Meeting with FSS – 27 February 2018

Present
FSS: Maria Tocher, Ian McWatt, Elspeth McDonald, Lorna, Geoff Ogle.
SFELC: Billy Hamilton
Industry: Neil Purdom (Food & Drink Federation Scotland), Gordon Poole (Robertsons), Alan Clarke (QMS), Douglas Scott (SFMTA), John Armour (NFUS), Lucy Husband (Scotland Food & Drink), John (ABP), Martin Morgan (SAMW).

The chair said that FSA have announced a review and all concerned felt that this needs to be a joint venture as it is definitely an industry matter.
He hoped everyone could buy into a shared view of achieving the objective. He said that there requires to be a shared understanding.

GO referred to the joint meeting in London on 20 February.
Got here via incidents at Two Sisters Food Group, Russell Hume.
This has subsequently been extended to other businesses. He claimed that the enforcement approach has been proportionate.

The issue has hit mainstream media and media are challenging the meat sector. There are fears that it is encouraging vegetarians. There are issues around reputation and questions over the effectiveness of the regulator.

GO felt that it was not solely the responsibility of the regulator. Industry has to take responsibility and said that information about concerns from the meat industry is “poor”.

What can we do collectively in terms of food crime?
Want to use intelligence but not overreact. Rumours are not intelligence. FSS needs more support from industry because it is saying that they always had doubts over country of origin at certain operators. Scotch / Scottish is really important and FasS share the industry's desire for good businesses to flourish.

IM said that the themes emerging were of authenticity and durability.

AC asked what changed at Russell Hume? The audit reports and company reports suggested that it was a good business.

IM said the FSA and FSS were now not undertaking only announced visits. Since Scudamore Report unannounced visits have increased, evidence was emerging that durability dates were being extended with no evidence to support the durability date marked.

GO said that Russell Hume were forced out because purchasers will move quickly to protect their own reputations.

QMS standards will be amended to monitor despatch temperature is below 3C. This really means 2.5C.

Standard industry practice was questioned by SFMTA and RF summed up saying that he had not heard the same thing from those present. It appeared to also require trust in your suppliers.

IM said industry was operating with potential ignorance or acting deliberately.

SFMTA claimed that butchers and manufacturers needs practical advice. FSS requested feedback on what is not clear. FBO should not ask FSS to be their technical managers.Where FBO are struggling with implementation then FSS will help on specifics.
LH suggested that FBOs should not be afraid to admit that they don't know or understand something.

BH asked if there was an issue over the robustness of audit. How well are enforcers auditing?

Sharing Information

Overall objective Scotland plc. so have to trust each other. It is of mutual interest.
The industry is not good at sharing information because of self interest and commercial interest.
There were concerns over protocols of sharing info.
FIIN and Food Crime Unit. Systematic and exempt from FOI.
Surmise that there are things going on but cannot prove it. (When you just can't possibly understand how things like 99% beefburgers can be sold at an unbelievably low price.)
It fundamentally come down to sharing the information, willingness and knowing how to move forward.
Accumulation of information eventually comes together to reveal things. FSS feel like they are “operating in a vacuum” since provision of information is difficult.
Down to industry to protect its own reputation in the same way that NZ meat industry standards are being driven up internally.

RF asked where do we start?
When price points do not match up there has to be alarm. Mislabelling of meat, RF instanced RHS complaints about imports of Irish beef. Rustling of animals is rife so there must be illegal abattoirs.

John suggested that QMS audits should ask for a record of issue for non Scotch product.

JA wants balance where the cost is not greater than the benefit.

RF felt that there is a lot of information that needs to be teased out in the review. Definitely to mutual interest. Focus is not just on oh dear how do we help the regulator. Looking to industry to be active contributors to this review.

FSS will issue words expressing an agreed joint statement.