Scottish Food Enforcement Liaison Committee – 20 February 2015

New Food Body
FSAS Director Geoff Ogle gave an update on the progress being made in the setting up of Food Standards Scotland (FSS) via teleconference. He expressly said that there was a role for SFELC. He was aware of expressed concern over the experience of the board. He did not think this was a concern because he saw stakeholder engagement and partnership working as important. Other expertise can be brought in for particular issues. Looking for a Chief Scientific Adviser. On food fraud looking for an appointment, possibly a retired inspector of police will start around May to work on intelligence.

Priorities
Strategic plan will not be there from the outset.
Business plan in first year will include Shellfish, Implementation of Scudamore, seizure measures around authenticity.
FHIS will be reviewed in light of recent Which report; option for re- branding and there will be a discussion with local authorities. Other area that will be included is 'risky foods'.

Review of SFELC remit
This was necessary in light of the creation of FSS. Agreed that remit of SFELC would be all food safety enforcement within Scotland not just local authority enforcement. It was stated that the Scottish Food Advisory Committee would cease to exist in April.

Minutes of Last Meeting & Matters Arising
DS reported back the agreement reached with Zero Waste Scotland, FSAS and SFMTA regards not charging for separate carrier bags that contain raw meat and cooked meat wrapped in high density bags.
Resources Working Group reported.

SFELC work plan
April meeting will look at diet and health, June FSS operations and October meeting will look at food fraud and criminal activities.

Scudamore recommendations and actions
These came from the expert advisory group led by Professor Jim Scudamore on lessons to be learned from the 2013 horsemeat incident. The report delivered in mid 2013 made 69 recommendations for FSA, FSAS, FSS and for Scottish Government. Lorna Murray reported that the recommendations were grouped under seven main themes:- food surveillance, supply and traceability, public sector procurement, enforcement approach, IT systems, communication and stakeholder engagement and incidents and fraud management.
Food Surveillance
Contract to review systems in other countries. Seven countries shortlisted, 2 fully benchmarked and 5 identifying best practice. Report expected end of April. FSS will review sampling plans, FERA has been contracted to develop and enhance the Isotope ratio map for Scottish beef. Developing guidance on methods, available test kits and thresholds for carryover / deliberate substitution.
Enforcement will be implemented through the Food (Scotland) Act 2015. Mandatory display of FHIS certificates may be included in this but would involve consultation with industry.
Management of fraud gathering intelligence and horizon scanning functions will be undertaken by FSS.
There are a number of projects underway with some recommendations already met. Certain recommendations are medium to long term projects which are likely to deliver during the first strategic period of FSS.

It was raised that a failure in cumin crop had led to bulking up with peanut and almond shells. This creates a huge problem for those with an allergen.

Which? Report on Food Standards – How safe is food from local businesses in your area?
Edinburgh was portrayed as the worst in Scotland but meeting agreed that the article's conclusions were flawed. Outcomes are based on risk so it could be said that consumers are better protected in the areas where pass rates were lower. Critical of FSAS for not defending the enforcement community. This was a contrary view to the celebrity chefs being highlighted for poor hygiene standards.
Ian McWatt said that we are only five weeks away from FSS but line had to be a UK line. Going forward FSS will have its own comms team and this will not be repeated.

Food Safety Sub – Committee
William Hamilton reported that cross contamination guidance issued in December 2014 and it seems to include a degree of watering down. A Scottish position agreed that there was no need to amend Cooksafe or Butchers safe.
Food Standards Sub – Committee
Paul Bradley assured continuing to maintain a pragmatic approach to implementation of Food Information to Consumers regulations.
Food Standards Agency in Scotland

Date of next meeting: Friday 17 April 2015.
Venue: Carlton Hotel, Edinburgh