FSA News Item, 29 August 2007
The Agency has today launched a new online system so food and animal feed businesses can notify us if they need to recall or withdraw products.
The Agency first launched an online incident report form for industry in January 2005. Following a recommendation from the Food Incidents Taskforce, which aims to reduce the likelihood of food contamination incidents occurring, the Agency consulted on a revised online incident form in 2006.
The latest version has been developed following comments from key stakeholders.
The form can be found at:
What's new?
The new reporting system, which has a secure login feature, allows users to save and print the data they are submitting about new food incidents and products known to be affected. For each report sent to the Agency, the user will be provided with an automatic electronic receipt and an individual reference number.
The Agency's Incidents Branch will verify all information received, to ensure its authenticity. After verification, the information will be automatically included in the Agency's Incidents Database. This will greatly improve the handling and bringing together of food incident information, particularly where long lists of products need to be sent to the Agency.
Guidance on the new form can be found at the link below.
Why has the form been updated?
Assisting food and feed businesses to tell us about new incidents, helps them comply with their statutory obligations under Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 (see below), to withdraw unsafe food or feed from the market. In addition, it has helped the Agency meet its strategic target of achieving more comprehensive reporting of incidents.
Improved incident reports help us gauge risk to the public, gives us and local authorities more information to act and increases consumer protection.
The information provided will enable the Agency to monitor food and feed safety patterns across the UK , and take a strategic view.
Back to top About Regulation (EC) No 178/2002From 1 January 2005 food and feed businesses are required to withdraw food or feed from the market if products are not in compliance with the food or feed safety requirements of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002.
They should also notify the Agency and the local authority where the food business operator is based, or, in the case of imports, the relevant Port Health Authority.
Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 lays down the general principles and requirements of food law, establishes the European Food Safety Authority and lays down procedures in matters of food safety.
It was published on 1 February 2002. Articles 14 to 20 apply throughout the European Union from 1 January 2005.
See also: