Regulatory Services

Food Service Plan

2005 - 2008

This Service Plan is issued under the authority of:

Andrew Smith

Director of Property, Business & Regulatory Services

..................................................

Regulatory Services, Mottisfont Court, High Street, Winchester SO23 8ZE

Tel: 01962 841841. www.hants.gov.uk/regulatory

This Food Service Plan forms part of the Official Quality System of Hampshire County Council's Regulatory Services. It is available electronically for all staff and is on the Regulatory Services website for access by businesses and the general public. Hard copies are held by the Director (Copy 1) and Head of Service (Copy 2).

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL. REGULATORY SERVICES.

FOOD SERVICE PLAN 2005-8.

Executive Summary

This Service Plan describes the key objectives relating to Hampshire County Council's Food Enforcement Function. It is a statutory responsibility to update the plan, which is audited from time to time by the Food Standards Agency. 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 plan include:

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

· 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 overall numbers of inspections, concentrating on our 154 high-risk premises. Enforcement action will only be taken as a last resort to deal with wilfully non-compliant businesses.

· Focused Sampling - In 2004/5 we tested 1,970 samples of which 47% were unsatisfactory. Although most of these related to non-compliant labelling, the high failure rate shows the value of our targeted sampling programme. The 2005/6 target is 2000 samples. The new sampling programme includes monthly themes aimed at highlighting particular areas of concern such as herbal remedies, contaminated shellfish and salt levels of processed foods.

· 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 a 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 2005/6 the campaign will be extended to target schools and Hampshire County Council's workforce.

· Animal Health - Last year over 5,500 livestock movement licences were recorded and 630 farm visits were made. The 2005/6 target for farm visits is 960.

· 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. These new rules will be based on 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.

1. Service Aims and Objectives.

1.1. Aims and Objectives.

The Regulatory Services vision is:

To be recognised as leaders of service excellence for the people and businesses of Hampshire.

This simple statement carries four key messages:

· Recognition - we want to achieve high awareness and trust with our key stakeholders by providing maximum impact, accessible, valued services

· Leaders - we will innovate and engage enthusiastically with the modernisation agenda.

· Service - we want to focus on service delivery driven by customer needs, not professional interests

· Excellence - we want to strive for continuous improvement through high quality staff, trained and developed to achieve their full potential.

Regulatory Services aims to protect the public by ensuring a fair and safe trading environment in Hampshire. This is achieved by giving advice and carrying out inspections relating to consumer law. Priorities are established by using a risk assessment approach. Specifically in relation to animal health, food safety and animal feeding stuffs, activities include: inspections, sampling programmes, response to complaints, awareness and education campaigns and provision of specialist advice to traders. The Food Team objectives are:

Aim:

To promote and enforce animal health & welfare and food & agriculture safety laws.

Objectives:

· To carry out Food Standards Inspections in accordance with Food Standards Agency and LACORS risk assessment and to ISO 9001 Quality Standards.

· To carry out an effective programme of sampling, analysis and checking of food and animal feeding stuffs (feeds) with respect to composition and labelling.

· To respond to consumer complaints relating to animal health, food & feeds safety and quality, working in partnership with central government, other local government agencies and industry to provide a seamless service to customers.

· To carry out specific food & feeds safety campaigns to highlight potential areas of good or bad practice in food trade to the public.

· To respond to requests by all traders for advice on compliance with food, feeds and animal health legislation including operation of the Home Authority principle.

· To carry out an effective programme of animal health & welfare inspections and to react to outbreaks in accordance with DEFRA guidance.

1.2. Links to Corporate Objectives and Plans

Hampshire County Council's Corporate Strategy is about identifying common corporate aims and outcomes and ensuring that activities and resources are targeted to achieve those priorities.

This corporate vision forms the philosophy that drives everything the County Council does and provides a framework for service planning and delivery. The corporate aims that have been adopted by the Council are:

The County Council agrees the Annual Plan and related Service Plans for all Regulatory Services. The Food Service Plan is linked to the Council's Annual Performance Plan.

