Minutes of Food Safety Sub Committee: 11 January 2010
Tuesday 23 November 2010
Meeting held at Glasgow City Council, 231 George Street, Glasgow.
Present
Craig Brown – (Chair) West of Scotland Liaison Group
Billy Hamilton – West of Scotland Liaison Group
Frank Feechan – East of Scotland Liaison Group
Craig Smith – Lothian & Borders Liaison Group
Rod House – Health Protection Scotland
Andrew Morrison – Food Standards Agency (Scotland)
1. Apologies
Mary Lawton – Consumer Focus Scotland
James Mclennan – North of Scotland Liaison Group
2. Minutes of previous meeting – 7 September 2009
The minutes were agreed as accurate.
3. Matters arising
3.1 Point 3.1 under previous minute was highlighted by Craig Brown. The enforcement survey work still had to progress.
3.2 Frank Feechan spoke regarding 3.2 of previous minute to state that Dundee were intending participating in the Food Hygiene Information Scheme (FHIS) around August this year. He also said that council's equality team would be looking at some of the issues surrounding the display material.
3.3 Frank Feechan raised the issue of vacuum-packing again (3.3). Craig Brown responded that this was something the Agency had highlighted in it's latest monthly report. Frank Feechan requested that the statement made in the minute of the last meeting be agreed. There was no disagreement to this point. Andrew Morrison stated that the matter was being considered by the Agency along with other cross-contamination issues.
3.4 Approved premises audit – Frank Feechan questioned the previous statement that all authorities had received a report following the audit. Andrew Morrison clarified that authorities would have received a summary report at the time of audit but not a complete final report.
3.5 Literature review – Andrew Morrison stated that this was a matter he still had to progress.
3.6 LACOTS guidance – Billy Hamilton has circulated the documents to group members.
3.7 Inspection of new premises within 28 days – Frank Feechan questioned the current agency position on this matter. Andrew Morrison responded regarding the position and the need to ensure inspection is prioritised and targeted appropriate to the risk element of the business in question. FSA are looking at a more sensible approach
6.7 Andrew Morrison reported that there are still 11 spaces left on the FSA social marketing course to take place on 2/2/2010 in Edinburgh
4. Feedback from Scottish food Enforcement Liaison Committee (SFELC)
The last meeting of SFELC took place in December 2009.
4.1 The SFELC workplan is being considered. At the February meeting there is going to be a discussion on enforcement resources. Craig Brown suggested that liaison group reps were better prepared to contribute to this discussion.
There was a general discussion in the group regarding this matter. Concerns were expressed regarding available resources, particularly to deal with emergencies. There were also concerns about loss of experienced officers and 'professionally' qualified management to lead food enforcement.
The surge capacity required for outbreaks and general preparedness was discussed. Andrew Morrison suggested that the FSA could look at organising training exercises on the back of the Cairns-Smith review.
Rod House suggested that it would be worth looking again at the idea of having officers gaining experience by observing how colleagues tackle a live outbreak occurring in another authority.
Frank Feechan suggested that the FSA should see whether the Scottish Government resilience structures could accommodate a food incident rehearsal. Frank Feechan said he had attended a pilot seminar for tactical managers on crisis management organised by the Scottish Resilience Development Service. Topics covered were very relevant to food scenarios.
Action: Group members to feedback to liaison group and reps to make sure reps had some information of local authority resources, management, officer experience, 'surge capacity' issues etc.
4.2 Craig Brown reported that following the FSA/local authority enforcement workshop in Edinburgh there had been a meeting of a number of different reps prior to the SFELC meeting. A letter has now gone from the agency regarding the matters discussed at the workshop and seeking assistance from liaison groups to consider priority areas for taking forward.
Andrew Morrison said that arising from the current review of FSA services more resources are to be spent on audits and thus more audits.
4.3 Jacqui McIllheny gave a presentation on the Food Surveillance System. She has indicated a willingness to give presentation to liaison groups.
4.4 Scottish Food & Drink Federation (SFDF) have produced a short promotional DVD involving a number of different food producers. Whilst a lot of it is business promotion Craig Brown felt some of the content was useful for officer training. Copies are freely available from SFDF.
5. Feedback from liaison groups.
5.1 East of Scotland Liaison Group
The group have been discussing the FHIS. Questions had been raised regarding scoring of premises, e.g. pubs and wet sales only in relation to sanitary accommodation.
The discussion from the FSSC confirmed that wet sales still involved sale of food and issues relating to sanitary accommodation were no different to any other food business.
The issue of article 5 compliance and FHIS was also raised by East group.
Billy Hamilton stated that the FHIS group had not discussed this issue specifically but it was appreciated that this was something officers may question.
Jim Dixon was meeting the care commission to discuss 'outdoor' care settings.
