Imported food publications

A guidance booklet for local authorities on imported food regulation has been published by the Food Standards Agency.

About half the food we eat in the UK is imported, and the regulation of these products stretches far beyond its point-of-entry into the country. Ensuring that the imported food on sale complies with the law is the shared responsibility of authorities at borders (seaports and airports) and inland, the Agency, and our enforcement partners.

The booklet for local authorities outlines the support available to help port and inland health authorities increase their imported food sampling to the minimum of 10%, the national target set by the FSA, Local Authorities Coordinators of Regulatory Services (now Local Government Group or LGG) and the Association of Port Health Authorities (APHA). Nearly 24,000 samples of imported food were taken by UK enforcement authorities in 2006/07, but only about one in three local and port health authorities carried out this sampling.

The publication 'Working together on imported food' can be found below.

A leaflet detailing the import controls in place for food entering the UK from non-European Union countries is available. The leaflet is targeted primarily at trade organisations, but for use by local authorities to disseminate to industry.

The leaflet is intended to underline to traders their responsibilities when importing food into the UK, provide them with some basic information on the latest rules and publicise the Agency’s imported food helpline number and website address as a source of further information.

The leaflet, which includes an empty space for local authorities to insert their own contact details, can be found below. Copies of the leaflet (stock code: FSA/1042/0306) are also available from foodstandards@eclogistics.co.uk or by calling 0845 606 0667.

Local authorities are encouraged to email, printout and copy the leaflet where necessary.

The leaflet has been developed in consultation with a number of inland local authorities and ports, Association of Port Health Authorities (APHA), Local Authorities Coordinators of Regulatory Services (now Local Government Group or LGG) and other Government Departments to help support enforcement of imported food controls.