The Feed Law Code of Practice provides statutory guidance to local authorities on the way in which they should carry out official controls at feed businesses and enforce feed law.

The Agency has carried out a comprehensive review of the local authority delivery of official animal feed controls in light of both FSA local authority audits and Food and Veterinary Office audits. Proposals to make improvements to the current system were accepted by the FSA Board in November 2012.


Proposed changes 
The current consultation seeks view of stakeholders on a number of improvements to the way animal feed enforcement is delivered:

• Movement from a single code of practice to individual country-specific codes of practice.
• Introduction of competency-based authorisations for officers in local authorities. This will increase the quality and consistency of official controls while giving local authorities greater flexibility and efficiency in their use of resources.
• An extended scheme of earned recognition that drives fully risk-based official inspection frequency and recognises good business compliance with feed law.
  
  

There will be some minor amendments to guidance to ensure that enforcement advice remains compliant with UK and EU legislation. These changes aim to ensure that the delivery of official controls is targeted at those businesses where intervention is necessary and that resources can be focused on businesses that pose the most risk. 

The work forms part of the Future Meat Controls Research Programme which is aimed at gathering evidence to modernise meat inspection.

The objective of the FSA's review of meat controls is to improve public health by adopting a more risk- and evidence-based approach to meat production.

The deadline for applications is Friday 25 October 2013*. See 'External sites' for more information about how to apply. Please note that you will need to register to access the full details.

*Please note, deadline has been extended.

The Food Standards Agency is encouraging food business to make the most of their food hygiene rating to help attract customers trade. A toolkit offering guidance, images, logos and web banners is available.


Customers are becoming increasingly aware of the food hygiene schemes and are actively looking for rating stickers when choosing where to eat out.

More food businesses are now displaying their hygiene rating stickers and a third of them say that this has resulted in greater customer confidence, better reputation among customers and, most importantly, more customers.

Encouraged to display Businesses with a rating in the top half of the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme scale (3, 4, or 5), and those with a 'Pass' under the Food Hygiene Information Scheme that runs in Scotland, are being encouraged to display their rating sticker or 'Pass' certificate in a place where customers can easily see it, for example, in a window or on the door. This immediately reassures customers about the business’s hygiene standards.

To help food businesses get the most out of their rating, the FSA has produced an online 'how to' guide. This offers some ideas on how to promote hygiene standards and help increase the number of customers who come through the door or order online by, for example, including the food hygiene rating or 'Pass' on menus and advertising.

Positive impact Catriona Stewart, head of the FSA’s food hygiene ratings team, said: 'Businesses displaying their ratings are finding this is having a positive impact. People are increasingly looking for the stickers when they are out and we want more businesses to benefit in this way, and our new toolkit can help them make the most of their ratings.

'The scheme also gives customers the confidence that they are choosing to eat at premises where food hygiene is being taken seriously.'

The food hygiene schemes


Food Hygiene Rating Scheme

The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme operates in England, Northern Ireland and Wales. In Wales the display of a rating sticker at food outlets will become a mandatory requirement from November 2013. Ratings range from 0 to 5. The top rating is ‘5’ – this means hygiene standards are very good. The bottom is ‘0’ – this means urgent improvement is required. 

Research by the FSA indicates that the majority of consumers find a rating of 3 and above acceptable. A 3 means that standards are ‘generally satisfactory’ and 4 means they are ‘good’ but these businesses are still a step or two away from the top rating and should continue to try to improve.

Food Hygiene Information Scheme

The Food Hygiene Information Scheme operates in Scotland. A 'Pass' indicates that the business broadly met the legal requirements, which include the conditions found and the management procedures in place for providing safe food. Where a business has failed to meet these requirements it is issued with an 'Improvement Required' certificate.