Local authority audits
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. 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.
Existing audit scheme
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.
Audit scheme documents
The audit scheme documents mentioned in Chapter 5 of the Framework Agreement are used as an aid to the auditors during the auditing of local authorities' food law enforcement activities. An internal audit manual and auditor training support the documents.
Audits employ a Pre-visit Questionnaire requesting information from local authorities and sent prior to the on-site audit; an Audit Protocol and Audit Checklists; and on-site officer interviews. The audit scheme is described in detail in the Framework Agreement on Local Authority Food Law Enforcement.
The full audit protocols and checklists can be found below. Protocols and checklists for each type of focused audit will be published as they become available. These documents are reviewed regularly and any comments and suggestions to improve them should be sent to Abimbola Adeyemi at abimbola.adeyemi@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk.
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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.
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.
Food sampling audits
The Food Standards Agency has published the findings of a programme of audits looking specifically at food sampling by local authorities.
Formal enforcement audits
The Food Standards Agency has published the reports of 18 local authorities audited as part of a specific programme of audits looking at local authority formal food law enforcement activity.
Focused audits on Home Authority Principle
The Food Standards Agency has completed a programme of focused audits in 30 local authorities looking specifically at their Home Authority arrangements, advice to business and food and feeding stuffs safety and standards promotion.
Imported food audits
The Agency has carried out a programme of focused audits of local authorities and port health authorities, which looked specifically at their arrangements for controls on imported food of non-animal origin.
Internal monitoring audits
The Agency has published the findings of a programme of focused audits of local authorities, which specifically looked at their arrangements for internal monitoring and external review, including inter-authority audits (IAA).
Statistical monitoring audits
The Agency has completed a programme of focused audits of local authorities, which looked specifically at their arrangements for providing statistical monitoring returns on food law enforcement activity.
Audit feedback meetings
The Food Standards Agency routinely seeks feedback from audited authorities about the audit process. As part of this, joint feedback meetings are held with LACORS and audited authorities in England. These meetings allow authorities to share their audit experiences and help the Agency to review its auditing procedures and to make improvements.
Control and investigation of outbreaks of food related infectious disease audit
The Food Standards Agency Wales audit reviewed the arrangements that the 22 local authorities in Wales had in place to ensure the control and investigation of outbreaks of food related infectious disease.
Food standards law enforcement audits
The Food Standards Agency has published reports of food standards law enforcement audits.
Specified Risk Material controls audit
A report of an audit programme in Great Britain developed by the Agency to gain assurance that the Specified Risk Material (SRM) and vertebral column (VC) official controls implemented by the Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) and local authorities in approved and authorised premises were effective and that food business operators’ (FBO) SRM and animal by-products (ABP) controls were effective.