CORONAVIRUS UPDATE 30TH April 2021

Covid update.
At our weekly update meeting with Food Standards Scotland, this morning, we have the following data and information.

The UK covid cases are declining and are the lowest level in Europe. The UK “R” rate is between 0.8 and 1 with the vaccination roll out critical to success.
50.9% of the population in Scotland have now had their 1st dose of the vaccine. 20.2% have had both doses.
For comparison only 20.1% of the population in Europe have had the 1st dose.
It was suggested at the meeting that a 3rd wave of covid is inevitable, however, it is felt that this will be managed better due to the statistics above.
We will continue to meet weekly with Food Standards Scotland and pass on relevant information to our members.

Update to e-mail contact details
As we have now completed the process of changing the name of the organisation to “Scottish Craft Butchers” we have also taken to opportunity to change our e-mail addresses to reflect this.
Please note the new e-mail contact details for Gordon and Bruce below.
Our mobile numbers remain the same.

Gordon King: [email protected] 07917524313
Bruce McCall: [email protected] 07834490922

Member's meetings May 5th and 6th @7pm on Zoom
The meeting invites have been issued earlier today, please confirm which evening you and/or your staff would like to attend by replying to this e-mail.
If another staff member would like to attend, then please let us know their name. everyone will be held in a waiting room before entry, and we need to verify who they are.

Prepacked Products for Direct Sale update from FSS

In our previous correspondence we advised that the amendments to the food labelling rules, relating to allergen labelling of prepacked for direct sale (PPDS) food, were due to begin scrutiny in the Scottish Parliament. We can now confirm that the scrutiny period for the Scottish Statutory Instrument has passed and no objections were raised. This means that the labelling changes to prepacked for direct sale food will come into effect from the 1st of October 2021. The regulations can be found via the following link;
The Food Information (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2021

We are continuing to work on guidance and training material and this will be shared with stakeholders as soon as possible. As part of this work we are considering if guidance should be available in languages other than English. With this in mind, we would like to know if this may be of interest to stakeholders and if so, which languages would be relevant. In the meantime, to help provide some clarity, we have included the interpretation of PPDS below, as well as some examples of what products the new legislation will cover.

What are the changes?

The new Regulations mean that all food businesses who provide PPDS food need to ensure that it carries:

• the name of the food;
• a full list of ingredients; and
• allergen information (emphasised within the list of ingredients).

How will information need to be given?

This information may be provided either on a label attached to, or printed directly on, the packaging. With regards to the use of a quantitative indication (QUID) for products containing meat, following further consideration PPDS food will not have to carry this information on the label. As is currently the case, businesses will continue to have the option to present a QUID on a label attached to the food, or on a notice, ticket or label that is readily discernible and in close proximity to the food.

What does the term PPDS mean?

PPDS food is not classed as prepacked food (to which the full labelling requirements apply) or food packed on the sales premises at the consumer's request or sold loose. PPDS food is any single food item for presentation (to final consumers and to mass caterers) which consists of the food item and packaging which may enclose the food item completely or partially (but in such a way that the contents of the food item cannot be altered) and where the food item is put into packaging before being offered for sale by the same food business (presenting or offering to sell) the food item to the final consumer:
i) on the same premises; or
ii) on the same site[i][1]; or
iii) on other premises if the food is offered for sale from a moveable and/or temporary premises (such as marquees, market stalls, mobile sales vehicles) and the food is offered for sale by the same food business who packed it.
( [1] In this instance 'site' refers to a building complex such as a shopping centre or airport terminal in which the same food business operates from more than one unit within the building complex.)
PPDS foods may include:
• Sandwiches placed into packaging by the food business and sold from the same premises;
• Foods that are pre-weighed and packed such as cheese or meats from a delicatessen counter or baked goods from an in-store baker;
• Fresh pizzas from a delicatessen counter e.g. on a cardboard tray and wrapped in plastic;
• Boxed salads
• Fast food packed before it is ordered, for example a burger held under a hot lamp where it cannot be altered without opening the packaging.

How can businesses get ready to label food?

Businesses will already be used to identifying and tracking allergen information to provide advice to consumers. Building on this approach will help prepare for labelling food. Having consistent ingredients information and being able to identify changes are key aspects of producing accurate labels and giving consumers the confidence that the food meets their needs.
Businesses may wish to use the free Food Standards Scotland MenuCal tool as part of their preparations. MenuCal supports business with recording their recipes, identifying allergens and managing ingredients. Login to MenuCal | MenuCal | FSS

I hope you find this information helpful, and we will issue further stakeholder updates as the work on guidance progresses.

Meat Managers Hygiene and HACCP Course

The final sessions for the above course are now full!
The courses have been delivered by Verner Wheelock. The feedback we have received from delegates has been very positive.
Paul Bache has presented these courses for many years on behalf of Scottish Craft Butchers and the certificates issued are recognised by the local authority environmental health officers.
Due to the current restrictions, we cannot hold face to face courses.
We intend to hold further sessions soon, subject to demand.
If you would like to find out more or register yourself or someone in your business on the course, please contact Claire on 01738 637785 or e-mail [email protected]

The Scottish Craft Butchers office in Perth is now closed following government guidelines.
We will be available to our members to answer any queries via email or by mobile phone and will be available out of office hours for any members wanting to contact us.
Our contact details are below

Gordon King: [email protected] 07917524313
Bruce McCall: [email protected] 07834490922