Middlesbrough Council

The authority had developed a detailed food safety, health and safety and healthy living service plan 2010/2011, which was broadly in line with the service planning guidance in the Framework Agreement. The plan made appropriate references to the authority’s imported food control arrangements. However, the plan would benefit from further review and development to provide a clear comparison of all demands on the service, including all imported food responsibilities, and the resources needed to deliver the Service effectively. In addition, the service should identify and document any variance in delivering the plan throughout the year and identify any possible areas for improvement.

A documented procedure for the authorisation of officers had been developed and implemented. The procedure required further review and development to outline the mechanism by which officer competencies were assessed and authorisations were administered in practice. However, audit checks confirmed that officers were appropriately authorised under relevant legislation based upon their current responsibilities.

Officers had undertaken at least 10 hours relevant training based on the principles of continuing professional development (CPD). However, due to the authority’s planned involvement and commitment to new arrangements for the River Tees Port Health Authority, and observations made during the reality visit, auditors also recommended that officers receive further structured training on imported food controls, particularly in relation to high risk products.

The authority had in place a computer software system capable of providing accurate food law enforcement monitoring data to the Agency. However, the service was aware that it had not included third country imported food sampling activity and enforcement actions on the imported food section of the Local Authority Enforcement Monitoring System (LAEMS) return for 2009/2010. Auditors were provided with assurances that this would be corrected in future returns to the Agency.

It was evident from audit record checks that imported food control is considered by the authority to be an integral part of the food service. Officers carried out investigations and took proportionate action where illegal imports or high risk third country imports were identified. The service maintained detailed records relating to inspections and follow-up actions, including those related to imported food controls. Evidence of detailed and thorough investigations was observed in relation to imported food issues, including effective liaison with other external stakeholders. A comprehensive aide-memoire had been developed to capture essential information relating to food businesses and ensure that detailed records were made of each intervention.

Audit checks confirmed that appropriate follow-up action, including formal enforcement in relation to illegal food imports, had been taken in accordance with the authority’s enforcement policy and internal procedures. The service had recently been successful in identifying and publicising a case where illegal imported foods, discovered during an inspection and posing a potential health risk to the public, had been seized and destroyed. This helped to demonstrate the authority’s commitment to implementing imported food controls, and to highlight to food businesses the importance of traceability checks for all foods offered for sale. Auditors also acknowledged the significant resources required to successfully identify and tackle such cases to protect public health.

It was clear that the service was proactive in providing advice to food businesses on imported food controls. This included information leaflets, newsletters and targeted letters to relevant businesses.

In conjunction with other neighbouring authorities, and supported by grant funding from the Food Standards Agency, the service had developed food sampling programmes that took account of the diverse nature of imported foods sold in the authority’s area. Audit checks confirmed that samples had been taken in accordance with the authority’s procedures and appropriate actions had been taken on receipt of sampling results.

The authority had taken a risk based approach to the implementation of its documented internal monitoring procedures. Auditors were provided with evidence of appropriate qualitative monitoring of officers work covering most aspects of the service. The authority was also able to provide detailed evidence of substantial quantitative monitoring, reported to senior management, to ensure that inspection targets were met throughout the year. Robust and effective internal monitoring is essential to ensure that an effective service is maintained and to promote consistency among officers.

During the audit a verification visit was carried out to a local food importer with an officer from the authority who had carried out the last food hygiene inspection. The purpose of the visit was to determine the effectiveness of the authority’s assessment and application of imported food controls in relation to third country imports. A number of high risk products were identified on the visit. Auditors discussed the importance of officers being fully aware of the latest legal requirements for such products in order to carry out appropriate checks during inspections.