FOOD ENFORCEMENT STATISTICS FOR 2000
Background
Limitations of the data
How does food enforcement compare with previous years
Future Action
Further information
Background
Member States of the EU are required under article 14 of the Official
Control of Foodstuffs Directive 89/397 (OCD) to send to the European
Commission annual returns on official food enforcement activities.
The Commission uses this information to ensure that foodstuffs are
subjected to appropriate food controls across the EU.
The Food Standards Agency is responsible for collecting returns
from all UK food authorities and arranging for the summary data
to be submitted to the Commission. The new data, which relates to
2000, is attached and includes :
Additional data collected during 2000 is also available at this
webpage on:
- informal samples
- Individual summary returns for England, Scotland, Wales and
Northern Ireland
A note to the Board up-dating them on local authority food law
enforcement activities during 2000 is also attached.
Later in the year information on inspections to premises according
to risk category will be made available on the web site.
Limitations of the data
On its own the data does not provide a basis
on which to make an assessment of the performance of an individual
local authority. The
information excludes important activities that form part of a balanced
food law enforcement service. For example it does not include advice
and information that local authorities give to consumers and businesses.
The data reported provides for a limited and quantitative assessment
of an individual local authority’s activity.
How does food enforcement compare with previous
years?
The information reveals that, the number of food premises in the
UK has declined by almost 1% compared to 1999, the level of food
premises inspected in the UK that committed infringements* was 45%,
which is 2% less than that year. Of the infringements, the
vast majority (95%) related to written warnings issued in relation
to minor regulatory breaches. These warnings are issued when the
local authority is confident that the situation will be rectified
without the need for further formal action and there is no imminent
risk to public health.
The total number of food hygiene and food standards inspections
carried out across the UK has increased by 1% compared to 1999.
This equates to 64% of all premises being inspected once in 2000,
which is 2% higher than the previous year.
Overall food sampling by local authorities across the UK continues
to decline.
Future Action
Local Authority enforcement officers have a crucial role to play
to help protect consumers. The agency will work with them to improve
the effectiveness of their food safety measures and their prosecution
of those businesses who are contravening food legislation. The Agency
has also established audit teams to target local authorities where
there are question marks over enforcement activity.
Further information
All information published on this website is also available from
the libraries of the House of Commons and the House of Lords. In
Scotland this information will be held in the Scottish Executive
library, K Spur, Saughton House, Broomhouse Drive, Edinburgh EH11
1XD.
A report, due to be published in September,
will review the food enforcement activities carried out by local
authorities and the Agency during 2000. It will be possible to download
this report, once published, from the website. A hard copy of the
report can also be obtained by contacting the Agency at the following
E-mail address: la.monitoring@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk
Any queries should be directed to:
Paul Boyle
Food Standards Agency
Aviation House
Room 404c
125 Kingsway
London
WC2B 6NH
Email : paul.boyle@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk
Tel – 020 7276 8412
* as defined by the EC
