Performance and Resources report quarter 4 2022 to 2023: Achieving Business Compliance

Key successes in the quarter

• Enterprise level regulation: Proof of concept trial endorsed to test new ways of regulating at business level (for food hygiene and in England only) to commence in quarter 1 2023/24. Close collaboration continued with the retailers (Aldi, Asda, Morrisons, Sainsburys Tesco and Waitrose) and their Primary Authorities (PAs) to ensure readiness. Aldi, Asda, Tesco, Waitrose and Sainsbury’s will launch first, and agreement was reached with Morrisons to move their start back by 6 months so that their resource is readied to take part in the trial towards the close of quarter 2 2023/24.
• Online assurance: Continued external engagement with Local Authority (LA) colleagues through a Chartered Institute for Environmental Health (CIEH) webinar, covering ABC work in the online space, current delivery and how they link with the strategic aims of the workstreams. 
• Food standards: FSA Board approved the launch of changes to the Food Law Codes of Practice (FLCoP), following the pilot in 2021/22 and conclusion of consultation which we aim to launch quarter 1 2023/24. 
• Food hygiene: Proposal endorsed by Programme Board for wider stakeholder engagement to commence in quarter 1 2023/24 on initial policy proposals.
• Transformation update: The FSA Board decided to slow further work on legislative change for delivery of Official Controls to ensure that it is progressed in a more considered way alongside wider policy and legislative changes under a single transformation programme. Any ongoing transformative projects will now be led by ABC and any more immediate modernisation updates will be led by the Operational Modernisation Team.

Concerns/risks

There may be opportunities under the Retained EU Law Bill to make targeted legislative changes to support ABC reforms (in 2024-26). We are reprioritising policy work within the programme so we can consider whether any such changes might be needed. 

Next steps

• Enterprise level regulation: Engagement event to be held in London to welcome participating Large Retailers and their PAs together with the FSA, to reflect on the proof of concept trial’s progress. 
• Online assurance: Collaboration with external stakeholders to explore further areas that would add value to the consumer, research towards this expected to start in Q2 2023/24. 
• Food standards: Ministers’ agreement will be sought on the necessary changes to the FLCoP in England and Northern Ireland, and preparation will commence for the Food Standards Delivery Model pilot beginning in Wales.  
• Food hygiene: Invitations to be issued to LAs for face-to-face and online engagement events updating on the 6-month pilot of the proposed food hygiene delivery model launching in early 2024.