Current Regulatory Issues

2. Current Regulatory Issues • Fundamental REVIEWS ! • EU • reviewing 882/2004 – OFFC Regulations • Regulatory burdens on micro businesses • UK • Lord Young Review • Red Tape Challenge – Hospitality \ Enforcement Review • BIS consultations on Transforming Regulatory Approaches and Empowering & Protecting Consumers • FSA • Official Control Review • Approach to Enforcement & Compliance • LAs • Resources \ priorities \ approaches

3. Red Tape Challenge • 2 year review of the UK stock of regulations. FSA legislation opened to public challenge May-June 2011 • 79 responses provided • Most generally supportive but issues included: • Application of hygiene regs to childminders and village halls • Desire to see a single rating scheme • FSA putting forward a reduction programme. Criteria: • Consumer safety not compromised \ consistent with Strategic Plan • Need for UK specific regs ? • Remove gold plating • Likelihood of successful delivery • Full details on Website – July Board Meeting • NB Current ‘Enforcement’ RT challenge

4. FSA Strategic Food Safety Priorities • Agency recently agreed a revised Strategic Plan. Priority outcomes include: • Imported food is safe to eat • Food produced or sold in UK is safe to eat • Consumers have information to make safe choices • Enforcement (and regulation) is effective, consistent, risk based and proportionate • Increased focus & resource on delivery – eg fraud & intelligence, sampling, training • More enforcement research on approaches and outcomes

5. Official Control Review • Review needed to ensure we could meet our EU and consumer protection responsibilities • January 2011 Board agreed to a review: • to ensure a consistent, effective, targeted, accountable, efficient and sustainable system • General support......provided review was open, independent oversight and evidence based • July 2011 Board Update: • Scope clarified \ report end 2012 • External Advisory Group – independent challenge • Consultative Group – 1st meeting September • Regional Food Leads Meetings - October

6. Enforcement & Compliance Strategy Strategy Approved by Board July 2011: • Target interventions on highest risk • Greater recognition to businesses means of securing compliance (Earned Recognition) • Increase transparency of business standards (nFHRS) • Use wider incentives and alternative approaches • Greater emphasis on tackling persistent \ serious non compliance • Consistent, risk based application of controls throughout food chain with a focus on their outcomes NB the most effective use of resources regardless of delivery model.

7. Imported Food – key priority Imported Food Strategy – Sept 2011 Board: • Greater emphasis on analyses and intelligence to target controls • Greater direction on import checks • Improve small port \ inland awareness, liaison and controls • Greater working with UK Agencies and EU to secure risk based proportionate controls • Greater cost recovery for controls - to improve compliance

8. UK Controls2009-10 LAEMS Returns • 100% LAs provided returns • 2009-10 Enforcement returns \ individual LA reports on FSA website • 583,764 registered food businesses • 542,359 on site interventions • 209,098 (42.4%) - nFHRS 5 • 432,000 (87.8%) - nFHRS 3-5 • 60,481 (12.2%) - nFHRS 0,1, 2 • Risk based inspection programmes in place • Some (and increasing) variation between authorities

9. 2010-11 LAEMS Returns • As at 2nd September • >99% LAs have uploaded returns • 95.6% LAs have signed off their data • 3.4% awaiting sign off by Service Head • <1% (5 LAs) have yet to upload any data • Thank you ! • Aim to get an enforcement paper to November Board (4 months earlier than last year) • National statistics will then be published, including data for individual LAs on FSA website as usual. • LAEMS data - valuable evidence to help raise the profile and support LA food services

10. nFHRS • Coalition and FSA priority for a single national scheme to be in place before the Olympics • To help inform consumers, drive up standards and improve public health • Significant reduction in he number of local schemes NB all seemed to work • As at end August 160 LAs operating nFHRS • To support moves to a single national scheme. 1st September letter to LAs, announcing: • Partnership between FSA and Transparency Data • Priorities Fund • FHRS Pledge

12. Where are we now? • 160 LAs now operating the FHRS – 121 in England, all 22 in Wales and 17 of 26 in Northern Ireland • Another 14 in England and one in Northern Ireland preparing to launch • Anticipate 60% of LAs in England and over 90% of LAs in Northern Ireland by end March 2012

13. Where are we now?

14. Where are we now? • FSA providing a range of support for local authorities • FSA maintaining the technology which makes publishing ratings easier and continue to improve food.gov.uk/ratings • FSA keeping the FHRS framework under review, particularly the way the re-visits safeguard works • FSA will undertake a full evaluation • FSA will promote the FHRS nationally, and work with local authorities to promote it locally • Consider voluntary uptake of scheme April 2012 – NB earlier Bill likely in Wales

15. Where are we now?

16. Where are we now?

17. Other topical issues • Cross Contamination Guidance • Remedial Action Notices • Approvals • FSA and the Olympics • COP – a review ! ...........................................Questions !