In addition, Hampshire County Council has a Corporate Food Standards Group with representatives from Adult Services, Children's Services, Hampshire Caterers (HC3S), Communications, Trading Standards and Science. The role of this team is to set and implement corporate policies relating to food safety. Issues addressed have included salmonella in eggs, Genetically Modified foods in school meals, matters relating to the BSE crisis, E. coli 0157 testing and nutritional quality of school meals.

Hampshire County Council is also a major supplier of food. Hampshire Caterers (HC3S) prepare approximately ten million meals per annum for schools, adult services establishments, staff restaurants and public outlets. Each year the Scientific Service carry out £75,000 worth of tests and inspections to ensure the quality of the food it serves. Tests include microbiological quality, nutritional quality and genetic modification. Food suppliers are inspected by trained auditors and need to comply with product specifications.

2. Background.

2.1. Profile of Hampshire County Council.

Hampshire is mainly rural with Basingstoke, Winchester, Aldershot, Farnborough, Fareham and Eastleigh being the main urban areas.

Hampshire County Council provides essential Services for the 1.2 million people living in Hampshire. Over 30,000 staff deliver a wide range of services including children's services, adult services, libraries, museums, country parks and regulatory services.

Hampshire County Council is responsible for regulating some 25,700 trade premises including 6277 food establishments, 3600 livestock holdings and 423 feed premises.

In 1997, the Council was the first in the UK to launch an integrated Regulatory Service combining the expertise of Trading Standards Officers and Public Analysts under a single management team. The Service benefits from an integrated, project managed approach to food sampling, analysis, inspection, advice and enforcement.

Over the last five years, Hampshire County Council has carried out food inspections and food sampling at the levels shown below:

In addition to the full food standards inspections above, 558 other Food Compliance visits were carried out, so overall inspection levels for 2004/05 were lower than those achieved last year. This was partly due to the high level of adverse samples that needed action and the loss of a member of staff for part of the year. Importantly, 100% of our 152 high-risk premises were inspected.

The target for 2005/06 is 1290 inspections of which 154 are in the high-risk category. These new targets take account of the LACORS risk assessment scheme for inspections, (see 3.1.1). The trend for reduced numbers of inspections are in line with current recommendations outlined in the Hampton report. The report emphasises that Authorities should be reducing inspections as they are an unnecessary burden on UK businesses. We will concentrate on high risk premises and devote more resources to promoting healthy eating and offering legal and technical advice to businesses.

Sample numbers were similar to last year but there was a significant increase in the proportion of unsatisfactory samples. This led to an increase in follow up work, for which resources were diverted from the medium risk inspection programme. The 2005/06 target is 2000 samples.

The County Council runs its own Public Analyst laboratory, employing 30 staff and conducting over 100,000 tests per annum on a wide range of samples. The laboratory is appointed Public Analyst to 30 other food authorities outside Hampshire.

2.2. Organisational Structure.

Regulatory Services is part of the Property, Business and Regulatory Department of Hampshire County Council. At present, Regulatory Services report through the Director to the Cabinet Lead Member for Policy and Resources.

Since 2001, the County Council has operated an Executive Panel structure, which included the establishment of a set of policy review committees. These committees are responsible for monitoring performance against service plans, performance indicators and best value targets.

The relationship between County Council Members and the food function is shown below:

The four Heads shown above make up the Management Team of Regulatory Services. This Team sets the Enforcement Policy and formulates the overall Service Plan. (The roles of the other Heads are set out in the Trading Standards (NPF) Service Plan).

The Head of Science & Food Standards, in conjunction with other Senior Managers and food experts, identifies a yearly food service plan which includes inspection, programmed retail surveillance, actions to redress complaints, sampling and testing.

The Head is responsible for the specification, delivery, monitoring and review of all food and agriculture projects. The Food Service Plan is delivered by a 17 strong Food & Agriculture Standards Team that works closely with food scientists, analysts and technologists from the Public Analyst laboratory.

A policy group meets quarterly to discuss and review strategic issues. The terms of reference of this Food & Agriculture Safety Team (FAST) are given at Appendix 1.

2.3. Scope of the Food Enforcement Function.

Employees of Hampshire County Council deliver the Food Enforcement Function. The County Council has no responsibility for food hygiene enforcement - this is the responsibility of the District Council Environmental Health Services. However, the laboratory carries out examination of food complaints for Environmental Health Services on a contractual basis.

