Midlothian (Core Audit) (Closed)

Midlothian Council is a Scottish Unitary Local Authority and therefore has responsibility for enforcing food hygiene, food standards and feeding stuffs law within the area of Midlothian.

Approximately 757 businesses in the Authority’s area are subject to food law enforcement. There are also approximately 50 registered premises subject to feedingstuffs legislation in the Authority’s area; with one approved intermediaries and establishments premises.

The Authority has Food Service Plans that cover 2005/06 and 2007/08 for both environmental health and trading standards. The Service Plans refer to the Authority’s corporate aims and objectives and take account of the service planning guidance in the Framework agreement. The 2007/08 Service Plan was due to be presented to the full Council on 17 May 2007 for approval. Without a service plan for 2006/07 a formal review was not possible. However, as part of the corporate performance management system, regular reports were produced reviewing the inspection programme.

The Authority has appointed suitably qualified Authorised Officers to enforce food and feeding stuffs law.

Records of the inspection of establishments that are subject to Regulation (EC) 853/2004 are not sufficiently detailed in some cases to demonstrate that inspections have assessed compliance with all aspects of relevant legislation in accordance with the Code of Practice.

The Authority participates in co-ordinated surveys, surveillance exercises, and the sampling of locally produced food. Any results that were unsatisfactory had been notified to the business concerned and appropriately followed-up.

Officers use a range of informal and formal enforcement options to secure compliance, including letters, voluntary surrenders of food for destruction, and hygiene improvement notices.

Service performance is being monitored, although food law enforcement monitoring is not completely in accordance with the Standard.

Following the Agency's audit in May 2007, Midlothian 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 information in the full report details the following:

• the original non conformity identified during the May 2007 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 May 2008
• the comments of the Agency Auditors following their follow-up audit in August 2008

The full report on the follow-up audit is available at the link below.

The actions taken to address the action plan have been noted, and the audit file has been closed.