Scottish Food Enforcement Liaison Committee October 2017

Chairman Billy Hamilton (Glasgow EHO) welcomed 15 members.

Minutes & matters arising
None of note

Better Regulation
Marion McCormack from Scottish Government (Atlantic Quay, Glasgow based) presented their approach to Better Regulation.
Responsible for Economic Development including :-
better regulation
sponsorship of SE, HIE and SDIA
City Deals

Marion set the scene:-
£14.5bn F&D to the Scottish Economy
Ambition to double by 2030
European approach has as overarching principles – Subsidiary and Proportionate. To be supportive of the business environment.
Sit within U.K. – who have not abandoned “cutting the red tape” and “one in three out”
EHOs are inspecting to devolved matters and UK regs.
SG work with BEIS (UK level)

Post Brexit the regulation landscape may change but the 5 principles will remain, allowing SMEs to realise their full potential:-
Accountable
Consistent
Proportionate
Targeted
Transparent

Statutory regs are not necessary all the time. They are inflexible and create problems. The Regulatory Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 provides the powers in Scotland. A framework for a primary authority type scheme allowing businesses to receive tailored advice.

RRG – Regulatory Review Group is an independent group reporting to Scottish Minister.
BRIA – Business Regulatory Impact Assessment – forces policy and legislation makers to consider all the changes
National Standards for Business – tries to get consistency and proportionality e.g. Mobile Traders Food Hygiene Standards

Benefits of such standards:-
Confidence -best practice businesses can be champions)
Consistency- only one piece of paper
Consumer protection – customers can be confident of high standards
Costs – limited administration costs
Time saving – no repeatedly filing in forms
Transparency – it is clear what is expected of businesses.

Knowledge Hub is a forum for discussing all sorts of issues relating to better regulation. Join [email protected]

Mobile traders will welcome clearly stated standards, especially around consistency. For example stands at Food Fairs, Agricultural shows and Farmers markets who have retail shops witness lots of irregularities.

FSS Regulatory Strategy
Steve Hardie discussed delivery of regulatory approach. It is a very clear document.

Resources Working Group included approval of SFELC annual report. Halal and Kosher will be included in future work plan. Proceeds of crime investigations should be returned to local authorities who have diverted resources to pursuing prosecutions. Care centre inspectorate have worked in partnership with Environmental Health.

Committee work plan
December meeting will major on Diet and Health.
February meeting on Artisan Cheesemaking.

Food Standards Scotland update
FSS stressed partnership approach. Annual partnership event will be held with local authorities on 31st January and 1st February. (Bruce McCall please diary)

Update by Non-Enforcement member(s)
Douglas Scott, SFMTA
Fall out from Horsegate and deliberate species substitution in meat products and meat meals. 1% toleration was agreed in consultation with large processing plants which very often were single species processors anyway.
A Recommended Method of Operation (RMOP) has been devised in consultation with certain members of SFELC and this was presented in its final form for approval. The Food Standards Sub Committee would be asked for their endorsement and auctioned by end of November.
SFMTA wants to send this RMOP out in branded form to the 400 butchers businesses in membership. SFELC asked if the RMOP could be circulated to food businesses who were not members. No objection as long as Craft butcher logo is not used in non Members premises.

Date of next meeting:
08 December 2017
Venue: Apex Hotel, Dundee