River Tees Port Health Authority

It was recognised that imported food and feed control services were currently under review following a major reorganisation of the River Tees Port Health authority (RTPHA). Members of the food team at Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council were covering the imported food and feed work from June 2010 and had the same manager as the port health service. A draft Memorandum of Understanding between the constituent authorities had been developed together with a draft revised constitution that was to be presented to the Joint Board for consideration in December 2010.

RTPHA had developed a food service plan for 2010/2011. It is understood that the plan was being reviewed to reflect the new arrangements. The plan needed to be drawn up in accordance with the service planning guidance, providing a clear comparison of the demands on the service and the resources available to provide the service.

The service had been transferred over to officers who had no previous experience of imported food and feed enforcement at points of entry. Auditors discussed the authorisation of officers and the need to ensure that officers were competent and appropriately trained in relation to imported food and feed controls to match their authorisations. Urgent consideration also needed to be given to the appointment of a sufficient number of authorised officers to carry out the work.

RTPHA needed to develop and implement a proportionate, risk-based approach to import controls of food and feed originating from outside the European Union. The authority was carrying out systematic checks on manifests to identify imported food and feed consignments that were received by the authority. Training would assist in ensuring better identification of products requiring import controls. Improvements to the system were discussed to ensure that the authority was being notified of all food and feed consignments entering Teesport.

There was little evidence of documentary and identity checks of consignments. The only physical check which appeared to have been carried out over the past months related to one consignment of sunflower seeds for feed use.

Auditors discussed the need to develop systems and procedures for all import controls. It was noted that the authority had successfully used its enforcement powers to redirect high-risk products that were not allowed to enter the port. However, records of the action taken were not fully documented. A 2009/2010 monitoring return had not been provided to the Food Standards Agency.

The authority had not developed a current sampling policy, procedures or a programme and there was no evidence of any other sampling undertaken during the past two years.

Improvements to the liaison arrangements with businesses involved in importing food and feed and with agencies involved with import controls were discussed. This should assist in ensuring that consignments are presented at the appropriate designated port appropriately, all consignments are identified and to help facilitate consistent enforcement.

The audit included a ‘reality check’ visit to the port. The purpose of the visit was to verify that appropriate risk-based, proportionate checks are carried out on consignments of imported food and feed at the port, and that requirements for designated point of import (DPI) status were met. The visit confirmed that the authority needed to review the facilities available to ensure that they are suitable for physical checks of imported food and feed.