The change being introduced by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) will involve around 3,000 premises having to display the results of their last hygiene inspection. The scheme will be run in Pert and parts of Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Fife and Refrewshire, and will apply to all food premises in those areas.
"I hope that this pilot project will help to drive up standards in the food industry for the benefit of consumers, businesses and everyone involved in the food industry," said George Paterson, director of FSS Scotland.
This is big news for food retailers, who will now face greater accountability to consumers. This move comes after increasing public demand for such information, according to Julia Clarke of consumers organization Which?
"It's important that consumers can eat out safe in the knowledge that a restaurant or café meets hygiene standards. This scheme will give the public peace of mind," said Deputy Minister Lewis Macdonald.
The certificates to be placed on doors will be based on current inspection records and will say 'Pass', or 'improvement required', and an 'awaiting inspection' certificate is available for new businesses.
Mary Lawton, policy manager at the Scottish Consumer Council, says that they have been actively campaigning for just such a scheme, based on the findings of its own consumer research.