Hampshire County Council

Policy & Resources Select and Scrutiny Committee Item 8

14 December 2005

Food Service Plan

Report of the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services

How the conclusion in this report fits with the Corporate Strategy

The Food Service Plan will impact on the delivery of all the Corporate Aims, in particular.

Aim 2 - Stewardship of the environment - promoting good quality agricultural and animal health practices and informing the County Council's policy on genetically modified crops and food products.

Aim 3 - Achieving economic prosperity - supporting Hampshire's food businesses and promoting good quality food production.

Aim 4 - Building strong & safe communities - This plan supports the policies of promoting good public health and reducing crime relating to food standards.

1

Introduction

1.1

In September 2004, the Policy and Resources Select and Scrutiny Review Committee considered a number of Regulatory Services Plans including the statutory Food Service Plan, which the Leader approved on 15 September 2004. The Plan has now been subjected to its annual review and was approved by the Leader at his decision day meeting on 6 December 2005 subject to the views of the Policy and Resources SSC at this meeting.

1.2

The updated Food Service Plan is attached at Appendix 1.

2

Background

2.1

Since 1 April 2001, all Food Authorities have been required to produce a Food Service Plan specifying its food law enforcement activities. The format of the plan is specified in a Food Standards Agency Framework Agreement on Local Authority Food Law Enforcement. The framework specifies that these plans should have member approval to ensure local transparency and accountability. Powers to enable the Agency to audit local authorities are contained in the Food Standards Act 1999.

2.2

Following the Best Value Review, the Food Service Plan was updated in 2003, to incorporate a number of improvements and is updated and reviewed annually by members.

2.3

The Food Service Plan has now been updated to incorporate new policies and systems developed as part of the Regulatory Services improvement plan.

3

Key Features of the Food Service Plan

3.1

The primary aim of the food standards team is to promote and enforce animal health & welfare and food & agriculture safety laws. Key features of the updated plan include:

3.2

Fully Integrated Service - the County Council delivers an integrated food enforcement system via a specialist team of Trading Standards Officers, Public Analysts, Food Scientists and Animal Health Inspectors.

3.3

Targeted Inspections - in order to enforce and promote food safety laws we will inspect over 1300 Hampshire Food Businesses. Inspections will be designed to highlight quality control problems and to offer technical and legal advice to Hampshire businesses. In line with Hampton Report recommendations, we will reduce the overall target for the numbers of inspections, concentrating on our 154 high-risk premises and 30% of the medium risk premises. Other premises will be inspected following any complaints received. The report emphasises that local authorities should be reducing inspections as they are an unnecessary burden on businesses. Enforcement action is only taken as a last resort to deal with wilfully non-compliant businesses.

3.4

Focused Sampling - in 2004/05 we tested 1,970 samples of which 47% were unsatisfactory. Although most of these were related to non-compliant labelling, the high failure rate shows the value of our targeted sampling programme. This year's sampling programme will include monthly themes aimed at highlighting particular areas of concern such as herbal remedies, contaminated shellfish and salt levels of processed foods. The sampling plan draws upon initiatives generated locally within Hampshire, together with other Regional and National initiatives.

3.5

Healthy Eating Campaign - "Food - the choice is yours" was launched last year to enable consumers to make an informed choice about healthy eating. The campaign included the launch of the new website www.hants.gov.uk/food , distribution of 8,000 healthy eating leaflets and 10,000 nutrition cards. The campaign was featured on the Food Standards Agency/LGA website "Food Vision" as an example of best practice and at Hampshire County Council's award-winning stand at the 2005 New Forest Show. In 2005/06 the campaign will be extended to target schools and Hampshire County Council's workforce.

3.6

Animal Health - Last year over 5,500 livestock movement licences were recorded and 630 farm visits were made. The 2005/06 target for farm visits is 960. These visits are aimed at ensuring compliance with animal disease controls that are in place to help prevent and control such diseases as foot-and-mouth and avian influenza.

3.7

Agriculture - during the coming year new Animal Feed Hygiene legislation will be introduced which will require further registration by the service of animal feed compound manufacturers and mixers. The new rules will be based on the HACCP control principles for the production of animal feeds. To support the County Council's "farm to fork" approach to food control, nearly 60 animal feed producers will be inspected to ensure that feeds are free from contaminants and are nutritionally sound.

4

Conclusion

4.1

The updated Food Service Plan complies fully with the Food Standards Agency's Framework Agreement on Local Authority Food Law Enforcement. It also incorporates a number of improvements to enhance local outcomes, particularly relating to healthy eating and the production of animal feeds. This plan supports the policies of promoting good public health and reducing crime.

Recommendation(s)

That the Policy and Resources Select and Scrutiny Committee advise the Executive Member for Policy and Resources that the updated Food Service Plan at Appendix 1 be approved.