FSA News Item, 7 August 2003

ENFORCEMENT - Port health authorities to be audited

Ten port health authorities are to be audited as part of the Agency's drive to improve food safety. The audits, taking place between September and December 2003, will look at how enforcement officers carry out their UK food law enforcement responsibilities.

This gives the Agency an overview of the measures put in place by the local authority to protect local consumers and an opportunity to suggest what, if any, improvements are needed.

Audits are carried out as part of the Framework Agreement on local authority food law enforcement, which came into effect on 1 April 2001. Local authorities are audited against the Framework Agreement Standard which sets out the full range of their food law enforcement activity.

The Port Health Authorities selected for focused audit on imported food enforcement September to December 2003 are as follows

• Leeds City Council (Leeds Bradford) Authority Type: Airport
• Hull & Goole PHA (Hull) Authority Type: Sea Port
• Uttlesford District Council (Stanstead) Authority Type: Airport
• Dover District Council (Dover) Authority Type: Sea Port
• Liverpool City Council (Mersey) Authority Type: Sea Port
• Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council (River Tees) Authority Type: Sea Port
• Bristol PHA (Avonmouth & Royal Portbury) Authority Type: Sea Port
• North West Leicerstershire District Council (East Midlands) Authority Type: Airport
• Manchester City Council (Manchester) Authority Type: Airport
• Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council (Birmingham) Authority Type: Airport