Sanitary inspectors were established by the Nuisances Removal and Diseases Prevention Act 1855 to be employed by local authorities to enter into properties containing ‘nuisances’ and carry out inspections. Furthermore, the government was empowered to intervene and remove health hazards where local authorities failed to do so. The act established the definition of overcrowding and required all houses to be connected to a main sewer. This eventually helped to reduce the death toll caused by cholera and other water borne diseases.
https://prezi.com/stlp2ip63vxw/how-significant-were-the-1866-sanitary-act-and-the-1875-publ/
http://www.euro-info.org.uk/towards-economic-unity-transport-and-communications/the-sanitary-act-of-1866.php
https://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/transformingsociety/towncountry/towns/tyne-and-wear-case-study/about-the-group/public-administration/the-1848-public-health-act/

The act’s goals were based on the findings made by Edwin Chadwick in his Report on the sanitary conditions of the labouring population of Great Britain.

The act created a General Board of Health, a body which would be responsible for advising on epidemics and disease prevention. The board had responsibility for local boards of health; however, it had no power to make them carry out the act.

It is compulsory that businesses across the UK follow the regulations outlined in the Food Safety Act 1990. Failure to comply can result in heavy fines and even imprisonment.