Stevenage Borough Council

The authority was able to demonstrate that it was carrying out food sampling that was appropriate to the nature and scope of the local food premises profile. This included a risk-based approach to targeting local high risk premises and participation in national and regional surveillance sampling surveys.

A framework of relevant policy and procedural guidance had been developed. The Authority was implementing a sampling programme for 2002/2003 in accordance with its sampling policy.

Stevenage had been unable to meet its documented sampling programme for 2001/2002 because of a temporary staffing shortage. This had since been resolved and the Authority anticipated that its current sampling programme would be fully implemented.