This plan also includes all agricultural enforcement and all animal health and welfare activities, so represents a "farm to fork" approach to food law enforcement.

Where appropriate, other relevant inspections (e.g. safety, pricing and weights & measures) are carried out at the time of the food standards inspection. This will depend upon the premise type and the risk assessment attached to that premise.

The relevant areas of the food service are delivered as follows:

2.3.1. Food Standards Inspections:

The Food Standards Team delivers these via staff trained in food law, food science and ISO 9001 auditing techniques.

2.3.2. Food Analysis:

The Laboratory's Food Science Group carries out most food analysis. Most feed analysis is carried out at Kent Scientific Services.

2.3.3. Dealing with Food & Agriculture Complaints:

Food & agriculture complaints are initially processed by either the County or District Councils but are then passed on to the responsible authority for action. The Advice Team initially deals with this aspect of the service. Specific cases are referred to the Food Standards function if necessary.

2.3.4. Animal Health & Welfare.

The Animal Health and Welfare Officers enforce the provisions of the Animal Health Act 1981, which cover animal disease prevention measures, e.g. foot-and-mouth disease outbreak measures. These officers visit livestock holders in Hampshire to ensure the correct keeping of animal records and identification of individual animals where necessary. The Act also covers the welfare of animals in transport. While carrying out this role any welfare concerns of livestock animals are dealt with, often in partnership with Veterinary Officers of DEFRA.

2.4. Demands on the Food Service

There are 6277 identified food establishments in Hampshire. The greatest proportion are in the categories of retailer and restaurant / caterer accounting for 88% of the total. There are 218 producers, 1 slaughterhouse, 270 manufacturers/ processors, 37 Packers, 24 Importers/Exporters, 166 distributors, 2052 retailers, 3430 caterers/restaurants, 100 retailers that manufacture foods and 423 feed premises including feed mills, pet shops, importers, head offices and certain farms. There are also 3600 livestock holdings and 188 premises associated with livestock operations.

For Home Authority Companies producing the following foods, we have identified the need for specialist knowledge as a result of complex processes:

· Mineral and Spring Waters. (e.g. Somerly).

· Chocolate. (e.g. Bendicks)

· Tea. (e.g. Twinings)

· Speciality imported foods (e.g. Petty Wood)

· Watercress and salads (e.g. Vitacress)

· Ice Cream Manufacturers (e.g. New Forest Ice Cream Co.)

· Meat Products (e.g. Chitty Foods)

Specialist knowledge is required to deal with various agriculture and animal health issues:

· Animal feeds (e.g. Feed Mills)

· Horse Markets (New Forest Pony Sales)

· Livestock on common land (New Forest)

Inspections are carried out in the field. The service delivery points for the service are:

2.5. Enforcement Policy.

The County Council has signed and endorsed the Enforcement Concordat. Guidance on Hampshire's enforcement policy is given on the Service's website. Internal quality procedures are documented. (Ref: QPLP 1).

2. Service Delivery.

3.1. Food and Feedingstuffs Premises Inspection.

An inspection may be a programmed inspection of premises based on risk assessment, or may form part of a project. Such projects arise from our own observations of areas that require a more in-depth examination, or from regionally driven sampling plans.

3.1.1. Food Premises Inspections.

Food Standards inspections of trade premises are carried out in accordance with published Food Standards Agency and LACORS risk assessment guidelines. The guidelines recommend that:

· 100% high-risk premises are inspected per year.

· 50% medium-risk premises are inspected per year.

· 20% low-risk premises are inspected per year (or by an alternative strategy).

· Samples may be taken from premises outside the inspection programme.

By applying the risk assessment criteria to Hampshire's 6277 food premises, the following profile was obtained:

Food establishments

* assumes average of 5 inspections per day.

Low risk premises will be visited following any complaints or when samples are obtained.

High-risk visits will only be conducted by those officers meeting the criteria set out in the Food Enforcement Code of Practice. In particular, Lead Assessor qualified persons, (or equivalent), will carry out all high-risk inspections. A full ISO 9001 accredited quality audit is carried out at selected highest risk premises according to in-house procedures.

