Bristol City Council

The authority had developed a food service plan that encompassed imported food and feed requirements. The plan had generally been drawn up in line with service planning guidance in the Framework Agreement.

There were well organised, effective systems and arrangements in place in relation to the control of containerised imported food and feed. The authority had a robust system for the identification of incoming consignments of containerised food through the systematic, detailed checking of every ship’s manifest. Appropriate facilities and equipment were available for the inspection and sampling of imported food not of animal origin and feed.

The port had an effective consignment control system, which enabled the authority to immediately hold any containerised consignment where further information or an inspection was required.

Imported food and feed controls, including documentary checks, identity checks and random physical checks, were risk-based and targeted in accordance with current legislation and officers’ previous knowledge and experience.

Appropriate action had been taken on unsatisfactory consignments and, where necessary, notices had been served requiring appropriate follow-up action on food consignments.

Records maintained in relation to imported food were detailed, accurate and easily retrievable. Auditors noted that the authority had made efficient use of their database’s advanced ‘Action Diary’ function to ensure that actions taken were effectively managed and recorded.

There were extensive liaison arrangements with central Government, other enforcement bodies, professional organisations and other external stakeholders. The authority had ensured that businesses had been advised in regard to imported food control requirements.

The authority had carried out some quantitative and qualitative monitoring of its imported food and feed activities and had recently implemented a new monitoring procedure. Auditors discussed the need to further develop the procedure to ensure that risk-based monitoring of all areas of imported food and feed enforcement is carried out on a regular basis. Records of monitoring should be maintained.

The authority had made quarterly imported food returns and had submitted their annual 2009/2010 Local Authority Enforcement Monitoring Scheme (LAEMS) return.