FSA Consultation Letter, 17 August 2007

MEAT HYGIENE - Proposed changes to Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) audit procedures with effect from 1 January 2008

For a copy of the proposals, see: Proposed changes to MHS audit procedures with effect from 1 January 2008

The proposed changes to MHS audit procedures, covered by EU official feed and food regulations from 1 January 2008, are driven by the MHS commitment to increase the quality of our service, increase efficiency and reduce costs. Responses are requested by: 12 October 2007

Consultation details

Simplification of the audit process

In reviewing business processes we have identified a number of improvements which have incorporated in an updated Manual for Official Controls chapter. The main changes to the chapter are:

• encouragement of a working partnership between the food business operator (FBO) and official verterinarian (OV) to find joint solutions to correct non-compliances
• new definitions of compliance audit and systems based audits
• clarification of the follow up visits procedure
• instruction on the retention of audit notes
• OV completion of pre-set risk factors
• guidance on code of ethics for auditors (integrity, subjectivity, competency, confidentiality)
• guidance on the use of positive language
• revised appeals procedure
• OV to feedback audit findings to the rest of the MHS team
• audit of premises with special circumstances (seasonal, etc)
• requirement to conduct audit within the calendar month of the due date (instead of +/- 20 days)

The main changes to the audit form are:

• audit forms which can be adapted to the operational activities of the FBO
• inclusion of a summary of findings including non conformities and positive feedback
• inclusion of a follow up of corrective actions
• inclusion of a corrective action report
• inclusion of structured audit sections

Publication of food business operators audit reports

The Freedom of Information Act (FOI) gave individuals a legally enforceable general right to know what information is held by public authorities (subject to certain exemptions) and to have this information communicated to them. The Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR) also came into force on 1 January 2005 and provide a right of public access to a range of environmental information held by public authorities.

MHS audit reports have been released in response to requests made under the above legislation (except for commercial details and a small amount of other information). The FSA has been considering the implications of publication, including the proactive release of finalised audit reports, for the MHS audit process and documentation publication issues with the Meat Hygiene Policy Forum. Please take this aspect into account when considering the proposed arrangements and your response to this consultation.