Containers, Cruise Liners & Controls Who Checks Your Food? Rosie Zambra Team Leader Food and Port Health Services Southampton City Council

OUR REMIT To protect animal and public health by implementing Food Safety Legislation and taking Enforcement Action where necessary in relation to Imported Food arriving from Third Countries into the EC and Cruise Liners arriving into the Port of Southampton

The Container Port of Southampton The 2 nd largest Port in the UK for imports A designated point of entry into Europe for determined High Risk Foodstuffs Over 1.7 million TEUs (Twenty Foot Equivalent Units) pass through the Port

The Cruise Port of Southampton Southampton is the largest Cruise Port in the Uk In Cruise ships visited the port - 737,724 Passengers disembarked A Typical Vessel has Passengers Crew

The Cruise port of Southampton Cruise ships are Large Food Outlets handling High Risk Foods which require Statutory Inspections

Up to 115,000 Gross Tonnage 3200 Passengers & 1300 Crew Water, food, air conditioning, sewage, waste, pools/spas Modern Cruise Ships - Unique Environment “Floating Cities”

Port Health Team 7 x Inspectors and 1 OVS – authorised to inspect, sample and either clear or reject foods. 5 x I.C.A’s – assist authorised Officers. 4 x Administration Officers – provide support for importation clearance of foods. 24 hour cover 7 days a week

How Are Imported Food Inspections Scheduled ? Manifest provided 24hrs prior to ship arrival (by shipping line). Identification of all foods being imported – selection made. Containers detained for inspection/sampling all High Risk foods previously determined in accordance with our annual sampling plan.

How are Cruise Liner Inspections Scheduled ABP provide a Cruise Ship schedule at the start of the year Frequency of Inspection is determined by previous years record/ result Any new ships visiting the port are inspected All ships are inspected and risk rated in accordance with compliance with Food and Public Health Legislation

Sampling Plan What is This? – for 2007/2008 All Emergency Control Order Foods Aflatoxin Contamination Commission decision 2006/504/EC – Enacted in English Law by a declaration made under Reg 33 of OFFC Regs

Types of Products Brazil Nuts – (Brazil) = 100% Chinese Peanuts = 10% Egyptian Peanuts = 20% Iranian Pistachio Nuts = 100% Turkish figs and Hazelnuts = 5% Pistachios = 10%

Sampling Plan What is This? - for 2007/2008 All high risk foods with previous known failures. Shrimps/Prawns – with confirmed presence of veterinary residues. E.g. nitrofurans. Holy Water/Blessed Water/Zam Zam Water – microbiological failure and nitrate level failure. Foods preserved in oil – Erucic Acid excess. Indian peanuts – Aflatoxin failure

Sampling Plan – 2007/08 Sunflower Seeds and Melon seeds – Microbiological and Aflatoxin failure. Spices e.g. curry powder – Microbiological and Aflatoxin failure. Herbs, Spices from Far East – Illegal Irradiation. Consignments of rice from USA – Genetically modified rice LL 601. Whole Melons from Costa Rica – Microbiological and Pesticide failure

Sampling Plan for 2007/08 Indonesian Fish for Heavy Metals. Certain Indonesian and Brazilian fish for Histamine. Project Work: - FSA provide funding for approved formal surveillance - Further surveillance work on new food products

Sampling Plan Surveillance Expected by FVO and FSA for:- Aflatoxins Ochratoxins Patulin Lead/Cadmium/Mercury/3MCPD Diotoxins Pesticide Residues Fusarium toxins Benzo (a) Pyrene (PAH’s) Histamine

Sampling - Complicated To be carried out by authorised Officers who are competent to carry out sampling – (all done formally). Enforcement sample Defence sample Referee sample Continuous training in legislation and practical activities (continuous professional development)

Sampling Complicated For Example: 40ft container of Brazil Nuts requires a full turnout A selection of 100 sacks taken representatively and selected after a statistical calculation Factors to be considered - Weight of lot - Weight of each incremental sample - Weight of sacks - Amount required for analysis

Sampling Complicated For Example: 40 ft Container of melons form Costa Rica 55 Melons sampled from melons inside container Sampled aseptically to prevent contamination Salmonella Confirmed Breakdown in hygienic production methods

Free Circulation – Reject - Destroy FREE CIRCULATION – complies with maximum residual level for contaminants REJECT FOR RE-EXPORTATION – fails food safety requirements DESTROY - Injurious/unsafe to human or animal health SUBJECT IT TO FURTHER PROCESSING

Formal Legal Notice Issued Non Animal Origin Official Food and Feed Control Notice – Reg 30 Product of Animal Origin POAO Regs Reg 23 Unauthorised Substances Reg 25 Products dangerous to Animal or Public Health

Enforcement Action Enforcement Action time consuming involves – Consultation with Importer Copy of certificate of analysis Issue of legal notice Supervise re-exportation or destruction Retrieve costs incurred

Finally Who Checks the Inspectors? Food Standards Agency (Non POAO) and Defra (POAO) FVO – Audit (last carried out in the UK – 23 rd November 2006) Internal Audits

ANY QUESTIONS ?