Scottish Food Enforcement Liaison Committee October 2016

Chairman Billy Hamilton from City of Glasgow Council welcomed 15 members to what he termed “a packed agenda”.

Bryan Campbell, Senior Enforcement Manager at FSS gave an overview of the Food Law Code of Practice review. Review as a result of recommendations in Scudamore Report. Development team formed to develop a 'ladder' model. Pilot started October 2016 and will be followed by revision, consultation and approval. Implementation at earliest April 2018.
Ladder creates three groups of Food Businesses ranked by their risk because of the nature of the business. High – medium – low.
A compliance matrix with seven categories include structure, food safety management etc.
Ten local authorities are participating in the pilot. Assessment will compare existing and new systems for food hygiene inspections.
Chair questioned DS on the industry views of earned recognition and sustainable compliance. While less inspections are welcome and a relief to a certain extent, most businesses do find inspections helpful and from a trade organisation point of view looking after the interests of the sector we would not want one weak butcher to tarnish the whole image of the sector.

SFELC website
http://www.foodstandards.gov.scot/food-safety-standards/regulation-and-enforcement-food-and-feed-law/scottish-food-enforcement-liaison
A preview was presented. Site is very good and all meeting papers would be available there in future behind a password so no paper copies or multi document emails would need to be sent.

APSE benchmarking – performance measures and their role in service management and improvement. Alan Morrison (Argyll & Bute) and Frank Feechan (Dundee) presented on behalf of the Society of Chief Officers of Environmental Health in Scotland on how they relate to food safety.
FF claimed to be considering the 'science of improvement' in reviewing average net cost of EH services. Aim is to use data to become more effective and explore which Local Authorities do it best.

Food Standards Scotland Update
Lorna Murray updated. MenuCalc now available free of charge from FSS. There will be local authority support for this and a presentation will be given at the December SFELC.

Regulatory Strategy
Steve Hardie (FSS) explained this review. Engagement has aligned itself with Better Regulation agenda and assisting economic growth in Scottish Food & Drink sector while maintaining food safety.
Earned recognition and assurance schemes are being considered.
Formal consultation will follow.

Review of Food Hygiene Information Scheme
Consultations do not suggest large opposition to the display of rating to be mandatory. Suggestion that the tiers should be increased to reward persistent compliance.

Nutritional Labelling
DS questioned if there was any progress on the guidance. The meeting did not know but the Defra website has been updated to include:-
A micro business under the EU and UK definition: less than 10 employees and turnover/balance sheet total of less than €2m (£1.72m) would be exempt from nutrition labelling
DS pointed out that small producers supplying small shops would not want their product disadvantaged by not having nutritional information on their packs. They would want to comply and DS asked what support local authorities would be able to give. There was a silence.

Date of next meeting:-
Friday 9th December 2016
Menzies Hotel, Glasgow