Scottish Food Enforcement Liaison Committee

This proved to be yet another useful networking meeting with FDA, EHOs, Public Analysts and the food industry. Chair Craig Brown referred back to presentation at last meeting. Safe Space to discuss “unexpected, suspicious and unusual” items. This was considered to be two sub committee of SFELC. This means that industry members would contact Paul Bradley or Billy Hamilton via email. A verbal reporting mechanism, in camera, would be established to SFELC.

Clare Ireland from FSAS presented a talk on FSA training and consistency. Important that all stakeholders are engaged for partnership working. At present limited tie in with performance, don't measure quality of training. There are persistent requests for LA training, LA interpretations from industry, consumer and media interest.
Strength in technical issues but process is of greater importance to industry. There is a need to change and modernise. Industry trust is key. Going forward needs to be shadowing, feedback and evaluation. New term was thrown in during the presentation:-

TACCP:- A core element to the defence of food is a systematic evaluation of vulnerable elements of the supply chain carried out by an experienced and trusted team. This has been called 'Threat Assessment Critical Control Point (TACCP)'. The evaluation reflects established procedures for risk management and it is likely that organizations will increasingly incorporate it into crisis and/or business continuity management frameworks.

Future – thoughts will be collated. Trade bodies included.
Aim is to deliver quality training and consistent decision making.
Inconsistency is a positive as well, to allow professional judgement. Small manufacturers for example can be treated in different ways than large manufacturers. FSA will recommend which industry inspectors could assist with shadowing.

New Scottish Regulators' Strategic Code of Practice suggest regulators will give advice, target in Trading Standards is 21 days. Timely advice from EHOs might be restricted by resources. Managing expectations will vary because the regulator does not always know the answer. Clarification on aspirational timeline is required and will depend upon the nature of the requests.

Food Standards Scotland Bill consultation is now out. Response will be made by SFELC by deadline 30 May 2014. Cost of administrative sanctions and FHIS if made mandatory needs to be addressed by industry.

Commonwealth Games
Billy Hamilton reported on the progress in preparation for Glasgow 2014
Objective:-
To prevent food poisoning amongst athletes, officials, VIPs, media, spectators, attendees at Live Zones, and visitors to the city. Feeling now that Glasgow EHOs do not want illnesses on 'their watch'. Not easy to project manage because situation continually changes.

Food supply chain is being scrutinised and early detection of deliberate contamination within it. Concentration on 60 Games family hotels. There has been re prioritising of the inspection programme. (there are 2000 food businesses in the 'final mile').
FSA has expressed concerns to the Organising Committee regards preparation and lack of information. Caterers contracts are still not finalised but likely to be Compass (inc Hydro), Sodexo, Cordia, Elior (Ibrox) and Celtic Park. Numbers are “terrifying”.

Mapping the Food Supply Chain will be created once menus are known. So far Cordia is the only one to have submitted these and for example already examining some cheese ingredients. This is a very complex process and will start with highest risk products like shellfish.

Food security is much lower profile that at London 2012 where everything was x rayed. Includes how food chain might be used for terrorism and extortion. Operation Protect will take place on 19 May. Food team now up to 41 with 36.8 FTEs.

FSAS update
Charles Milne leaves in first week in June. Elspeth has been seconded to Aviation House from 22nd April until March 2015. In interim Peter Midgley will cover for Elspeth and Jeff Ogle will fill Charles Milne's post.
Beef Authenticity work starts next week.

Date of next meeting: Wednesday 4th June.