Is It Mandatory to Display Your Food Hygiene Rating?
Learn where food hygiene rating display is mandatory, what the rules are in each UK nation, and why you should display even when not required.
In Wales and Northern Ireland, yes — display is legally required. In England, it is voluntary but strongly encouraged. In Scotland, FHIS display is mandatory.
Key Facts
In Detail
The rules on displaying food hygiene ratings differ across the UK nations. In Wales, it has been mandatory to display your Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS) sticker since 2013 under the Food Hygiene Rating (Wales) Act 2013. Northern Ireland introduced mandatory display in 2016. In England, display remains voluntary — there is no legal requirement, though there have been repeated campaigns to make it mandatory. In Scotland, a different system operates. The Food Hygiene Information Scheme (FHIS) gives a Pass or Improvement Required result (not the 0-5 score), and display is mandatory. Even in England where display is voluntary, most businesses with good ratings choose to display them. Increasingly, customers check ratings online before visiting, and a prominently displayed 5 rating builds immediate trust. Businesses that do not display are sometimes assumed to have a low rating.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the penalties for not displaying in Wales?
In Wales, failure to display your FHRS rating is a criminal offence. Local authorities can issue fixed penalty notices of £200. Continued non-compliance can lead to prosecution and fines of up to £2,500.
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