FSA Enforcement Letter (ENF/E/12/013), 5 April 2012
Please find below a link to the revised Food Law Code of Practice (England) which is being published by the Agency today. The revised Code of Practice should be considered effective from the 6th of April 2012.
http://www.food.gov.uk/enforcement/enforcework/foodlawcop/copengland/
I should be grateful if you would bring this to the attention of relevant colleagues and also ensure that copies of the Code issued in 2008 are disposed of.
The Code of Practice has been amended to reflect the greater flexibility available to local authorities in using competent and qualified staff to seize and detain raw meat, following the revocation of the Authorised Officer (Meat Inspection) Regulations 1987.
Additional amendments have been made to reflect current enforcement practices. These include incorporating appropriate elements of the recommendations from the 2005 Public Inquiry into the E.coli O157 outbreak in South Wales, updating of terminology and links, and the removal of historical references and requirements that are no longer relevant to public health protection.
The Appendix to this letter outlines the main changes that have been made to the Code of Practice.
In addition to the changes made to the Code, the Practice Guidance has also been revised to explain the role of the FSA Diary Hygiene inspectors (Annex 6).
Further amendments to the Food and Feed Law Codes of Practice are expected in the coming year. These include the extension of the use of RANs to all food establishments (subject to regulatory committee agreement), consideration of changes to competency and qualification requirements to reflect the greater role of competency frameworks and refinements to the risk rating systems.
To ensure that all parties concerned have the opportunity to comment at all stages of the Code’s development; a stakeholder steering group is being established, with representation from local authorities, professional bodies, the food industry, other government bodies and consumer organisations. Wider stakeholder consultation will also continue to be part of the Code review process.
A copy of the letter (including the Appendix mentioned above) is available on this site. See: FSA Code of Practice Letter - April 2012