Volume 9: Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
Part 3: Northern Ireland
13. Statutory framework and responsibilities
Legislation on food safety

13.9 Food safety in Northern Ireland was governed by three successive Acts during the period of this Report: the Food and Drugs Act (NI) 1958, the Food (NI) Order 1989 and the Food Safety (NI) Order 1991. Thus none of the primary legislation under which BSE control measures were introduced in England applied in Northern Ireland, which necessitated the making of separate secondary legislation at each step of the way. Most food safety powers were vested in the Northern Ireland Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS), including the power to make legislation relating to food hygiene, composition and labelling. DANI had responsibility for the regulation of the production side of the food industry, for significant parts of the food-processing sector (as mentioned in the preceding paragraph) and for surveillance of milk on dairy farms and in liquid milk plants. ¹ Essentially, however, and in contrast to the situation in Great Britain, the DHSS had the lead responsibility in food safety. ²

13.10 Four Health and Social Services Boards were set up under the Health and Personal Social Services Order 1972 to fulfil a similar function to District Health Authorities in England. Each was responsible for a different Area: East, West, North and South. Local authorities formed Public Health Committees for each Area, which employed Environmental Health Officers (EHOs). Enforcing food safety legislation was the responsibility of the EHOs.