A. Introduction to the Service Food Hygiene
Food Standards
Health and Safety
Animal Health
B. Framework of the Legislation – Food Standards and Inspection
C. Scope of the Work
D. Performance of the Service 2004/05
E. Current Issues in Food Hygiene
F. Question
Minutes:
Janice Manning, Manager of Food, Health and Safety, introduced her team and explained their roles and responsibilities. The following presentation was then given to the Panel:-
Introduction to the Service
Part of the Neighbourhood Service and, under the new structure, came under Neighbourhood Standards and the Food Health Safety Team. The Unit covered Animal Health, Food Hygiene, Food Standards and Health and Safety.
The staffing of the Unit consisted of an Animal Health Inspector and an Assistant Animal Health Inspector (DEFRA funded), 4 consumer and administration support staff and 2 Principal Officers responsible for 10 Environmental Health Officers and 1 student.
The newly adopted neighbourhood approach streamlined the Service and dealt with food from the “farm to the fork”. The public and businesses now had 1 Team to deal with instead of 3. It linked to the priority “to provide effective enforcement and advice which delivers high standards and equality of life in our communities” which would be achieved by:-
§ Work with businesses to deliver required standards
§ Implement a programme of education, advice and information
§ Develop further targeted enforcement programmes
§ Ensure the effective introduction of a new enforcement and licensing legislation.
The Service contributed to the Corporate Plan and the new Vision for Rotherham under Rotherham Achieving, Live, Safe and Proud.
Framework of the Legislation
§ Food Safety Act 1990
§ Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
§ Animal Health Act 1981
§ Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984
§ Guidance on Legislation
Statutory Approved Code of Practice
Food Safety Act
Health and Safety at Work Act
Non-Statutory LACORS
HELA
FSA
DEFRA
Health and Safety
Routine inspections of work places were carried out to identify dangerous activities and concentrated on priority topics which included slips and trips, work related stress, musculo-skeletal injuries and working from a height. Enforcement action was taken where necessary in order to protect public/employee safety.
Food Standards
Extensive food sampling and inspection programme was carried out to ensure the requirements of the Service were met. 250 food samples had been submitted so far. High risk inspections were targeted.
As well as inspections of food businesses:-
§ Advice was given and enforcement action taken where necessary
§ Complaints from members of the public were dealt with together with any requests for help from local businesses
§ Samples of pre-packed food were taken and tested to ensure it conformed to its label
§ Samples of local produced food to check that it was a local business who was complying with the requirements of the Law
§ Checking of labels e.g. ingredients, average weight, country of origin, additives
§ Testing of alcoholic drinks for ABV and authenticity
Animal Health
The Service was responsible for ensuring that all cattle, sheep, pigs etc. were located in hygienic conditions and a database was kept of all the farms in Rotherham and inspected in accordance with a risk based programme. Enforcement Notices were served on owners/keepers of livestock to rectify contravention of Law.
There were certain actions required to be carried out e.g. humane killing and disposal of animals. Owners/keepers could be prosecuted for specific offences such as animal welfare and/or non-compliance with a Notice. Records were checked for any medicines administered to livestock to ensure public health was not compromised. The Service also:-
§ Placed restrictions on the movement of animals
§ Checked animal passports and ensured traceability of animals through the food chain
§ Prevent animals going into the slaughterhouse which could affect public health
§ Worked closely with DEFRA
§ Used a national database to enable information about animals/owners to be shared
§ Liaised with the State Veterinary Officer
§ Worked with the Cattle Movement Service and provide data regarding animals located in Rotherham and investigate any illegal movements
Food Hygiene Service
There was a programme of food hygiene inspections. The Service dealt with:-
§ Registration/licensing and approval of premises
§ Food complaints
§ Food sampling
§ Food hazard warning
§ Targeted food safety, advice and information
§ Other services included water quality, infectious diseases and health promotion.
