How can the FSA continue to be an innovative and effective regulator when developing and implementing food regulations?
The FSA aims to be a modern and accountable regulator. We must be innovative and be able to develop and take advantage of new approaches to support the work we do. This includes adopting technological advances, digital tools and data analytics. It is also about using social research to gain a greater insight into the behaviour of consumers and the food businesses that supply them, to help ensure effective implementation.
The FSA has two key regulatory change programmes underway: Achieving Business Compliance (ABC) and Operations Transformation Programme (OTP). ABC focuses more on retailers and others selling directly to the public, whereas OTP focuses earlier in the food chain, on slaughterhouses, manufacturers and producers.
This Area of Research Interest (ARI) aims to look at how the FSA can remain at the cutting-edge when developing and implementing food regulations by providing the evidence to underpin these two key programmes.
Related to our desire to be a cutting-edge regulator, this ARI covers the exploration of technological innovations that will help achieve this. We support the evaluation and testing of new and emerging technologies – including novel detection and diagnostic methods, data analytics and digital innovations - where we see they have the potential to revolutionise how traditional surveillance and regulation is undertaken.
The Department for Education and the Food Standards Agency with support from the Office of Health Improvement and Disparities commissioned this research to support the School Food Standards Compliance Pilot.
This rapid evidence assessment aimed to develop an understanding of the alternatives to single-use plastics in food packaging and production in terms of their risks and opportunities, as well as potential future developments.
The study looked to understand experiences of remote assessment, how it was being used, and its benefits and limitations among LAs and food business operators (FBOs). It also looked at barriers and facilitators to remote assessment by LAs.
This report presents the findings from the evaluation of the pilot programme that the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has completed to test a proposed food standards delivery model as part of the Achieving Business Compliance (ABC) programme.
This research study collected the views of Food Business Operators themselves and it is intended to support the rollout of the OTP programme, and the implementation of Official Controls.
This report summarises the findings from qualitative research conducted with 77 participants from England, Wales and Northern Ireland who took part in seven reconvened workshops.
This project investigated how existing and new inspection technologies can be combined with advanced data analytics and incorporated into current meat inspection practices to deliver the 21st Century Meat Inspector.
A systematic literature review assessment comparing meat production processes in sixteen countries
This work examines the role of information sharing in ensuring safe food production supply networks. It proposes a data trust framework that will more efficiently enable secure information sharing for the benefit of all stakeholders in the food system.
We have conducted research which estimates the impact of food business compliance on food safety.
Independent research assessing the effectiveness of food withdrawal and recall processes in the UK food retail sector.
This research aimed to understand business’ awareness of available information, perceived relevance and appeal of information, impact of materials currently used, format and channel preferences for guidance and identify any gaps in existing support and priorities for alteration.
A synthesis report identifying cross-cutting and emerging trends across three research projects: Efficacy of Recalls (2017), Regulating our Future (2016) and Transparency: understanding public views and priorities (2017).
The research aimed to develop the evidence base to inform the modernisation of the intervention rating schemes set out in the Food Law Code of Practice to reflect the complex changing nature of the food industry and the changes in the socio-economic circumstances facing local authorities and help deliver the FSA strategic objectives.
The aim of this project was to research accredited assurance schemes and their effectiveness in the targeting of risk-based inspections, with particular focus on imported food controls at UK ports of entry.
The poultry inspection system trial aimed to explore a modernised official control system which introduced a focused approach to official control verification activity and root cause analysis of poultry processing to address food borne pathogens. Research was commissioned to assess if enhanced verification contributes to a reduction in levels of contamination and unseen microbiological hazards.
We wished to examine if and how the ‘spotter initiative’ could assist official post-mortem inspection. This approach involves plant-staff flagging any abnormalities they identify during animal processing which may lead to a greater sense of ‘ownership’ of food safety amongst plant-staff.
This review examined the value and use of food chain information (FCI) and Collection and Communication of Inspection Results (CCIR) forms. This was done in order to identify and implement possible changes, resulting in an improved system of recording information for surveillance purposes and official meat controls.
The aim of this study was to investigate how the balance has changed between routine sampling and surveillance conducted by UK Public Health Authorities (PHAs) and Local Authorities (LAs), to evaluate whether there is an increased possibility for incidents or emerging risks to go undetected at UK borders due to a decline in surveillance sampling.
This programme of work was part of our efforts to achieve consistency in the delivery of official controls. Three studies investigated consistency from different angles, using different methods and kinds of data. They provide multiple insights and also demonstrate how this complex topic can be analysed from different, combined perspectives.
This project aimed to develop a simple method of marking carcasses to enable butchery staff to identify carcasses that require vertebral column removal.
A workshop was held to identify challenges, solutions and potential areas for future work in the Agri-Food sector, specifically official controls in meat establishments
This research project assessed the practicality and usefulness of sampling proficiency tests within the food sector.