Angus Council had been involved in a case which was dropped regarding a challenge to the correct method of serving a hygiene improvement notice. The notice had been served in the absence of the FBO as he would not keep appointments or accept recorded delivery.The food premises and rsidence were the same address but the Fiscal said that the notice had not been served at the usual place of residence.
5.2 Lothian and Borders Liaison Group
Craig Smith reported that a Edinburgh and Scottish Borders had been involved in recent campylobacter outbreaks associated with undercooked chicken and lambs liver from restaurants. Also investigating norovirus outbreaks associated with food establishments.
The group has also produced a guidance document for mobile traders covering hygiene, standards and safety issues. Craig Smith will circulate this to group members to take back to their liaison groups for consideration.
5.3 North of Scotland Liaison Group
No report.
5.4 West of Scotland Liaison Group.
The group had been discussing staff resources.
Primary production has been discussed and there was significant concern regarding the amount of resource and focus on the issue.
Officer have highlighted the growing problem of businesses mixing cleaning and sanitisation chemicals to save on money. Concern regarding the misunderstanding of the business and the function of bactericides etc.
6. FSA update
The latest monthly report had been circulated by email to all local authorities.
Andrew Morrison highlighted a couple of issues involving a redraft of the OFFC regulations due to some errors. These are due to commence shortly. He also discussed the upcoming FVO mission which is coming to England and Wales only – but Scotland has been asked to stand by just in case.
7. HPS update
HPS are discussing with Scottish Government the re – examination of the task group report into E coli. The review will consider current evidence, issues from latest Pennington report and also issues surrounding petting farms.
8. CFS update
Mary had emailed Craig Brown an update report which was circulated at the meeting. There is a new CFS director due to start and also a new CEO for Consumer Focus.
CFS workplan is out for comment and a stakeholder event is planned for 15th February.
9. Industry update
No representative on the group at present.
10. Working groups updates
10.1 Childminders Working Group
Craig Brown reported that the group had reported back to SFELC. There was a requested amendment regarding registration. Hoping to meet with Care Commission to discuss way forward regarding registration, when and who would deal with registration. Local authorities would get the completed forms to determine when inspections are completed.
10.2 Approved Premises Working Group
Craig Smith has had to stand down from chairing this group due to own work commitments. He thanked Billy Hamilton who has agreed to take over the role.
10.3 FHIS Working Group
Billy Hamilton reported that approximately 26 local authorities were anticipated to be participating by 2012. South Ayrshire are likely to go live next month.
10.4 CPD Working Group
Frank Feechan reported there was still some work to be done to progress the work of this group.
10.5 Fish Hygiene Working Group
No report.
11. Legislation/Code of Practice issues
11.1 Inspection methodology
The group has looked at the information previously discussed regarding LACOTS guidance, Richard North’s book on inspections.Frank Feechan suggested that we should look at what other countries do and Andrew Morrison said that the FVO could provide this.
There was a very long discussion on many issues surrounding how this may be taken forward. The discussion involved a wide range of issues which need to be considered, including inspection standards and approaches, officer training, competence and understanding, managing food safety resources etc.
It is a complex issue and there was concern expressed that it was a far bigger project than merely producing a guidance document. It was also recognised that the current local authority and group resources are very unlikely to be able to meet the demands of undertaking such a task.
It was agreed that at this time Craig Brown would advise SFELC that there is a lot of good literature available which is needing reviewed and brought together through editing etc. It would not be possible for those involved in FSSC to find the time to do this but perhaps could be involved in editing anything produced.
12. Current consultations
12.1 Andrew Morrison reported on an FSA consultation which had ended before Christmas which covered methods of communication between FSA and local authorities on food alerts etc.
13. Court Cases
Falkirk had reported a case regarding a scraper found in a happy meal at McDonalds. The H&S PF in Glasgow advised taking the case under health and safety against the franchisee . Following further discussions it was agreed to deal with the case by way of a Fiscal Warning.The Procurator Fiscal then asked the local authority to send the warning letter.
Perth and Kinross had a case against a Thai restaurant resulting in a £1500 fine.
Clackmannanshire had two prosecutions; food hygiene in a takeaway and a mapping pin in a bag of chips
West Lothian had a case against a local takeaway result in a £160 fine. The Procurator Fiscal had combined 13 charges into 2 and accepted a guilty plea on one of the charges regarding article 5. Hoping to have a meeting with the Procurator Fiscal to discuss this and other issues.
14. Correspondence
None.
15. Matters for referral to SFELC
Inspection methodology work.
16. Matters for referral back to liaison groups
Advise SFELC reps from liaison group of potential discussion on resources issue.
17. Any other business
None.
18. Date(s) of Next Meeting(s)
8 March 2010 – Consumer Focus Scotland, Glasgow
10 May 2010 – West Lothian Council, Linlithgow
6 September 2010 – FSAS, Aberdeen
1 November 2010 – Dundee City Council, Dundee