Civic Centre Access Restrictions

VISITORS to Hartlepool Civic Centre and the adjoining Law Courts are advised that essential repair work will start shortly at the front entrance to the building. From next week (w/c 6th February)

A to Z of services: Food and Agriculture

Food and Agriculture: Outline

Hartlepool Consumer Services Team plays an important role in protecting the consumer with regard to food and agricultural produce.

Carry out checks to make sure food labelling is not misleading. See further information on Labelling of packaged foods.
Carry out checks on the composition of food and sampling food products (see our Food Sampling plan). Our food sampling policy is consulted to determine appropriate enforcement action.
We check pubs and restaurants for spirit substitution. Check the guide to the Trading Standards law applying to licensed premises.
Check restaurant menus to make sure they are not misleading.
Make routine inspections to ensure food is not sold past its use by dates (see further information on Food Labelling)
Advise local food manufacturers and importers to ensure their labels and food comply with the relevant legislation.

Further information can be found from the following agencies:

Her Majesty's Stationery Office (HMSO)
Provides full text of Acts of Parliament from 1988, plus access to Inforoute, the Government's Information Asset Register.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)
Defra works for the essentials of life - water, food, air, land, people, animals and plants.

Food Standards Agency (FSA)
An independent food safety watchdog set up by an Act of Parliament in 2000 to protect the public's health and consumer interests in relation to food.