Aim

To provide a documented procedure for responding to food safety alerts, hazards/incidents as required by the Code of Practice and for notifying the Food Standards Agency of any serious local incident and also any other incident which may have serious food safety implications outwith the Authority.

Review

This document will be reviewed in the event of any relevant significant changes as necessary and also on an annual basis from the date of implementation.

Corrective Actions

If the procedure is not being adhered to corrective action will be taken which may include revision of this document or staff training, as appropriate.

Policy

All Food Hazards and Incidents will be dealt with in accordance with the provisions of the Code of Practice.

Responsibility for dealing with food hazards/incidents rests with the Business Regulation Manager (01236 616511) or in his absence the Food Hygiene Regulation/Food Standards Regulation Managers. The Head of Protective Services is to be kept informed and requested to provide assistance, if necessary.

If a food hazard has resulted in an outbreak of foodborne illness then the matter will be discussed with the relevant Health Board and consideration will be given to the activation of the Outbreak Control Plan.

Serious local outbreaks will be immediately notified to Health Protection Service and the Food Standards Agency

Food Incidents which are contraventions of food law but not food hazards will be resolved locally with the food business.

On identification of a food hazard an assessment will be made to determine the likely scale, extent and severity of the risk to public health or safety of the hazard.

Action will be taken at the earliest opportunity to protect public health which may include the recall or seizure of  foodstuffs and/or closure of premises.

Serious localised food hazards and non-localised food hazards will be notified to the Food Standards Agency using a copy of the incident report form in Annex 4 of the Food Law Code of Practice (Scotland).

Due regard will be given to media relations requirements detailed in the Food Law Code of Practice (Scotland).

Food Alerts will be dealt with in accordance with the relevant provisions detailed in Chapter 2 of the Code of Practice.

In regard to FAFAs (Food Alert for Action), the action to be taken will be to a level of at least that which is specified within the FAFA. Appropriate arrangements will be made by the Food Safety Manager, or in his absence, the Food Hygiene Regulation/Food Standards Regulation Manager to ensure that adequate resources are made available to quickly and effectively respond to the FAFA.

So far as FAFIs (Food Alert for Information) are concerned, details will be provided to all staff for background purposes and also in order that they have the opportunity of making further checks, as appropriate.

Food Alerts can be received via the national network and also by mobile telephone.

Details of all food alerts and actions taken are kept electronically and also in hard copy form.

Food Alerts will be dealt with directly by the Food Hygiene Regulation/Food Standards Regulation Managers in the absence of the Business Regulation Manager.

Contact details regarding other relevant bodies and local authorities are contained within the Council's emergency contact handbook and also the Food Standards Agency's Directory of Environmental Health Departments.

A stand-by service is provided to deal with emergency calls out with normal working hours.

In regard to food alerts received outside normal working hours the standby officer has discretion to take appropriate action regarding food alerts but must immediately notify the Business Regulation Manager using the telephone number listed in the stand-by folder in the event of an emergency. Arrangements have been made to access Council Offices, out of hours.

Where the Business Regulation Manager is unavailable then the standby officer should Food Hygiene Regulation/Food Standards Regulation Managers.

Date of introduction: 18/04/2002

Date of Review:           07/08/2008