Monitoring food safety
To ensure food safety is monitored at every stage of the food chain, the Agency provides advice, practical support materials and funding for inspection and sampling programmes at a national and local level.
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Food sampling resources
The Food Standards Agency supports local authority food sampling programmes that are regularly carried out to ensure the safety of our food supply.
Working with the meat industry
The Food Standards Agency is responsible for meat inspection duties in fresh meat premises in England, Scotland and Wales. It is the role of Agency to help ensure that the meat industry safeguards the health of the public, and the health and welfare of animals at slaughter.
Shellfish monitoring
Food safety regulation and monitoring of the shellfish harvesting industry.
Dairy hygiene inspections
Dairy hygiene inspections help to protect the nation's raw milk supply from the risk of contamination by bacteria and other substances, some of which are potentially harmful. Our aim is to ensure a satisfactory standard of hygiene is maintained on all dairy farms.
Food laboratories
Details of National Reference Laboratories and Official Food Control Laboratories in the UK
Public analysts
Public analysts were first recognised as a profession in the 19th Century. Public analysts carry out a wide range of analysis, including food and feed. They must hold a Mastership in Chemical Analysis awarded by the Royal Society of Chemistry. They provide expert advice on the interpretation of legislation and produce certificates of analysis which are submitted as evidence in legal cases.
UK Food Surveillance system
The UK Food Surveillance system (UKFSS) is a national database to record results of all food and feed samples, submitted for analysis and/or examination by official control laboratories on behalf of UK local authorities and port health authorities.