Letters to local authorities

In order to provide local authorities with a more effective means of storing and retrieving up-to-date information and guidance from the FSA, a central referencing system has been established.

This will cover generic correspondence that is specifically concerned with food and/or feed hygiene/standards enforcement issues and that is sent to all authorities (i.e. either on a UK-wide basis or individually to all authorities in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland).

From 1 May 2004, all generic correspondence will be given an alphanumeric reference code. The first three characters of the code will be 'ENF'. This will be followed by either one or two characters to indicate geographical distribution, for example UK, E (England), S (Scotland), W (Wales) or NI (Northern Ireland).

These will be followed by two digits to represent the year in which the letter is issued and a further three digits will be allocated in sequential order for each geographical series beginning with 001.

By way of example, the reference for the first letter, the first in the series for English authorities is: ENF/E/04/001. The system will run alongside the referencing system already used for imported food related correspondence sent specifically to those authorities with responsibility for seaports and airports, for example IFD/E/04/001.

From 1 March 2005 letters sent to Trading Standards Departments in Scotland will be referenced. Previously only letters sent to the Environmental Health Departments in Scotland had been referenced. The reference for the first letter to Scottish Trading Standards Departments will be ENF/STS/05/001.

It is hoped that the referencing of letters should assist local authorities in ensuring they have the complete set of correspondence. Registers of all coded correspondence are maintained by the Agency and are available below.

For further information about the system, please contact Duncan Ritchie, who is responsible for administrating the system:

Tel: 020 7276 8435
Fax: 020 7276 8447
Email: duncan.ritchie@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk