SARK would be unable to react quickly enough to an outbreak of E. coli because of inadequacies in its catering law.

Accusations of a slow response to the recent outbreak made against Surrey authorities have ‘refocused’ Sark’s Public Health Committee on making sure it could deal with a similar problem.

Committee chairman David Melling said an outbreak like the one at Godstone Farm could seriously damage Sark’s tourist industry.

‘The committee is looking at improved procedures, allowing intervention when water tests fail and shortening the time taken for remedial action to be successfully applied,’ he said.

Under current legislation, the committee has the power to revoke, suspend, or vary the conditions of a catering permit providing it gives 14 days’ written notice of its intention. It then has a further 14 days to confirm its decision. An appeal process exists which could extend the matter to 42 days in total and this would still require a court date to be set, potentially lengthening the process further.