Anjali Juneja and Jane R Clark present a paper giving an overview of the BTOM's implementation over the past year, highlighting key milestones, challenges, and future direction.

FSA 25/03/04 - Border Target Operating Model – One Year On

10:25 - Foodborne Disease Monitoring (FSA 25/03/05)

Rebecca Sudworth and Natasha Smith introduce a paper discussing the limitations of the current system of monitoring levels of Food Borne Disease.

FSA 25/03/05 - Foodborne Disease Monitoring

11:00 - Break

11:20 - Local Authority Cost-Recovery, Initial Findings and Proposed Way Ahead (FSA 25/03/06)

Julie Pierce and Nathan Barnhouse introduce a paper which focuses on reporting the findings of engagement to date, mainly with public protection teams in local authorities (LAs).

FSA 25/03/06 - Local Authority Cost-Recovery, Initial Findings and Proposed Way Ahead

11:55 - Report from the Chair of the Wales Food Advisory Committee (FSA 25/03/07)

Rhian Hayward provides an update on the activity of the Wales Food Advisory Committee.

FSA 25/03/07 - Report from the Chair of the Wales Food Advisory Committee

12:10 - Report from the Chair of the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee (INFO 25/03/01)

The Chair of the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee (ARAC), Anthony Harbinson, presents a report from the ARAC meeting that took place on 10 March 2025.

INFO 25/03/01 - Report from the Chair of the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee

12:20 - Report from the Chair of the Business Committee (INFO 25/03/02)

The Chair of the Business Committee, Timothy Riley, presents a report from the Business Committee meeting that took place on 17 March 2025.

INFO 25/03/02 - Report from the Chair of the Business Committee

12:30 - Reports from the Chairs of the Food Advisory Committees (Oral Reports)

The Chairs of the Northern Ireland Food Advisory Committee (NIFAC), Anthony Harbinson, and the Wales Food Advisory Committee (WFAC), Rhian Hayward, deliver oral updates from the recent meetings of the two Committees.

12:35 - Any Other Business

12:40 - End of Meeting

Questions to the FSA Board

We are keen to ensure, as far as is practical, that questions are addressed in the discussion at the Board meeting. Notwithstanding discussions on the day, all questions will receive a written reply within 20 working days of the meeting.

Please note questions are listed below in the order in which they were received.

Question 1

From: Claire McGuigan, Chair, Food Allergy Northern Ireland

Why is food allergy education not currently mandatory across the food service and production industries, despite the clear risks associated with food allergies and evidence showing knowledge gaps among food service staff with existing food safety certifications?
In the FSA Food Safety Communication Toolkit (2021), a whole systems approach using the COM-B framework (integrating non-technical skills such as communication, decision-making, situational awareness, and teamwork) is recommended to improve safety for those dining out with food allergies. Will the FSA commit to commissioning appropriate mandatory education for the workforce using these safety system principles that have proven effective in healthcare and aviation? If so, when?
What specific barriers have prevented the implementation of mandatory, tiered food allergy training programmes that consider varying capability levels among food service staff, from entry-level workers to experienced professionals?
How can the FSA integrate food allergy education as a specific component of human factors and leadership training across all entry-level programmes in the food industry?
What regulatory mechanisms through the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) framework would the FSA employ to ensure accountability and governance in food allergy safety practices?
We advocate for mandatory training that fosters a safety culture where organisational commitment to food allergy safety is embedded in every aspect of operations. What timeline can we expect for the implementation of such a programme, and what process will be used for ongoing evaluation and improvement?

Question 2

From: Abigail Farr

Do you think the Food Standards Agency will come under scrutiny and pressure to reduce costs and/or staff/support to LA's, or be absorbed into a Department following the announcement by the Prime Minister to pledged to slash the costs of regulation with an "active government"?

Whilst I welcome the exploratory work for cost recovery, it seems at odds to the Governments intentions to reduce the burdens on businesses, and I am concerned with the government intentions to reduce the influence/get rid of the NGO's and local government will lose the support of the Food Standards Agency and the National Food Crime Unit. If NHS England can be disbanded, nothing is off the table.

Question 3

From: Fiona Quinn, East Suffolk Council

I have two questions for the board, they are:

To know what science, data or evidence has been collected and used to support the conclusions drawn in the Board Paper, namely that the BTOM has “contributed positively to the ability to manage risk” when it is noted from the report that the BTOM implementation is not complete, IT systems have suffered critical issues, controls on the West Coast have not been implemented, data cannot be accurately reported and that both the case studies and EFRA Committee raised concerns?
What action is the FSA actively engaged in to contribute to the resolution of the issues identified in the report, and, when do they anticipate the full implementation of the BTOM?

Question 4

From: Lucy Spinks, Associate, Mills & Reeve LLP

Is there any progress on the FSA reforms of the Market Authorisation Service? In particular any updates regarding the below:

outcome of the planned review of roles and responsibilities between the FSA and ministers, where (as a result of assimilated EU legislation) differences between EU and UK functions have resulted in additional inefficiencies and bureaucracy for the service. Is the FSA planning any changes as a result of this review?
plans for enhancements to FSA pre-application support offer?
any news on which international regulator’s safety assessments will be considered by the FSA as part of an application for Market Authorisation?

Question 5

From: Lucy Spinks, Associate, Mills & Reeve LLP

Please can the board given update on the progress of gathering feedback from local authorities regarding the ABC proposals. Is there any feedback or findings that can be shared at this time? If not when is this information likely to be available?

Question 6

From: Simon Dawson, Policy Advisor, AIMS

Question relates to the actions from last meeting concerning the Evaluation of the Meat Charging Regime. When this subject was discussed at the Board meeting on 11th December a number of Board members asked for the impact of any changes to be assessed on various parts of the meat sector – for example on Northern Ireland, on small and medium sized abattoirs, on the Wales agricultural sector etc. What progress have FSA made on this impact assessment and when will it be published?

Question 7

From: Sian James, Chair of Environmental Health Wales

We note the qualitative assessment of the BTOM framework is that it (the BTOM) has contributed positively to our ability to manage risks posed to food and feed from the EU and has maintained the assurances that already applied to rest of world imports.

We ask the Board to review this statements evidential standing as an independent agency with a mission of assuring consumers with “food you can trust “. Our evidence for this position is that the delay in the implementation of SPS controls at West Coast Ports does observably enable imports from the EU and Rest of World to enter GB, without any verified documentary, identity check or physical inspection which would occur in a English port of entry. Thereby creating a far lower threshold of public or animal health evidence when entering through a western facing port, and, we note the use of auto clearance without review to facilitate west coast trade movement and note that in practice IPAFFS auto clearance overrides verifiable safeguard requirements which occur in South and East GB ports of entry, compromising in our view public and animal heath.

We further note that imported feed, a key feature of the food chain, is currently overlooked within the paper.

Consequently, We do not believe that the report reflects an accurate position, and the absence of control in western ports positively contributes to manage the risks of food and feed safety in a positive manner.

Question 8

From: Martin Walker

How will the FSA ensure that the complex risk ratings set out in the BTOM are correctly applied by IPAFFS as this is not the case at the moment?
Will the Board amend its Agreed Board Principles (Annex A) to include ‘public health risks arising from the consumption of food’ rather than just ‘food and feed safety’ thereby meeting World Health Organisation recommendations to align more closely with capacity building under the WHO International Health Regulations 2005?

FSA Board Meeting - March 2025: Agenda and Papers

09:00 - Chair's Introduction

09:20 - Chief Executive’s Report to the Board

09:50 - Border Target Operating Model – One Year On (FSA 25/03/04)