The table shows that the team will concentrate on high and medium risk premises inspections. It will only inspect low risk premises to follow up a complaint or as part of a special project.

This new policy to reduce numbers of inspections are in line with current recommendations outlined in the Hampton report. The report emphasises that Authorities should be reducing inspections as they are an unnecessary burden on UK businesses.

3.1.2. Animal Feed Premises Inspections.

Animal Feed Standards Inspections of trade premises are carried out in accordance with LACORS risk assessment guidelines, as follows:

· 100% high-risk premises are inspected per year.

· 50% medium-risk premises are inspected per year

· 20% low-risk premises are inspected per year. It is intended to inspect a minimum of 40 on-farm mixers.

· Samples may be taken from premises outside the inspection programme

This gives the following profile for Hampshire's Animal Feed producers:

Animal Feed Establishments

A minimum of 60 Animal Feed samples will be taken. In the coming year new Animal Feed Hygiene legislation will be introduced requiring further registration by the service of animal feed compound manufacturers and mixers. These new rules will be based on HACCP control principles for the production of animal feeds.

3.1.3. Other Food & Feedingstuffs Standards Work.

Estimates for other food and feed standards work are shown below:

Additional inspections may be conducted in response to:

_ Complaints and Home Authority referrals

_ Projects - internal and regional

_ Business inquiries

_ New legislation

_ Food Hazard warnings

The total resource requirement for food and feed inspections plus other operational work equates to approximately 6.5 FTE qualified staff. (See section 4.2 for breakdown).

3.1.4. Food Science Work.

An annual sampling programme is carried out involving the analysis and data interpretation for up to 2000 samples. A financial breakdown is given in section 4.1. The food sampling plan, showing key projects and sampling themes for 2005/06 is shown below:

3.1.5. Animal Health Work.

As part of DEFRA strategy for Animal Health and Welfare controls, a Framework for Local Authority Enforcement was piloted in 2003. Hampshire was one of a few local authorities to pilot the draft Framework and has now adopted this new approach. The targeted enforcement in the inspection programme takes account of the Framework, which concentrates on the Interim Disease Control measures.

Estimates for all animal health & welfare work in 2005/06 are shown below:

3.2 Food and Feedingstuffs Complaints.

Food complaints are investigated in line with documented procedures. In accordance with Code of Practice No. 2, procedures have been agreed, through the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Food Liaison Group and implemented for the transfer of complaints between the Service and the relevant Environmental Health Department.

Estimate of consumer complaints for 2005/06 - 425

Resources - 212 person days per annum

3.3. Home Authority Principle.

HCC is committed to LACORS Home Authority Principle and responds accordingly.

No. of Home Authority food/feed businesses - 136

Resources - 45 person days per annum

3.4. Advice to Business.

In addition to Home Authority commitment, the service provides advice and information to businesses on a reactive and proactive basis. This is achieved through:

_ A dedicated telephone advice line.

_ Advice during inspections and visits.

_ Production and distribution of guidance notes for particular legislation or goods.

_ Dialogue with businesses and contact via our Buy with Confidence Scheme.

_ Presentations & seminars. (e.g. Butchers seminar on beef labelling rules)

Estimate of time spent per annum- 150 days.

3.5. Food and Feedingstuffs Inspection and Sampling.

3.5.1. Sampling Policy:

Hampshire County Council places much emphasis on food sampling and analysis as a food enforcement tool. This has been demonstrated by consistently high levels of formal sampling for many years. (Amongst the highest in the UK).

Sampling will be conducted where appropriate

_ as a feature of food and feed premises inspections including Home Authority businesses. Priority is given to sampling at Hampshire-based food manufacturers. Statistical sampling is performed at food manufacturers and importers.

_ during the approval process of feedingstuffs establishments and intermediaries

_ in response to complaints

_ for identified internal, regional and national projects

Formal sampling will be conducted in accordance with the Food Enforcement Code of Practice. A programme of informal sampling projects will also be undertaken. This enables technical officers to take a more active role in sampling projects. This releases Trading Standards Officers to concentrate on inspection targets. Sampling is conducted to determine compliance with food standards, feedingstuffs standards and to monitor the effectiveness of manufacturing processes and linked quality systems.

