Food businesses in Waveney are to have their hygiene standards measured against a new national scheme.
Businesses have been rated on a Scores on the Doors scheme since July 2010, but Waveney will join the Food Standards Agency's National Food Hygiene Rating Scheme from April.
Under the scheme the ratings will range from zero, which means urgent improvement is necessary, to five, which indicates very good.
The star ratings issued under the Scores on the Doors scheme will be translated into the new national ratings and new window stickers and certificates will be issued to food businesses in time for the transfer on April 1.
Letters are being sent to food businesses across Waveney and drop-in sessions have been arranged.
They will be at Waveney House Hotel in Beccles on Tuesday, January 31, at the Victoria Hotel, Lowestoft on Wednesday, February 1, and the Randolph in Reydon on Thursday, February 2. They will all run from 10am to 1pm.
Mary Rudd, cabinet member for community health, said: 'The local Scores on the Doors scheme has proved very successful and members of the public have been using the information published on the council's website when deciding where to eat out or purchase their food
'However, the new scheme will provide consistency by measuring Waveney food businesses against a national standard, providing further reassurance for buyers and diners in the district.'
She added: 'I would encourage any business dealing with food to come along to one of the drop-in sessions and speak to a member of the food safety team if they have any concerns or simply want to know more.'
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here