Enforcement

Review of capability of methods for the verification of country of origin for food and feed

This project, funded jointly by FSA and Defra, involved an up-to-date review of the availability, capability and limitations of methods of analysis for the verification of the country of origin of food and feed. The project also engaged with stakeholders to understand their views relating to the geographical origin of food and feed. Following this review of the current status of origin testing, recommendations are made to build upon previous country of origin research to support the food and feed industry going forward.

Guidance for Point of Contact Technologies

Final report outlining the activities undertaken and rationale behind the development of the guidelines.

School Food Standards Compliance Pilot: Discovery and Feasibility Research

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.

Local Authority Capacity and Capability research

Evidence from professional bodies, LAs and wider sources suggests that LAs are experiencing significant issues around the recruitment and retention of suitably/ appropriately qualified and experienced officers. The FSA commissioned Ipsos UK to carry out this initial phase of discovery research to understand more about the barriers and facilitators encountered by LAs in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Evaluation of the Food Standards pilot

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.

Food Hygiene Rating Scheme Online Display in Wales: Research report

This report explores consumer expectations around the online display of Food Hygiene Ratings Scheme ratings and intends to inform the development of best practice.

Online display of food hygiene ratings by food businesses in Wales

Report exploring regulators views about proposals to introduce mandatory online display of food hygiene ratings by food businesses in Wales.

Review of national food control plans in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and United States

This study details the findings of a desk study reviewing and comparing the sampling systems of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States.

Data collection and modelling for food business compliance indicators

Evaluating the use of remote assessments by local authorities for regulating food businesses

Research into food sampling policies and approach

This research explores how local authorities develop and implement sampling policies and programmes, the influences on their sampling programmes, and how these work in practice.

FSA and Official Controls: Research with food business operators

Research into how food business operators in the meat, wine and dairy sectors views the FSA and its Official Controls.

Review of UK official food and feed laboratory system

Report summaries on the findings of the first two phases of the review into the capacity, capability and governance of the UK official food and feed laboratory system.

EU FIC allergen legislation research (February 2015)

Research tracking awareness EU Food Information for Consumers (FIC) allergen information regulations before and after they came into force in December 2014. The regulations concern how allergy information is displayed on prepackaged and loose food as well as how it is provided in restaurants, takeaways and all eating establishments.

International collaborative trial of a Real-Time PCR method for the Relative Quantitation of Horse DNA

An international collaborative trial was undertaken for a real-time PCR method for the relative quantitation of Horse DNA. This method was developed and in-house validated by LGC in 2013. The collaborative trial was organised to provide evidence that the method is fit for purpose and demonstrated good precision.

Modernisation of the risk rating system for food establishments in the UK

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.

Investigation of the overall effectiveness of food sampling and surveillance in the UK by local and port health authorities

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.

Potential for rapid on-site testing at border inspection posts

This project reviewed the current system(s) of residue and contaminant control of imported food, focusing on the use of rapid diagnostics. It questions whether the routine use of rapid screening at border inspection posts (BIPs) was a viable option.

Innovation in the delivery of official controls in meat plants

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