Statistical sampling is carried out on manufactured foods and feeds when multiple sampling will give a better indication of process control.

The analysis and examination of Hampshire's food and agricultural samples is carried out by Hampshire's in-house laboratory and by its partner laboratory Kent Scientific Services based in West Malling, Kent. Most animal feeds and samples for pesticide residue tests are analysed at the latter.

It is estimated that 30 samples will be submitted in 2005/06 in relation to complaints. This will require the following resources: 15 person days per annum for sampling food complaints & 15 person days for analysis of food complaints.

3.5.2. Analysis for Authorities other than Hampshire.

In addition to the food analysis carried out for Hampshire County Council and the 11 District & Borough Councils within Hampshire, the laboratory carries out tests for 31 other Food Authorities on a fee-paying basis.

Hampshire's Scientific Service works in partnership with Kent Scientific Services to provide Public Analyst services to the following food authorities:

3.6. Control and Investigation of Outbreaks and Food Related Infectious Disease.

Whilst recognising the service has no direct responsibility in relation to Outbreaks and Food Related Infectious Diseases it will liaise and assist where appropriate those authorities to which such responsibility lies. All members of the Food Team are authorised by the Minister under the Food & Environment Protection Act to deal with any food-related environmental problems.

3.7. Food Safety Incidents.

The Service will act in accordance with the Food Enforcement Code of Practice and internal procedures to:

_ identify and report food and animal feed hazards

_ respond to Food Hazard Warnings issued by the FSA

A list of responsible managers and officers has been identified to provide an out of hours service to such incidents. See section 2.4 for emergency call out number.

In 2004/5, several food safety incidents had a significant impact on the service, these included:

· Sudan I and IV, illegal red dyes, were found in chilli products.

· Para Red, another illegal dye

· Gossypol in animal feed was investigated

3.8. Liaison with Other Organisations.

The Service adheres to the principles of the Enforcement Concordat. The prosecution policy has been established following discussion with other Trading Standards Services in the region.

In 2005, the two South East Trading Standards Regions (SETSA and TVTSA) merged to form a new regional grouping called Trading Standards South East (TSSE). This includes all 19 authorities within the GOSE region. TSSE is also responsible for operating Consumer Direct South East, the consumer advice line launched in 2005.

The TSSE Food Focus Group is chaired by Nigel Wood of Hampshire County Council. Hampshire Scientific Service is also appointed as Public Analyst to all but two of the authorities. The opportunities for more efficient sampling programmes, food training and food promotion activities are therefore presented. The group also aims to ensure consistent enforcement across different authorities.

The service is represented at the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Food Liaison Group. The Group comprises representatives of the Environmental Health Departments in the County, three neighbouring Unitary Authorities, PHLS and the Health Authority.

The service provides representatives on three LACORS expert panels: Food Labelling, sampling & analysis and Agriculture. Animal Health Officers liaise with DEFRA, RSPCA, Meat Hygiene Service and relevant LACORS panels.

The Head of Service, Dr Paul Berryman, is the deputy chairman of the LACORS Food Policy Forum. He also represents Hampshire at three Food Standards Agency committees including Local Authority performance monitoring and the UK food surveillance programme.

In 2005, Richard Scales, Principal Officer for Agriculture, was appointed to the prestigious national body ACAF (FSA Advisory Committee on Animal Feeding Stuffs), as the National Enforcement Representative. This gives Hampshire a voice influencing UK policy on animal feeds.

Regulatory Services is a Member of Campden & Chorleywood Food Research Association, which provides specialist information, advice and training relating to food control.

Resources - 30 person days per annum, plus 45 person days per annum (lab staff) for client meetings and liaison.

3.9. Food and Feedingstuffs Safety and Standards Promotion.

3.9.1. Healthy Eating.

Last year, a major project called Food - the Choice is Yours was launched. It enabled consumers to make informed choices by knowing how to use the information on food labels particularly to look at the health issues surrounding levels of fat, sugar and salt.

