The Food Safety Authority of Ireland has confirmed that 127 Enforcement Orders were issued to food businesses across Ireland during 2025 for breaches of food safety legislation. While this represents a modest 4.5% decrease from the 132 orders served in 2024, the figures continue to highlight serious and recurring compliance failures within the sector – including a lack of adequate health and safety training.
Between January 1 and December 31, 2025, enforcement activity included 102 Closure Orders, 23 Prohibition Orders and two Improvement Orders. These actions were carried out by Environmental Health Officers within the Health Service Executive, sea-fisheries protection officers from the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority, and officers of the FSAI nationwide.
Commenting on the annual figures, FSAI Chief Executive Greg Dempsey said: “While the total number of Enforcement Orders in 2025 decreased slightly compared to 2024, it is disappointing that we continue to see enforcement action being necessary due to fundamental breaches, such as pest infestations, poor hygiene, unsafe storage of food, inadequate staff training and the absence of food safety management systems.
"Additionally, we have found instances of unregistered food businesses operating illegally without notifying the competent authority, therefore bypassing essential food safety controls and putting consumers health at risk.”
A recurring theme throughout enforcement actions is the lack of adequate Food Safety/HACCP training, leaving staff ill-equipped to identify risks, apply basic hygiene controls, or implement compliant food safety management systems. In many cases, these breaches are preventable with proper training, clear procedures and ongoing oversight.
The FSAI also reported that eight Closure Orders and one Prohibition Order were served in December 2025 alone, under the FSAI Act, 1998 and the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020. These orders were again issued by Environmental Health Officers in the Health Service Executive and officers of the FSAI.
Of the December enforcement actions, one Closure Order was served under the FSAI Act, 1998, while seven Closure Orders and one Prohibition Order were issued under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020. The reasons cited point to significant failures in training, systems and daily operational controls, including: failure to notify the competent authority of a food business; active mouse infestations; defective drainage and sewage systems contaminating food preparation areas; unsuitable and unhygienic storage of food and equipment; extremely poor hygiene standards; lack of effective cleaning and disinfection procedures; absence of a HACCP-based food safety management system; and unsafe food transport practices that failed to protect the cold chain.
Commenting on the December figures, Mr Dempsey added: “All food business owners, big or small, whether trading from a business premises, in the home, from a mobile unit, food truck and/or online, must be aware of food hygiene and food safety legislation. Maintaining high food safety standards protects consumers and supports the long-term success of businesses, and enforcement action is taken where necessary to ensure compliance.”
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