Service NL
June 15, 2015

Making Information More Accessible

Service NL Expands Online Food Service Inspection Reports

Service NL will expand its online reporting of food service inspections beyond restaurants, to now include food service facilities in schools, personal care homes and other institutions throughout the province. The Honourable Dan Crummell, Minister of Service NL, announced the upcoming expansion today, which will go live on the department�s website on June 29 at www.servicenl.gov.nl.ca/inspections.

�Our government maintains a thorough inspection program for all licensed food service facilities in the province to protect Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. In 2012, we established a system to make restaurant inspection reports available online, and now we are expanding that service to provide information about institutional food service facilities throughout the province in an accessible and convenient format.�
- The Honourable Dan Crummell, Minister of Service NL

Environmental Health Officers with Service NL conduct thousands of inspections of food establishments in the province annually. These inspections are carried out under an agreement with the Department of Health and Community Services, which is responsible for the Food Premises Regulations under the Food Premises Act.

�The public expects a high standard of safety to be maintained with respect to public health issues, and environmental health officers and environmental public health professionals play an important role in maintaining that standard. The Newfoundland and Labrador Branch of the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors supports the Provincial Government�s decision to expand the types of food service inspection reports available to the public, as this will create greater knowledge of, and confidence in, the safety of products provided by provincial food outlets.�
- Laurie Hearn, Newfoundland and Labrador Branch President, Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors

Restaurant inspection reports were first made available in 2012 as part of the Provincial Government�s commitment to delivering information to the public in an efficient, user-friendly way. These reports are generally posted on a monthly basis, and made available in PDF format. Inspection reports for institutional food service facilities will be made available using the same process and in the same format.

The Provincial Government is committed to providing efficient and effective delivery of key programs and services that protect the health and well-being of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.

QUICK FACTS

• Minister Crummell announced today that Service NL will expand online reporting of food service inspections effective June 29.
• Food service inspection reports are posted at www.servicenl.gov.nl.ca/inspections in PDF format.
• During each inspection, a formal checklist is used to ensure a facility�s compliance with legislation related to food safety and facility sanitation.
• Inspectors will issue directives to correct any problems and may schedule follow-up inspections to ensure that food establishments are complying with the regulations.
• Prior to being made available online, all inspection reports were available to the public in print copy upon request.

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Media contacts:

Jason Card Director of Communications Service NL 709-729-4860, 699-0470 jasoncard@gov.nl.ca

Laurie Hearn Newfoundland and Labrador Branch President Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors 709-279-0233 lauriehearn@gov.nl.ca

2015 06 15                            3:00 p.m.