The project included a dedicated website along with leaflets and credit-card sized information charts on fat , sugar and salt levels and recommended daily amounts to assist consumers in their decision making. The campaign is featured on the Food Vision website as an example of best practice, showing how Trading Standards can help educate consumers to make healthy food choices. Food Vision is sponsored by the Local Authorities Co-ordinators of Regulatory Services (LACORS), the Local Government Association and the Food Standards Agency. Over 8,000 Healthy Eating leaflets and 10,000 nutrition cards were distributed via libraries, information centres and other County Council outlets. The website www.hants.gov.uk/food received over 20,000 hits in the first three months.

In 2005/6, the campaign will be extended to target schools and Hampshire County Council staff by working in partnership with HC3S, Children's Services and the County Occupational Health Unit. Hampshire Caterers (HC3S) promotes healthy eating in schools and other County outlets and contracts a nutritionist to help devise healthy menus.

The link between Healthy Eating and Exercise will also be promoted by working in partnership with Recreation & Heritage and exhibiting at the Hampshire Youth Games, New Forest Show and other events designed to promote Healthy Hampshire.

An article in Hampshire Now , the County Council Magazine distributed to all Hampshire households, will also be used to promote the campaign.

3.9.2. Education in Schools

Food Safety and other Trading Standards issues are also promoted to the children of Hampshire through Lifesmart - a special education campaign targeted at schools. Other key education campaigns include Junior Citizen, and a consumer education package. 40 days of officer time from the Food Team will be allocated to these education projects.

3.9.3. Advice to Food Businesses.

The Service issues a number of Factsheets on food law and consumer advice and has associated website pages. E.g. beef labelling. Regulatory Services subscribes to "TS Interlink", which provides updated information sheets on behalf of subscribers. This approach saves resources and improve consistency between authorities.

Regulatory Services staff help to promote Hampshire Farmers Markets and also give talks and lectures to trade groups. e.g. Honey Packers, butchers. Hampshire County Council's Economic Development Unit also promotes locally produced quality food via its Hampshire Fare scheme.

3.9.4. Sampling Campaigns.

Some food sampling campaigns result in ad hoc awareness campaigns.

The effectiveness of the above promotional activitiese will be evaluated via feedback from the public and businesses, the uptake of sampling campaigns by food authorities and the level of resultant media interest.

Resources:

· 50 person days per annum on Healthy Eating project.

· 40 person days per annum on Lifesmart and Junior Citizen.

4. RESOURCES.

4.1. Financial Allocation.

Regulatory Services Management Team is responsible for the allocation and delegation of budgets allocated for Food Enforcement functions.

The current salary and transport budget allocated to the Food Standards team is approximately: £500,000 per annum. Section 4.2 gives a full staffing breakdown as at April 2005.

Inspection levels are currently meeting 100% high risk and around 40% medium risk establishments. The aim for 2005/06 is to maintain 100% high risk premises but to reduce the target for medium risk premises to 33%, in line with latest Hampton report recommendations.

The current budget for Scientific Services, including sampling, analysis, reporting and consultancy is £318,000 of which £280,000 relates to Food Enforcement.

The Hampshire Scientific Service Business Plan highlights planned investments in new equipment for the laboratory. A capital budget of £41,000 per annum is currently allocated to Regulatory Services.

4.2. Staffing Allocation.

The following table summarises the staffing levels dedicated to food enforcement at April 2005:

The following table summarises the current staffing levels dedicated to food science and analysis:

The qualifications of key post holders are given below:

Each Trading Standards Officer working on food enforcement is appropriately qualified in accordance with The Food Enforcement Code of Practice. (In practice this means either DTS or equivalent, or DCA qualified). Also, the Food Science Team Leader has specialist food factory auditing skills and is part of the Food Audit inspection team.

Each team member has undertaken Basic Food Hygiene Training. There are seven officers with ISO 9001 Lead Assessor training.

4.3. Staff Development Plan.

The Property, Business & Regulatory Department has had Investors in People status since November 2001.

Training needs are identified by examining:

· Operational requirements arising from the Service Plan

· Individual needs highlighted at performance development review (PDR) meetings.

Each individual member of staff has a PDR with their Line Manager. Training and Development needs are assessed at this time and throughout the year as updates are carried out. In addition, the Service will establish team training needs arising out of the team plan. In accordance with The Food Enforcement Code of Practice, each authorised officer undertakes at least 10 hours training per annum.

