Argyll and Bute (Core Audit) (Closed)

Argyll and Bute Council is a Scottish Unitary Local Authority. It has responsibility for the enforcement of food hygiene, food standards and feeding stuffs law within its area, which includes a large part of the West Highlands of Scotland.

Argyll and Bute is home to a large number of producers and distributors of fresh and processed fish and shellfish products, and food that is produced in the area is distributed and sold throughout the world and is an important part of the local economy.

Approximately 2,078 businesses in the Authority's area are subject to food law enforcement. 127 businesses are registered with the Authority under feeding stuffs legislation.

The Authority has a Service Plan covering food hygiene, food standards and feeding stuffs law enforcement that meets the requirements of the Service Planning Guidance in the Framework Agreement. An annual review based on the 2004-2005 Service Plan has been carried out and reported to the appropriate Member forum.

The Authority has appointed authorised Officers and inspectors to enforce food and feeding stuffs law, although the number of food Officers that are actually in post is less than the number of full time equivalent (FTE) positions.

Qualification and training records for Officers who have been authorised to enforce the Food Safety Act demonstrate that Officers are receiving continuing development training.

Some food hygiene and food standards premises inspections are not being conducted at the required minimum frequencies.

The inspection of food business premises that are subject to general food hygiene legislation is being carried out systematically and in accordance with relevant procedures.

Documentation relating to the licensing of butcher shops and the approval of establishments that are subject to product-specific food hygiene legislation is insufficiently detailed in some cases to determine whether compliance with all aspects of the relevant regulations has been assessed.

Sampling programmes for food and feeding stuffs have been developed and are being implemented. Adverse sample results are followed-up appropriately.

Following the Agency's audit in October 2005, Argyll and Bute Council developed an action plan to address the non-conformities raised.

The Agency notes the progress that has already been made with implementation of the action plan.

The follow-up audit report details the following:

• the original non-conformity identified during the October 2005 audit
• the action the Authority intended to take to address the non conformity
• the date by which the non conformity was to be rectified
• the progress to date as notified by the Authority in August 2006
• the comments of the Agency Auditors following their follow up visit in November 2006