NEW rules requiring all takeaways in Wales to feature their food hygiene ratings on leaflets have come into force.

Under new Welsh Government rules all leaflets providing a way for customers to order without visiting the premises, such as a telephone number or website, must now also include a statement in both English and Welsh reminding them to check the hygiene rating online.

Businesses can also voluntarily display their ratings on leaflets, but where they do so it must be “valid, clear and in a specified format”.

Social services and public health minister Rebecca Evans said: “The new rules coming into force today are designed to offer extra protection to customers ordering food over the phone, or online, who will not have the opportunity to see the rating physically displayed in the premises before ordering.

“The display of the statement on leaflets will encourage consumers to view the rating online and to ask the takeaway food business for their food hygiene rating over the phone before ordering.”

The rules have come into effect three years after Wales became the first country in the UK to legally require all food businesses to display their hygiene ratings.

Since then the number of businesses achieving at least a three star rating, on a scale of zero to five, is up seven per cent, and 62.5 per cent have met the maximum rating, up 17.5 per cent.

Customers also have the legal right to ask takeaways for their hygiene rating by phone.