Minutes of Food Safety Sub Committee: 26 September 2006

Tuesday 21 November 2006

Held at Municipal Buildings, Stirling, Scotland.

Present
Craig Brown, South Lanarkshire Council, West of Scotland Liaison Group
Leslie Fisher, Stirling Council, East of Scotland Liaison Group
Craig Smith, West Lothian Council, Lothian & Borders Liaison Group
Andrew Morrison, Food Law Enforcement Branch, Food Standards Agency (FSA) Scotland
Catherine Reilly, North Ayrshire Council, West of Scotland Liaison Group
Mark Duncan, Head of Quality, Macphie of Glenbervie (Scottish Food and Drink Federation)
James McLennan, Moray Council, North of Scotland Liaison Group

Agenda item 1: Apologies

1.1 Mary Lawton, Scottish Consumer Council and Rod House, Health Protection Scotland.

Agenda item 2: Minutes of previous Food Safety Sub Committee (FSSC) meeting

2.1 Subject to a change in the spelling of Mark Duncan's employer (Macphie of Glenbervie) the minutes were accepted as a true record of the meeting.

Agenda item 3: Matters arising

3.1 FSA are working on up to date list of legislation for publication on website.

3.2 Leslie Fisher requested copies of authorisation lists for comparison and compilation.

Agenda item 4: Feedback from the Scotting Food Enforcement Liaison Committee (SFELC)

4.1 There had been no recent meeting of SFELC. It was hoped to feedback to SFELC a number of issues.

SFELC remit consultation document

4.2 Not all members of FSSC had seen the document. Craig Brown to circulate and responses to Craig by 6 October 2006. Craig Smith indicated that the document had been discussed with Lothian and Borders group and that there were concerns expressed about role of sub-groups and proposed make up of membership.

4.3 Craig Brown discussed the proposals to ensure that SFELC had a working agenda to help determine appropriate representation at meetings.

4.4 The group discussed the following issues to be discussed at SFELC on 6 October 2006:

• Scores on the Doors - the pilot for this is due to start in November 2006. No specific issues were raised by group - all interested to see outcomes of pilot.
• Local Better Regulation Office (LBRO) - still awaiting developments.
• National control plan - Craig Brown indicated that there seemed to be little input for local authorities in regard to this document. Mainly for FSA to ensure that suitable arrangements are in place. There are however, potential issues with proposed performance monitoring system and framework agreement for auditing.
• Enforcement resources - local authority finance is always an issue. There are also requirements on service from other non-food related work. There are continuing issues with recruitment.

Agenda item 5: Feedback from Liaison Groups

5.1 East of Scotland Liaison Group:

• No report

5.2 Lothian & Borders Liaison Group:

• Considering joint inspections of food factories with public analyst. Funding has been provided to analysts to allow for this work.
• Approvals working group is due to have first meeting on 11 October 2006.
• Two representatives attending primary production enforcement meeting in Perth.

5.3 North of Scotland Liaison Group:

• Looking to develop guidelines for inspection of egg packing stations.
• Have been discussing sampling programmes. Day spent at laboratory looking at swab techniques.
• Shetland have been having problems with Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP).
• Aberdeen are participating in Scores on the Doors pilot.
• Highland have developed inspection form for fishing vessels.
• Trigger value scheme working well.

5.4 West of Scotland Liaison Group:

• Have been discussing monitoring return to develop a response.
• Discussing issues with approved premises.
• Support trigger values.

Agenda item 6: FSA report

6.1 The FSA report included:

• Still trying to put together low cost training programme. Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) indicated lack of evidence of training on Regulations 852/2004 and 853/2004.
• 193 Eatsafe awards - website now live.
• Retailsafe now on FSA website.
• Farmers market guidance is due to be published on website on 1 December 2006.
• Code of Practice has been emailed out. Basic hard copy to follow to each local authority.
• As well as Shetland issues with PSP there have been other problems with PSP and Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning (DSP) across Scotland. DSP outbreak in London linked to Scottish shellfish.
• Phytoplankton bloom causing fish deaths - now finished.
• Previous dairy products regulations derogation for raw cheese is being looked at in terms of micro criteria regulations. FSA want to know if such a derogation is still required.
• FVO missions.

• Table eggs - no Scottish visit.
• Meat and dairy mission - report came through last week. A number of areas for improvement. Looking for information from local authorities on dairy production holdings - who they sell to and who they sell to. There has been a gap found in relation to hauliers.
• Four further missions planned for October or November 2006.

• Five grants have been awarded for mission impossible.
• Final submissions for hygiene grants are being looked for.
• Primary production enforcement meeting to take place in Perth.
• Recruitment issues - a private company is setting up a database of qualified food safety officers from other European Union countries. Competency still to be determined by local authorities.

Agenda item 7: Health Protection Scotland (HPS) report

7.1 No report.

Agenda item 8: Scottish Consumer Council update

8.1 No representative present. However, any ideas which might help SCC develop work programme to Mary by email.

Agenda item 9: Industry update

9.1 No report.

Agenda item 10: HACCP Working Group update

10.1 Feedback on Retailsafe was sought from group:

• Craig Smith and James McLennan - officers are going to use as appropriate during inspections.
• Craig Brown - targeting independent traders.
• Catherine Reily - considering training and targeting businesses.
• Leslie Fisher - mail shot to advise retailers that manual will be available at next inspection or sooner if required. Hoping to do training work with local college if funding available.

Agenda item 11: New and amended legislation and code of practice

11.1 Food Hygiene Regulations, Article 5 requirements - the code of practice requirements seem to be similar to draft. Craig is to amalgamate West and North group reports for discussion and referral to SFELC.

11.2 Trigger value report - as generally favourable response, Craig Brown is to produce in format suitable for referral to SFELC (agreed by FSSC at next meeting) - for December 2006 meeting.

11.3 Consistency of inspection reports:

• North group generally supportive. Liked framework but felt detail should be for each local authority
• East group - Leslie was not at last meeting when discussed so no feedback at moment
• Lothian and Borders - no issues with general framework. Again like North detail should be for each authority
• Craig Brown is to tidy up document for report to SFELC December 2006 meeting

Agenda item 12: Current consultations

12.1 Current consultations are:

• Monitoring returns
• Primary production enforcement

Agenda item 13: Court cases

13.1 FSA have submitted wording for draft charges to Crown Office. Anticipate that these are now available for use.

Agenda item 14: Correspondence

14.1 None.

Agenda item 15: Matters for referral to SFELC

15.1 Matter for referal to SFLEC are:

• None for next meeting
• December meeting:
  • Trigger values
  • Article 5 compliance document
  • Consistency of inspection reports

Agenda item 16: Matter for referral to Liaison Groups

16.1 None.

Agenda item 17: Any other business

17.1 James McLennan - the illegal meat task force are working on an intelligence database. If finished James will bring details to next meeting.

17.2 Craig Brown has been drafted onto industry guide approval group. Anticipate a large number. Propose to circulate for comments as appropriate.

Agenda item 18: Date and time of next meeting

18.1 Monday 6 November 2006 at Stirling Municipal Buildings at 10.30am for 11.00am.