2. Horsemeat, regulation and where next !

3. Role of FSA and LAs Horsemeat FSA’s key objective – to protect the consumer and food safety across UK Responsible for food safety controls & food safety aspects of labelling Day to day enforcement in businesses by LAs FSA checks effective LA Official Controls in place (investigating mislabelling and fraud). Business is responsible for food being safe and accurately labelled

4. Routine FSA \ LA Testing LA’s routinely sample and test food products Range of legal controls – labelling; nature or substance; fraud; Annual enforcement returns to FSA. 2011/12: –78,653 food samples ( 30,098 analyses for composition, labelling and presentation –800 samples tested for meat authenticity FSA Food Fraud database \ Fighting Fund FSA - additional LA funding for coordinated sampling programme, inc. meat \ fish authenticity.

7. Horsemeat – industry testing Horsemeat in beef burgers (15 th Jan) Testing by industry.....positives found in other products \ ready meals...........crisis of confidence Needed order \ urgency to industry testing –8 th Feb wrote to industry requiring testing \ results –11 th Feb industry meeting to agree protocol –15 th Feb first results published (2501 tests 29 +ves) –1 st March final weekly (5430 – 44+ves) –Now quarterly (1 st week June next set). Aim – check food chain, reassure consumers, put contamination into perspective Focus on gross contamination

8. Pragmatic reporting threshold LGC study and consumer acceptance testing re future approach, GMP Gross adulteration \ fraud Trace \ unavoidable contamination 1%

9. Other FSA \ LA action 3 phases of LA testing of beef products Phase 1 & 2 – 362 samples(Feb\March) Phase 3 (EU) -150 samples (March \ April) UK – results similar to industry results. EU results showed more widespread contamination LA checks \ investigations ongoing – visits to all UK approved plants and cold stores Ad hoc testing where necessary eg SMEs Providing advice \ support to businesses FSA investigations ongoing

10. False health marks Fake Champagne food fraud- not just about horsemeat ! Adulterated Basmati Rice False organic claims Illegal harvesting of shellfish Illegal slaughter / Smokies Counterfeit vodka Illegal re-dating

11. Lessons, regulation, where next Collaboration assisted delivery Not about lack of regulation, testing or industry controls – it was about focus Lack of intelligence and understanding Labelling...authenticity...fraud....safety....... confidence. Complexity of global food chain \ economy and lack of transparency Food Fraud - high value, low penalties, minimal detection ? Will be government reviews on lessons

12. Lessons, regulation, where next Less regulation; modernisation, review, scrutiny, challenge Focus on: – regulation and growth –risk based controls & outcomes –support business to comply (and grow) Alternatives to enforcement –transparency \ behaviour change eg FHRS More industry self regulation. Recognise compliance \ penalise non compliance More partnership working eg Primary Authority, LEPS

13. Where next ? Capacity & competency vital Enforcer v advocate \ communicator More intelligence – different models eg regulating internet \ global issues Greater cross authority, regulation, regional, national coordination \ liaison Evidence (data) on impact \ risk crucial Whatever it is – will not be less of the same