SCOTTISH FOOD ENFORCEMENT LIAISON COMMITTEE – JUNE 2017

Chairman Billy Hamilton (Glasgow) welcomed 18 members.

Presentations
The food enforcement landscape in Wales.

Graham Perry, National Co-ordinator, said Wales was on a devolution journey. They have a devolved situation with committed politicians. Welsh specific issues on smoking, tattoos and piercings etc.

Wales has mandatory FHRS since 2013. Aim is to inform the public, on back of ecoli outbreak there in 2005. There had been a big increase in freedom of information enquiries. In Wales there is legal duty to display ratings in a prominent place. FBO must be able to tell the customer their rating if asked.

Re-rating can be applied for and Local Authority has a three month period to carry it out. Cost is £160 to the FBO.

Takeaway menus must state where the FHRS rating can be found i.e. on FSA website.
Mandatory display has instigated corporate interest with chains all requiring five star standard. 95% now compliant in Wales i.e. three stars. 88% in Scotland. Percentage of Welsh businesses rated five star is 64%.

Now widespread public awareness and there is always huge media interest. If FBO with a one star remains open the answer is “that is how they found it, not how they left it”. Businesses much more inclined to engage to achieve better ratings. Appeals are 1.8%.
Abergavenny Food Festival has set a minimum three star rating before being accepted to participate.

There is a business to business element within the scheme. Consistency is a key issue and there is a 95 page code of practice. Consistency exercises take place. Asked if consumer expectations had risen – “three stars are ok but don't go in anywhere under a three”. FHRS does not include allergens but feeling is that it should but will need a lead in period so that ratings do not dip. FSS said consumers expect allergens and food standards to be right and included as an aspect of the rating. There is no mandatory reporting of EHO reports in Wales

New food surveillance strategy in Scotland
Jacqui McElhiney & Kasia Kaziemiercza of FSS presented.
Structured framework to collate information and use results of surveillance to improve standards.
Looking at ways of feedback reaching FSS from industry.
Consultation is out and closes in August.
Strategy is examined by the Technical Assessment Meetings.
FSS monitors social media as a means of surveillance.

Resources Working Group update
Workstream includes carcass contamination at abattoirs.
Committee ratified the Food law enforcement in Scotland: A Report on The Administrative and Enforcement Arrangements.

Food Standards Scotland update
FSS representative Lorna
Cross contamination guidance expected at end of June.

SFELC Sub – Committees had not met
Food Safety – Andrew Morrison
Examined extended shelf life of sandwiches. Validation of testing needs to be recorded.

Food Liaison Groups
Lothian and Borders, North of Scotland, West of Scotland, East of Scotland listed Enforcement Action reports. These seemed larger than usual number of issues and all these and the extent of these would be useful for industry to note. The effect should be to prevent other food businesses getting into the same situation. DS got permission to publicise issues without reference to an area or business.

AOCB
Policy of “Matter of Record” logging is followed so that policy decisions are easily accessible to future committees.

Date of next meeting: 6 October 2017
Venue: Pilgrim House, Aberdeen