About the audit scheme
The Agency's local authority audit scheme, launched April 2001, is the process by which the Agency conducts a qualitative assessment of local authority performance.
Authorities are audited against the Food Law Enforcement Standard in the Framework Agreement, which sets out the minimum standards of performance expected from local authorities across the full range of their food law enforcement activities. The scheme is implemented on a UK basis, with the Agency in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each co-ordinating their own audit programme.
Local authorities are selected to represent a cross-section of local authority types, geographical location and level of enforcement activity as indicated by quarterly monitoring returns.
The audit scheme is currently under review, following 5 years operation. Formal consultation was launched in January 2008 and development work will continue through 2008/09. Further details will be disseminated as the review proceeds.
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Audit documents
The documents that accompany the on-site visit are designed to make the audit process clear and straightforward for the local authority and the auditors. Before an audit takes place the local authority will fill in a pre-visit questionnaire. Audit protocols and checklists explain the purpose, parameters and process of the audit.
Audit questions and answers
The information below explains in general how the Food Standards Agency audit the food law enforcement work of local authorities in the UK. There may, however, be slight differences in the operation of the scheme in the devolved administrations.
Good practice for local authority audits
One of the main aims of the Food Standards Agency's focused audit programme at local authorities is to highlight and share good practice identified during the audits.
Audit reports
Audit reports, including an action plan developed by the local authority to address the audit findings, are published following completion of the audit.