WHO COURSE FOR THE CARs MONITORING AND AUDITING OF FOOD LAW COMPLIANCE AND ENFORCEMENT

AUDITING BODIES:INDUSTRY  Importers and retailers: checking foreign suppliers  Manufacturers: checking suppliers of ingredients and raw materials  Independent third party auditors acting for the above eg British Retail Consortium Technical Standard for Companies Supplying Retailer Branded Food Products

OFFICIAL AUDITING BODIES  National Government Auditors  EU Food and Veterinary Office

THE UK FOOD STANDARDS AGENCY LOCAL AUTHORITY ENFORCEMENT

FSA White Paper ‘A Force For Change’ - January 1998 “ The Government agrees the general food law environment benefits from inspectors’ local knowledge and that there are therefore good reasons why local authorities should retain their current enforcement responsibilities.”

FSA White Paper ‘A Force For Change’ - January 1998 “… the agency needs to be in a position to exercise influence over individual authorities enforcement activity and that it should have a proactive role in encouraging consistency across the UK.”

UK Enforcement UK Enforcement

Enforcement Officers  Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) - Public Health  Trading Standards Officers (TSOs)- Fair Trading  Official Veterinary Surgeons (OVSs) - Red meat, poultrymeat, and BIPS

Local Authority Enforcement  Approx. 400 local authorities (England)  Approx. 80 local authorities (Scotland, Wales and N.Ireland)  6,000 EHOs and 1,500 TSOs plus support staff - proportion of which are involved in food enforcement.  £120 -£150 million annual cost  612,203 food premises  532,452 inspection of food premises

Food Standards Act 1999 Food Standards Act 1999 Agency has powers to:  monitor, set standards for and audit the performance of enforcement authorities  enter premises and require information  direct local authorities to publish FSA Audit report and provide an action plan  carry out works in default

Working with local authorities  Local authorities have a key role inspecting premises / assessing practicesinspecting premises / assessing practices checking composition / labellingchecking composition / labelling giving advice / investigating complaintsgiving advice / investigating complaints  Effective local enforcement will protect consumers and raise standards  Agency will need to work with local authorities deliver food agenda

Local Enforcement  The Authority must have and implement a documented enforcement policy, in accordance with relevant guidance, approved by the “relevant Council forum”  Decisions on enforcement action to be made following consideration of the policy. The reasons for any departure from the criteria set out in the policy should be documented  The enforcement policy or an accurate summary should be readily available to the public and food businesses

Support for local enforcement  Central government advice  Food Standards Agency - Support/ Policy Division  Issue official enforcement Codes of Practice / Industry Guides  Range control guidance/publications  Enforcers have wide powers -closures, prosecutions notices, seizures/detention

Framework Agreement Framework Agreement  The Standard  Monitoring Information  Service Planning Arrangements  Audit

The Framework Agreement The Framework Agreement The Standard Agreed Scope / Performance Standards Service Planning Guidance on format covering all elements of the Standard Audit Qualitative assessment against Standard Monitoring Quantitative assessment against Standard Informs selection process Informs Agency policy

4 key components of “Framework Agreement”  Service (Business) plans  Food law enforcement standards  Monitoring  Audit

Framework Agreement: Principles  Transparent to all parties  Consistent / verifiable / credible to interested parties  Consistent with other schemes  Clearly defined scope / standards  Identifies / disseminates good practice  Identifies / poor performance / non conformance  Findings in the public domain

Key Issues  Standard, basis of monitoring and audit  Covers food standards, safety, feeding stuff  Includes the key components of food law enforcement services  Allows for local priorities / approaches / flexibility  Consistent with Best Value arrangements

Components (1)  Documented management arrangements  Policies / procedures  Competence of authorised officers  Necessary facilities and equipment  Inspection programmes and procedures  Complaints procedures  Home Authority arrangements

Components (2)  Sampling arrangements / activities  Outbreak investigation arrangements  Arrangements for dealing with Food Hazard warning  Enforcement policy  Keeping of records  Advice and promotion  Complaints (about Service)  Self audit arrangements

Local Authority - Audit Local Authority - Audit  Aims  Agency arrangements  Selection/notification of LAs  Audit process

Audit - aims  Aims include  qualitative assessment of local services  promote conformance with Standard  identify and improve under performance  help identify and disseminate good practice  maintain and improve consumer confidence

Process  Pre-visit Questionnaire 3 months prior to audit  completed and returned by Local Authority (LA) within 30 working days  2-4 days prior - confirm audit arrangements and file requirements  On site audit  2-4 auditors depending on LA  2-3 days on site  Audit protocols available to LAs

Process  20 working days after audit - draft report and summary to Chief Executive & Head of Service  20 working days of receipt - LA supply factual corrections and proposed action plan  within 10 working days (subject to discussions) Agency issue Final Report and Agreed Action Plan

Process  Expecting Reports and Action Plans will be presented to Members within appropriate local public forum  Copies (Reports and Action Plans) on Agency website  Annual food control report - national summary of monitoring and audit  In year review of scheme and formal review after 1st year - FA Sub Group  Parallel arrangements in Scotland, Wales and NI

Audit process  General findings/feedback at closing meeting  Draft report to Head of Service- within 20 working days  LA to return with factual corrections & Action Plan - within 20 working days  Final report to Chief Executive - within 15 days  Published on website (press release)

Feedback on the audit process  Customer satisfaction surveys returned from 23 LAs in the first year  Generally positive  17% totally, 78% mostly, 4% partially agreed with audit findings  87% felt the process had helped make improvements in level, quality or consistency