How these needs are met may vary, but the usual sources of training include:

· Awareness days. (An annual in-house programme of five sessions).

· Day release courses

· On the job training

· In-house HCC short training courses

· External short courses (e.g. Those run by Campden & Chorleywood Food RA, Leatherhead Food RA, the FSA, LACORS, TSI, APA, professional bodies and Universities).

Training must be approved before it is undertaken and it is evaluated after the event.

5. QUALITY ASSESSMENT.

5.1. Quality Assessment.

Internal monitoring will be conducted to assess the Service's performance of the plan and the FSA Framework Standard on a quarterly basis.

All Food Standards functions are registered to the ISO 9001 Quality Standard. Registration covers both the inspectorate and scientific service. Peer review may be conducted through a programme of audits with regional trading standards services.

In addition the Scientific Service is UKAS accredited to the EN ISO/ IEC 17025 standard and participates in external proficiency schemes. E.g. FAPAS. It is recognised as an Official Food Enforcement Laboratory for both analysis and microbiological examinations.

6. REVIEW.

6.1. Review against the Service Plan.

The County Council operates an Executive Panel structure, which includes a set of policy review committees. These committees are responsible for monitoring performance against service plans, performance indicators and best value targets.

There are also performance measures set in the Service Development Plan against which progress is measured. All food enforcement work will be delivered on a project basis. Each project will have associated performance indicators and desired outcomes.

Each month the plan will be monitored to establish:

· Inspections for High risk premises against target.

· Inspections for Medium risk premises against target.

· Numbers of samples against targets.

· Outcomes of campaigns and promotional activities.

In addition, on a quarterly basis, we will evaluate

· Actual resource allocation versus projected allocation.

· Responses to food complaints.

· Reactive work, prosecutions and investigations.

The Food Service Plan is subject to annual review where an assessment is made as to progress. Outcomes will be evaluated. The review includes an assessment against the previous years plan as a means by which to measure improvement. Resource requirements are also reviewed quarterly by managers and are adjusted as necessary, taking into account overall Regulatory Services priorities.

6.2. Identification of any variation from the Service Plan.

At the quarterly review meetings any variance in the plan will be examined and the reason considered. These variances will be documented and where additional "non - planned" work has met the desired objective this will be recorded.

6.3. Areas of Improvement.

Where the review process identifies areas for improvement or development these will be adopted in accordance with ISO 9001 practices. A key aim of the Department is to continuously improve the quality, efficiency and effectiveness of its services.

APPENDIX 1

Food & Agriculture Specialists Team. Terms of Reference.

Team Structure and Purpose:

A new Food & Agriculture Specialists Team (FAST) was formed in October 2001, to take a strategic view of Food Enforcement, set policies and lead the formulation of the Food Service Plan.

The team includes experts in Food & Agriculture Law, Labelling, Food Science, audit and inspection systems, Animal Health and Trading Standards. The members are:

Overall Aims

· To formulate the Food Service Plan.

· Set policies relating to food, Agriculture and Animal Health Enforcement

· To monitor implementation of the Service Plan

· To act as a focus of expertise on food, agriculture and animal health within Regulatory Services

Key Activities

1. To discuss and agree areas of activity in food & agriculture.

2. To co-ordinate food & agriculture projects.

3. To identify and manage resources required to deliver food & agriculture plans.

4. To keep up to date with legislation, enforcement procedures, science, technology and any other developments relating to food & agriculture.

5. To collect, filter and disseminate relevant food & agriculture information.

6. To offer a food & agriculture advisory service to the advice service, public and businesses of Hampshire.

7. To represent Hampshire County Council on external groups and bodies relating to food & agriculture. e.g. LACOTS, SETSA Food Specialists, FALCON, APA, MAFF, Food Liaison Groups and Health Authorities.

8. To act as a forum for identifying, sourcing, giving and receiving training in food & agriculture for Regulatory Services.

9. To devise policies, quality systems and procedures required to deliver food & agriculture action plans.

10. To consider promotional and media relations activities relating to food & agriculture.

Frequency of Meetings

FAST will meet a minimum of 4 times per annum. The quorum will be 4 members.