Working with enforcers
Good communication is essential to the relationship between enforcement authorities and the Agency.
As well as providing advice on the website, The Agency regularly sends updates on food issues to local authorities. It also provides the means for local authorities to notify it when things go wrong.
When local authorities work well, the Agency looks to acknowledge this good practice, either by sharing it with other enforcement authorities or more formally in the biennial Food Champion awards.
Find out more
Letters to local authorities
In order to provide local authorities with a more effective means of storing and retrieving up-to-date information and guidance from the FSA, a central referencing system has been established.
Food fraud
What to do if you suspect or know food fraud is taking place and information about Food Standards Agency resources available to local authorities tackling food fraud.
Incident report form for food and feed recalls and withdrawals
The Agency has produced an online form so food and feed businesses can notify us if they need to withdraw products from the market. The form can also be used by food authorities to report incidents.
Good practice
The Agency aims to highlight and share good practice identified during its work with local authorities and other enforcement stakeholders.
Guidance notes
The Agency regularly issues guidance to food industry representatives and other stakeholders on a range of topics, often as a result of new regulations coming into force.
Working with local authorities
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) works together with local authorities to protect food consumers.
Imported food and enforcement
Local authorities and port health authorities are responsible for the enforcement of food safety and food standard controls on food products. The Horticultural Marketing inspectorate of the Rural Payments agency are responsible for enforcing Community Marketing rules on fresh fruit and vegetables. Guidance and resources for these and other enforcement authorities are available.