New Business Start-ups at the Beginning of the New Financial Year.

The new financial year has commenced and the financial wheels are in motion. An established business might look to respond to changes in the market by taking the business in a new direction. The executive decision to do so might reside with the managing director of the business; or the MD might look to appoint a finance director to advise on new directions of business propagation from the perspective of strategic innovation.

 

Many new businesses choose to start at this time of year, whether as a going concern or by the operation of a sole trader. For many new entrepreneurs (and entrepreneurs looking to take a step in a new direction) the hospitality industry is an attractive option. Restaurants, hotels and cafes, along with many other types of business and organisation in which food and beverages are served to the public, are required by law to maintain certain standards of hygiene. Part and parcel of the maintenance of such standards, in accordance with applicable legislative requirements, is the control and prevention of pests.

 

If you have recently set up a food-serving and public-facing business - whether you have purchased a franchise from a chain of restaurants, have set up a single concern, have set up a hotel, or you are arranging to manage a hotel that is part of group – there are certain legislative requirements that you ought to be aware of. In addition, it is essential that you comply with the legislation and adhere to the routine actions of vigilance necessary to continue as a business.

 

According to the 1990 Food Hygiene Regulations, the “walls, floors, doors, windows, ceiling, woodwork and all other parts of the structure of every food room shall be kept clean and shall be kept in good order, repair and condition as to prevent so far as reasonably practical the entry of birds, and any risk of infestation by rats, mice, insects and other pests”..

 

In short, in order to make sure that your business complies with requirements described by the Food Hygiene you need to do your utmost to uphold the highest food hygiene standards and prevent pest contamination.

 

Section 21 of the Food Safety Act 1990 allows anyone who may be facing legal action to use the defence of “due diligence” during the proceedings. Due diligence is taken into account and you can defend yourself by proving you have taken that all reasonable precautions to avoid the offence being committed.

Using professional pest control to remove insect infestations can be put forward as part of a due diligence defence. Key West Pest Control always advises clients that prevention is more effective than control, so making sure that your premises are immaculate will significantly decrease the chances of infestations being developed.

 

Other Legal Requirements concerning pest control and infestation – for businesses including those serving food and other businesses - include:

 

•The Environmental Protection Act 1990

•Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949

•The Protection of Animals Act 1911

•Protection of Animals (Amendment) Act 1927

•The Destructive Imported Animals Act 1932

•Public Health Act 1936

•Public Health Act 1961

•The Prevention of Damage by Rabbits Act 1939

•Agriculture Act 1947

•Health and Safety at Work Act 1974

•The Poisons Act 1972

•The Local Government Act 1972

•Health Services and Public Health Act 1968 and the Public Health (Infectious Diseases) Regulations 1968

•Pests Act 1954

•The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulation 1988

•The Wildlife and Countryside (Amendment) Act 1985

•Animal Health Act 1981 Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 and the dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 (Modification) Order 1984.

If you need advice on these matters you need look no further than Key West Pest Control. It is our business to help your business to thrive from platform of legislative compliance in matters of pest control and prevention.