Trade defeats compulsory London hygiene ratings

An attempt by councils to make hygiene ratings compulsory for food businesses in London has failed.

The British Hospitality Association (BHA) and the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) successfully petitioned a committee of MPs that were examining the proposal via a Bill from London Boroughs, a group representing local authorities in the capital.

London Boroughs wanted the display of food hygiene ratings to be compulsory. But the committee rejected the plan, arguing that the councils were "jumping the gun" since the Food Standards Agency (FSA) is to carry out a national review of the new Food Hygiene Ratings Scheme (FHRS) in April 2012.

This review will look at whether the voluntary approach to display had worked or, if not, whether the display of ratings should be made mandatory at national level.

The news has been hailed as an important victory in the battle against the rising regulatory burden for pubs, restaurants and other food businesses.

Martin Couchman, BHA's deputy chief executive, said: "We were concerned that, if the Bill had been successful, there would be special regulations for London which did not apply nationally. Any decision on compulsory display should only be made after the review."

Martin Rawlings, BBPA director of pub and leisure, said: "The burdens of legislation would have been hugely significant. We do however remain in full support of the FSA's voluntary scheme — which provides a positive incentive — rather than further red tape."

FHRS was developed as a more standardised version of Scores on the Doors, which has been adopted in different guises across the country.