Foodlaw-Reading
Dr David Jukes, The University of Reading, UK
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FSA Consultation, 12 December 2022
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FSA Consultation: Updated FSA Official Control Compliance Framework for Registered Dairy Establishments in England and Wales A copy of the consultation document is available on this site (click on image). Provided under the Open Government Licence. The original webpage was available at: |
The consultation closes on the 10th March 2023. To access the consultation, see: Dairy Controls - Consultation. The following are the opening sections from the consultation document:
Introduction
A review was recently commissioned and completed by the FSA to assess the programmed frequencies applied to OC inspections at registered dairy establishments in England and Wales. OC inspections are undertaken to ensure that businesses are compliant with the requirements of the legislation designed to protect consumers and to ensure food is safe are being met.
The existing risk rating framework has been in place since 2012, the review was seeking assurances that this approach is still relevant and fit for purpose.
The review considered the frequencies of programmed OC inspections undertaken by the FSA at registered dairy primary production establishments in England and Wales. The review did not include any other OC activities undertaken by the FSA or other agencies in relation to food, feed or animal welfare.
All recommendations made following the review and detailed within this consultation are a proposed change to FSA policy, that requires no changes to legislation.
Background
A working group of key stakeholders was established to provide a balanced and consistent approach and review the current inspection frequencies. This group consisted of representation from across the FSA and Food Standards Scotland (FSS). The review concluded that the current system of utilising assurance schemes, (Red Tractor Farm Assurance (RTFA) for dairy in England, Wales and Northern Ireland), to manage conformance to their standards and periodically report to FSA on the findings of their own audit outcomes provides an adequate level of assurance. This in turn permits members of the RTFA dairy scheme to benefit from “earned recognition” allowing for FSA OC inspections at these premises to be less frequent if they remain compliant with the assurance scheme standards.
Furthermore, the evidence and data showed that, in the main, the current routine inspection frequencies applied at all registered farms was deemed to be satisfactory and proportionate
However, it was noted that some improvements could be made to how FSA ensures that premises that are found to be non-compliant regain compliance and maintain the expected standards.
Main proposals:
The FSA is proposing to adjust the risk rating framework used to assess compliance and determine frequency of OC inspection undertaken by the FSA at registered dairy establishments. The FSA intends to introduce an increased frequency of OC inspection at establishments assessed to be less compliant.
We will do this by:
Introducing a numerical scoring system which weights areas of greater significance/impact (areas with stronger links to public health/animal welfare) and use of the overall score achieved to determine risk rating categories
Replacing the existing four compliance categories with three score rating categories which focus on risk.
Using the risk category applied following inspections to determine the frequency of the next programmed OC inspection for that premise. This prioritises FSA resource at businesses that are found to be least compliant and therefore higher risk
