Scottish Food Advisory Committee

This was the first meeting with new chairman David Cameron in charge. He congratulated SFAC member Jim Wildgoose on his appointment from 1st March 2011 to the FSA Board.

The committee was presented with a paper on FSA's refreshed Science and Evidence Strategy 2010-15 that sets out how they use science and evidence to meet the challenges of delivering safer food. From the floor Ian Anderson (SAMW) reminded FSA that research was needed to provide evidence that would support removal of TSE controls requiring.

Future Meat Controls

In September 2009 the FSA Board endorsed a programme of work to ensure that future regulation of the meat industry is effective, risk based and proportionate and that any proposed changes either benefit or are neutral in their impact on public health.

This followed recommendations made in the Tierney Review of the Delivery of official Controls in Approved Meat Premises in 2007.

A presentation was made by Kate Todd (EU Regulatory Reform Branch of FSA), an update on progress. Tierney recommended adoption of more risk and evidence- based approach to the regulation of meat hygiene.

EU have become more interested in modernising meat controls in abattoirs and held a conference in Lyon. Conclusions included that any changes had to be endorsed by trading partners outside the EU so that there was no threat to exports.

The Commission wants to encourage pilot projects on new controls. Alternative methods must lead to an equivalent or superior level of public health, animal health and animal welfare.

The slaughterhouse will remain a focal part of controls.

EFSA has been asked to issue scientific opinions related to inspection of meat. This starts with pigs by June 2011 but by the time all other species are considered it will be 2013.

Objectives
To establish the effectiveness of existing controls and if they are worthwhile.
To build robust evidence base through research to support the case for reform.

Projects
Consideration of the need for the current systems important; examination of green offal for example there will be a review of Food Chain Information, trial of visual inspection of outdoor fattened pigs and evaluation if FCI changes anything.

Changes are unlikely to take place for at least 5 years.
www.food.gov.uk/foodindustry/meat/reviewofmeatcontrols/

Review of Full Cost Recovery will be discussed at FSA Board meeting on 24th May.

FSA update included announcement of a new FSA value i.e. ensuring fair enforcement of regulation. Charles Milne reported now in excess of 800 businesses awarded Eat Safe. 16,500 food businesses in Scotland now registered in Scotland now registered on FSA database that is open to public.

Attachments:

• SCOTTISHFOODADVISORYCOMMITTEE060308.pdf