Inspection Legal Activities

Durham Region Health Department is required by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care to conduct a Food Safety Program which includes the inspection and monitoring of all food premises throughout the Region. This program includes regular examination and investigation of food premises to reduce the risk of food-borne illness.

To achieve this, all Ontario public health agencies must ensure that food is prepared, stored and served in a manner consistent with accepted public health practices in food premises within the agency's jurisdiction. These inspections are carried out to ensure compliance with Food Premises Regulation 562 under the Ontario Health Protection and Promotion Act (HPPA). An establishment that fails to comply with this Regulation is subject to legal prosecution.

In addition to the inspection of food premises, the Health Department is also required to enforce the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, Electronic Cigarettes Act and the HPPA including Rabies Immunization Regulation 567, and to conduct inspections of other establishments according to the Ontario Public Health Standards. The Health Department also enforces the Building Code Act related to sewage systems, under contract with seven of the eight area municipalities.

Durham Region Health Department is also mandated by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) to conduct inspections of personal services settings in Durham Region. These services include tattooing, body and ear piercing, electrolysis, micropigmentation, acupuncture, manicures, pedicures, hairdressing/barbering, waxing, facials, tanning and relaxation massages. As of June 1, 2016 all personal services settings (PSS) operating in Durham Region are required to participate in accordance with the Durham Region Personal Services Setting By-law # 17-2016 (Durham Region's Personal Services Settings Inspection Disclosure program).

Members of the public may access inspection reports for all inspected establishments by contacting the Health Department's Environmental Help Line at 905-723-3818 or 1-888-777-9613, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Results of the last inspection can be provided over the phone, usually on the same day that the Health Department receives the request. Also visit www.durham.ca/dinesafe to view food premises inspection results. Stay tuned for other types of inspection results (i.e. personal services settings) to be posted in the future.

Prospective buyers of tobacco retail dealer premises are strongly encouraged to contact the local public health unit to confirm premise conviction history. A premise with two or more convictions against the owner at that address is subject to a Notice of Prohibition Against the Sale, Storage and Delivery of Tobacco Products (known as an automatic prohibition or "AP").

Section 16 of the Smoke-Free Ontario Act (SFOA) states that upon becoming aware that there are two or more convictions against any person for tobacco sales offences committed at the same place within a five year period, the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) shall notify the owner(s) or occupant of the place that the sale, storage and delivery of tobacco products is prohibited at the place.

The MOHLTC accepts requests from public health units for automatic prohibitions where owner(s) of the business was/were convicted on two occasions rather than employees. The SFOA convictions report published on public health units’ websites lists all owner related tobacco sales convictions that are eligible for an automatic prohibition.

• Electronic Cigarettes Act, Convictions
• Personal Services Settings
• Public Pools and Spas
• Rabies Immunization
• Restaurants/Food Establishment, Convictions
• Small Drinking Water Systems
• Smoke-Free Ontario Act, Convictions
• West Nile Virus Prevention

January 1, 2017 to June 30, 2017

• Electronic Cigarettes Act, Convictions
• Personal Services Settings
• Public Pools and Spas
• Rabies Immunization
• Restaurants/Food Establishment, Convictions
• Small Drinking Water Systems
• Smoke-Free Ontario Act, Convictions
• West Nile Virus Prevention