Imported Food and Feed Working Group (IFFWG)

The Imported Food Project Group (IFPG) was created following Ministerial agreement in May 2004 that the Step Change in the enforcement of imported food controls had been achieved. Ministers stated that it was vital that Government Departments and Local Government continue to work together and progress the initiatives under way.

Discussion on the future of the group took place at the June 2008 IFPG meeting. The main consensus of opinion was that although other discussion forums were available (i.e. APHA technical committee meetings/ELG/KIT/JCCC) the IFPG meetings provide a useful forum for enforcement experts to get together to raise and discuss import control issues that are of mutual concern. It was agreed that future discussion would be needed to discuss the possibility of renaming the Group to reflect its change in discussion areas.

The IFPG met on nine occasions between November 2004 and December 2008. At the December 2008 meeting, IFPG members agreed that the group should be renamed in order to reflect its full remit and membership. The Imported Food Project Group changed its name to the Imported Food Working Group. It was agreed that the change in name reflected more of the operational and enforcement aspects of its business. Furthermore, at the January 2011 meeting, IFWG agreed that the group should again alter its name to reflect the changes to the scope with the inclusion of imported feed.

1. To co-ordinate improvements in, and support for, import controls on food and animal feed by local and central government in the UK. To include:

• considering ways of increasing forensic knowledge & intelligence of global food/feed chain
• better understanding of the monitoring of food and feed at ports and better targeting of official controls
• discussing ways of monitoring imports at inland food and feed business operators

2. To assist in evaluating the outcomes from the annually submitted imported food enforcement controls data (submitted via LAEMS) and development of similar control data for feed, to inform policy development/enforcement priorities.

3. To have presentations and discussion on a wider range of food and feed enforcement issues (especially topical/high profile/emerging issues) in order to understand approach taken by lead Government body, aid/raise awareness and disseminate advice amongst group members.

4. To assist with communication & publicity initiatives in relation to the promotion of imported food and feed law to both industry and the public.

5. To act as central liaison forum for local authority officers responsible for import controls of food and feed (both inland and at points of entry) and central government (FSA, HMRC, UKBA, Defra, VMD medicated feed and Animal Health TSE requirements) in the UK to raise, discuss and address imported food and feed enforcement issues that are of mutual concern.

IFFWG membership to consist of representatives from FSA (including representatives from FSA Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland), Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs, UK Border Agency, Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, Association of Port Health Authorities, Local Government Regulation, Chartered Institure of Environmental Health, Trading Standards Institute, sea ports, airports and inland local authorities.

Non-IFFWG members will be invited to attend meetings (as and when required) to give presentations, participate in discussions on specific or topical issues.

The IFFWG will meet twice a year. The FSA will arrange and host meetings