Sourcing for location, food equipment, kitchenware and furniture and fittings are part and parcel of setting up a food establishment. These may be daunting at first but they eventually take a back seat once you have your food business running.

However, one issue that is often neglected by first-time owners is the action plan and costs to maintain a high standard of food hygiene in food establishments. In Singapore, NEA regulates the food retail industry to ensure that food sold at retail outlets is prepared hygienically and safe for consumption. Food establishments are subject to grading under the Grading System for Eating Establishments and Food Stalls. All food retail establishments are assessed based on the overall hygiene, cleanliness and housekeeping standards of their premises.

Apart from the A-B-C-D grading system, foodhandlers and licensees are subjected to suspensions or revocation of licenses based on the Point Demerit System. There are different categories of public health offences that are weighted differently, some minor and others severe. However, one of the most common offences that we see in food establishments is the failure to keep stall/food establishment free of rodents, cockroaches and other vermin, which will cost a licensee $400 in fine and 6 demerit points. If a licensee accumulates 12 or more demerit points within a 12-month period, his licence will be suspended for 2 weeks.

It is understandably difficult for food establishments to remain completely pest-free. However, action must be taken to ensure that you have an appropriate pest-control programme in place, and more importantly, that the technicians from the pest-control company you engage are qualified. If you need a friendly consultation regarding pest management, here is our recommendation for your consideration: