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Horsemeat Regulation: FSA's Role and Next Steps

This article explores the role of the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and local authorities in regulating horsemeat in the UK. It discusses routine testing, the horsemeat crisis in 2013, other actions taken by the FSA and LAs, and lessons learned for future regulation.

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Horsemeat Regulation: FSA's Role and Next Steps

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  1. Horsemeat, regulation and where next !

  2. Role of FSA and LAs Horsemeat • FSA’s key objective – to protect the consumer and food safety across UK • Responsible for food safety controls & food safety aspects of labelling • Day to day enforcement in businesses by LAs • FSA checks effective LA Official Controls in place (investigating mislabelling and fraud). • Business is responsible for food being safe and accurately labelled

  3. Routine FSA \ LA Testing • LA’s routinely sample and test food products • Range of legal controls – labelling; nature or substance; fraud; • Annual enforcement returns to FSA. 2011/12: • 78,653 food samples ( 30,098 analyses for composition, labelling and presentation • 800 samples tested for meat authenticity • FSA Food Fraud database \ Fighting Fund • FSA - additional LA funding for coordinated sampling programme, inc. meat \ fish authenticity.

  4. Horsemeat – industry testing • Horsemeat in beef burgers (15th Jan) • Testing by industry.....positives found in other products \ ready meals...........crisis of confidence • Needed order \ urgency to industry testing • 8th Feb wrote to industry requiring testing \ results • 11th Feb industry meeting to agree protocol • 15th Feb first results published (2501 tests 29 +ves) • 1st March final weekly (5430 – 44+ves) • Now quarterly (1st week June next set). • Aim – check food chain, reassure consumers, put contamination into perspective • Focus on gross contamination

  5. Pragmatic reporting thresholdLGC study and consumer acceptance testing re future approach, GMP 1%

  6. Other FSA \ LA action • 3 phases of LA testing of beef products • Phase 1 & 2 – 362 samples(Feb\March) • Phase 3 (EU) -150 samples (March \ April) • UK – results similar to industry results. EU results showed more widespread contamination • LA checks \ investigations ongoing – visits to all UK approved plants and cold stores • Ad hoc testing where necessary eg SMEs • Providing advice \ support to businesses • FSA investigations ongoing

  7. food fraud- not just about horsemeat ! Adulterated Basmati Rice Fake Champagne Illegal harvesting of shellfish Illegal slaughter / Smokies Illegal re-dating False organic claims False health marks Counterfeit vodka

  8. Lessons, regulation, where next • Collaboration assisted delivery • Not about lack of regulation, testing or industry controls – it was about focus • Lack of intelligence and understanding • Labelling ...authenticity...fraud....safety....... confidence. • Complexity of global food chain \ economy and lack of transparency • Food Fraud - high value, low penalties, minimal detection ? • Will be government reviews on lessons

  9. Lessons, regulation, where next • Less regulation; modernisation, review, scrutiny, challenge • Focus on: • regulation and growth • risk based controls & outcomes • support business to comply (and grow) • Alternatives to enforcement • transparency \ behaviour change eg FHRS • More industry self regulation. Recognise compliance \ penalise non compliance • More partnership working eg Primary Authority, LEPS

  10. Where next ? • Capacity & competency vital • Enforcer v advocate \ communicator • More intelligence – different models eg regulating internet \ global issues • Greater cross authority, regulation, regional, national coordination \ liaison • Evidence (data) on impact \ risk crucial • Whatever it is – will not be less of the same

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