the rating system.

Defa said plans for the new hygiene ratings would provide "clear, reliable information" about food hygiene standards to the public.

The handling of food, cleanliness of their premises, and systems to manage and maintain standards will all be rated, using a scale from zero to five.

To help businesses prepare for the first inspections, sessions offering advice are being held on 6 August and 2 and 30 September.

Encouraging firms to take up the offer of support, Defa Minister Clare Barber said the move was a "positive step" for both the public and the eateries themselves.

Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.

Food hygiene ratings plan scrapped over budget