How to report an incident
This section includes details on how businesses and local and port health authorities can notify the FSA online about an incident. Notification forms for Border Inspection Posts and port health authorities are also available to report incidents identified at the point of entry into the UK and where the test results of consignments released to go inland are then found to be unsatisfactory.
If you are a consumer, you should report issues such as poor food hygiene and safety in a food hygiene outlet to your local authority. To find the contact details of your nearest local authority you could use our online search facility. If the issue relates to an area away from your home, you should report it to the local authority for that area.
Report an incident online
The Agency has produced an online incident report form so food and feed businesses can notify the Agency if businesses need to recall or withdraw products from the market. The online form can also be used by local and port health authorities to report incidents.
Report an incident online using incident report form. More information about the form and guidance on how to use it can be found via the link below.
Alternatively, authorities can report an incident by completing and faxing the incident report form in Annexe 4 of the Food Law Code of Practice to the relevant incidents branch (fax numbers can be found below). A Microsoft Word verision of the form can be found at the link below.
RASFF original and follow-up forms
The Commission has produced three Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) notification forms that should be used by Border Inspection Posts and port health authorities for any notifications submitted to the Commission on or after 1 January 2011. The three forms are:
- original notification form – the previous ‘market notification’ and ‘border rejection’ forms have been merged into one ‘original notification’ form
- follow-up notification form – used to transmit follow-up notifications on measures taken and outcome of investigations
- follow-up notification for consignment re-dispatch information form – used when a decision has been made for a consignment to be returned to its country of origin
The three forms can be found at the links below.
Single Liaison Body notifications
Food authorities provide information about trans-border food issues to the FSA under the Single Liaison Body (SLB) system. The FSA is the SLB for the UK, as designated under Article 35 of Regulation (EC) No 882/2004. The role of the SLB is to:
- assist and coordinate communication between European Union member states on food issues
- forward complaints and requests for information to member states
- receive incoming requests for assistance and direct these to the appropriate originating local or port health authority
- resolve difficulties in communication and liaison
Food authorities can notify the FSA of SLB issues using the form at the link below.
Contacting the incidents branch
The incidents branch acts as the central hub for the Agency’s incident work. It maintains the official audit trail for the investigation, co-ordinating the logging, collation and distribution of information required during the investigation. The branch arranges the issue of food alerts to local authorities, other Government departments, trade organisations and others, as well as RASFF notifications to the Commission.
The devolved administrations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each have their own Agency offices and take responsibility for co-ordinating their own food-related incidents. Any issues relating to food in these areas will be led by the devolved administration.
Contact details for the Agency's incidents teams can be found below.
FSA headquarters (England)
Incidents Branch, Enforcement & Local Authority Delivery Division
Food Standards Agency
Aviation House
125 Kingsway
London WC2B 6NH
tel: 020 7276 8448
fax: 020 7276 8788
For all food and environmental contamination incidents, email: foodincidents@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk
Out of office hours contact should be made through the Defra duty room:
tel: 0845 051 8486
fax: 0845 051 8487
email: dutyroom@defra.gsi.gov.uk
The Defra Duty Officer will contact the appropriate on-call officer from the incidents branch.
FSA Scotland
6th Floor, St Magnus House
25 Guild Street
Aberdeen AB11 6NJ
tel: 01224 285 196 or 01224 285 194
email: scottishincidents@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk
Out of hours tel: 07881 516867
FSA Wales
11th Floor, Southgate House
Wood Street
Cardiff CF10 1EW
tel: 029 2067 8999
email: wales.foodincidents@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk
Out of hours tel: 07789 926573
FSA Northern Ireland
10c Clarendon Road
Belfast BT1 3BG
tel: 028 9041 7739/7708
email: incidents.ni@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk
Out of hours tel: 07784 473022
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