Control of the Safety of the Food Chain in UK 30/01/2012 03/02/2012
United Kingdom = 4 regions Great Britain = England, Scotland, Wales Local authorities (469) Counties Districts Northern Ireland (Ulster ) = province = 1 local authority
Competent authorities representing UK on international level DEFRA = Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs primary production FSA = Food Standards Agency meat hygiene food and feed industry distribution
FIELD STAFF SUPERVISION E MEAT FOOD FSA 469 LA DARD S W NI E S W NI FSA FEED 208 LA DARD E S W NI PRIMARY PRODUCTION Agencies 4 ministries Agriculture E S W NI DEFRA
Control of the Food Chain Primary production = 4 Ministries of Agriculture Meat related activities = 1 Agency for UK Food Standards Agency National field staff in every UK region Food industry = 469 Local Authorities + NI Distribution = 469 Local Authorities + NI Feed industry = 208 Local Authorities + NI NI = Northern Ireland
Primary production 4 regions = 4 ministries of agriculture Economy of agriculture Environment Plant Health Animal Health & Welfare Residues
DEFRA Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs = ministry of agriculture for England region = central competent authority for UK on international level Enforcement by Agencies
Defra Agencies Food and Environment Research Agency = Plant health Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency Veterinary Medicines Directorate Pesticides Safety Directorate British Cattle Movement Service
Food Standards Agency Central competent authority for UK on international level for food safety Independent Government department Does not report to a specific minister Accountable to Parliament through health ministers of England, Scotland, Wales, NI Led by a Board Board holds meetings in public Video-on-demand recordings of past open Board meetings
FSA strategy (-2015) foods produced or sold in the UK are safe to eat (same for imported foods) food producers and caterers give priority to consumer interests consumers have the information and understanding to make independent choice regulation is effective, risk-based and proportionate enforcement is effective, consistent, risk-based and proportionate
FSA management Chief Executive Chief Scientist Directors Food Safety Operations Legal Services Communications Finance Human Resources FSA Scotland, FSA Wales, FSA Northern Ireland
FSA advice General Advisory Committee on Science Committees: Social Science Research, Animal Feedingstuffs, Novel Foods and Processes, Toxicity, Carcinogenicity, Mutagenicity, Dangerous Pathogens, Medical Aspects of Food and Nutrition Policy, Pesticides, Pesticide Residues, Veterinary Products, Veterinary Residues.
Meat Hygiene Service = FSA 12 Units (Business Manager) 37 Clusters (Lead Veterinarian) Official veterinarians (ante mortem and supervision) Meat Health Inspectors (post mortem) Civil Servants Contractors
FSA - Field staff Civil servant Contracted Lead veterinarian 27 17 Official veterinarian 274 Meat hygiene inspector 691 154 Subtotal 708 455 Total 1.163
Local Authorities 469 in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) 1 in Northern Ireland (DARD) (Department of Agriculture and Rural Development) Total staff: 2774 employees Local Authorithy Co-ordinators of Regulatory Services (LACORS) Regional Liaison Groups Food Safety Liaison Groups and regional teams
National Control Plan EU regulation 882/2004 Implemented by 4 ministries of agriculture FSA (meat related activities) 469 local authorities (food industry and distribution 208 local authorities (feed industry) Laboratories: UK Accreditation Service Results: UK Food Surveillance System = national database
Training for local authority enforcement officers = FSA HACCP Assessment for Enforcement Officers Working effectively with minority ethnic food businesses Vacuum-packing course Auditing food safety activities and processes Evidence Gathering and Interview Skills Local Authority Investigation Skills Feed safety management systems at food businesses Import controls on feed of non-animal origin Food Standards Update Training
E-learning Share Point Learning Kit (Microsoft program, = free available) 30 volunteers in FSA made 150 courses On line on intranet Individual learning time is registered Evaluation system is included
Manual for Offical Control Audit (UK) = Inspection (BE) Announced (tendancy to unannounced) Food law code of practice Food law code of guidance Meat Industry Guide Food Safety Management Diary TEC files
Safer Food for Better Business Food safety management procedures for small business operators = HACCP compendium in simple words Specific editions Catering, restaurants, retail, childminders, 16 different languages (Chinese, Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan, )
Budget and charging Policy Meat related activities: inspection = charged Other activities Charging system is being developped No contributions ( no control: no pay) Inspection time will be charged 100 % Incentive for operator to be compliant Consulting time is not charged
Service Level Agreements FSA charges other authorities for controls at slaughterhouse level Defra, Scottish and Welsh Governments BSE, TSE, Aujeszky, EBL Animal transport, byproducts, horse passports, marketregulation, British Cattle Movement Service Bovine passports and earmarks Veterinary Medicines Directorate National Suveillance Scheme for Residues in Meat Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency TB lesions and DNA sampling
Food Hygiene Rating System Scopes for inspection How hygienically the food is handled? Condition of structure? How you manage and document food safety? Ratings: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 = very good Certificate for operator Published on FSA website Voluntary system > 250 local authorities
Smiley in UK
Rating = som van scores voor 3 criteria Hygiëne en voedselveiligheid 0 tot 25 Infrastructuur 0 tot 25 Management- en controleprocedures 0 tot 30
Rating Aantal bedrijven nombre d établissements 5 155.303 49,9% 4 72.409 23,3% 3 51.562 16,6% 2 12.303 4,0% 1 17.598 5,7% 0 1.894 0,6% Totaal 311.069 100,0% %
Better regulation of food policies Government strategic objectives New regulation = One in one out No additional cost for operators Red tape challenge Skip obsolete regulations No over-interpretation of EU law Micro business moratorium Small or starting business has control facilities Sunsetting & review Expiry date
UK = different from Belgium Official control for food safety is not centralised Regions have large autonomy Counties, districts = Local authorities = control enforcement Financing: no control no pay Meat inspection by technicians FSA staff via contractors Regulation policy Enforcement strategy
Applications for Belgium? Food Hygiene Rating System Safer Food for Better Business Contractors: decrease number of civil servants Training for enforcement officers Code of practice Code of guidance E-learning
UK Policy and strategy in BE? Better regulation of food policies Administrative simplification No overregulation on EU law Expiry date for new regulation No additional cost for operator Control strategy Proportionality, Accountability, Consistency, Transparency Consulting and advice = free