Framework and Legislation
The Food Safety Act required local authorities to have a Food Service Plan which was set out in the Framework Agreement. The Plan:-
§ Explained the purpose of the FHS
§ Matches resources against existing Service levels
§ Sets targets against each which performance could be measured
§ Provided a performance management framework
§ It also described the specialist services used including the Public Analyst (West Yorkshire Analytical Services), Food Examiner (Sheffield Public Health Laboratory Service), Health Protection Agency and the Proper Officer (Consultant in Communicable Disease Control, Dr. K. Perrett).
Performance of the Service
In 2003/04, the Service inspected 843 out of 845 high risk premises in the Programme. In 2004/05, there were 731 high risk premises of which 625 had already been inspected. Premises were risk rated every time they were inspected with the rating setting the inspection frequency:-
Category A 40 )
B 205 ) high risk
Category A premises were inspected twice a year and Category B annually.
Category C 486 inspected every 18 months
So far 72 Improvement Notices had been served, the majority of which had been complied with. 470 complaints had been dealt with last year with 432 up to the end of February, 2005.
The Service also had the Home Authority Principle. Rotherham acted as the Originating Authority Referral for several major manufacturers e.g. K.P. Foods, Hazlewoods.
In 2003/04 the Service had received 62 warnings and had already received 72 this year. Letters had been sent to over 200 small retailers in response to the recent Sudan 1 contamination warning and a press release was issued.
With regard to food sampling, in 2002/03 197 samples had been submitted to the Food Examiner; this year the Service was on course to meet the target of 150.
Promotional Activity
Activities included the Rotherham Shown, issuing of 15,000 leaflets at Christmas and information packs, in various languages, on a range of subjects.
Infectious Disease
In 2003/04 there were 653 people notified as suspected cases/contacts. The estimate for the current year was 750 and so far there had been 544 reports received. The FSA’s target was to reduce food poisoning and food borne illness.
Summary
§ The Service was achieving its inspection targets
§ It was fulfilling the sampling policy and programme
§ It was providing advice to its customers
§ It had reduced food poisoning
§ It was protecting the public.
Current Issues
§ Implementation of EC Legislation.
§ Developing a holistic approach to the Service’s work
§ Public Health White Paper
§ Freedom of Information
§ Threats – national shortage of qualified EHO’s, reduction in resources of external agencies
§ Strengths – highly motivated team, dedicated to the work of the Service, meeting targets, ready to meet the need and expectations of the people of Rotherham.
Janice Manning stated that it was proposed to meet the Best Value targets with regard to food hygiene inspections and continue with pro active work. The Service had taken on responsibility for the Food Standards and Animal Health since January and staff had worked incredibly hard and worked out of hours to undertake the necessary training to carry out the duties. It was envisaged that the target for high risk premises would be met and as many of the medium risk premises visited as possible.
A question and answer session ensued with the following points raised/highlighted:-
§ A lot of work had been undertaken with supermarkets regarding animal by-products as it had come to light that they were not doing certain things as they should. It had been challenged and they were now disposing items in the correct manner. There were a number of exemptions to the disposal of animal by-products and a leaflet was produced and sent out. This set out in a clear and concise manner what they could and could not do.
§ Mobile vehicles still required registration exactly the same as confined premises and, in fact, were inspected far more. The registration of a mobile vehicle lies with where it was garaged at night so, if a vehicle was inspected and any failings found, that information would be passed to the registered local authority.
§ Training had been secured for officers on imported foods in readiness for the opening of the new airport at Finningley. The Service had powers to tackle food products that came into the local authority and if any problems were found with imported food, the FSA would be contacted who in turn would liaise with the country of origin. The new Legislation would be enforced across all the member states for food hygiene standards.
§ An officer had attended a number of meetings with respect to Avia Flu where a number of issues had been raised. Agencies were ensuring that emergency plans were in place for integral working.
§ Information was given wherever possible to new businesses free of charge. Basic information was given on the telephone and a number of leaflets sent which would assist them. Visits were made to a number of premises but these were not reflected in the returns to the FSA.
The Chairman thanked Janice and her team for their very informative presentation.