Questionnaire on Imported Food Control Enforcement Activity 2007/08

All authorities have been sent both Microsoft Excel and Word versions of the questionnaire. The questionnaires can also be found at the links below. Local authorities should complete the questionnaire and send it to:

Eze Ekwugha
email: eze.ekwugha@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk

Questionnaires are to be returned by no later than Friday 18 July 2008.

If you have any questions please contact:

Paul Stubbington
tel: 020 7276 8397
email: paul.stubbington@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk

Mark Davis
tel: 020 7276 8402
email: mark.davis@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk

No. Individual authorities will not be named.

The questionnaire builds on previous years' questionnaires on imported food control enforcement activity, which followed on from the implementation of the Cabinet Office’s ‘step-change’ initiative in 2003. The responses to the previous questionnaires have been used to demonstrate the achievement of the step-change in the enforcement of UK imported food controls and subsequent continued improvements.

The results of previous questionnaires have also been used to develop targets for imported food control enforcement activity and the following imported food targets for local/port health authorities and the Agency, have been developed in consultation with local authorities through the Association for Port Health Authorities (APHA) and Local Authorities Coordinators of Regulatory Services (LACORS):

Activity at Seaports and Airports

• Achieve 100% of statutory checks on all declared consignments of non-animal origin food products subject to emergency controls and safeguard measures entering the Port. Take appropriate regulatory action in relation to all rejected consignments of non-animal origin foodstuffs identified at the Port.

All local authority activity other than that carried out at point of entry into the UK

• Achieve a national average that 10% of all non-animal origin food samples taken will be samples of food imported from countries outside of the European Union. Take appropriate regulatory action in relation to all unsatisfactory imported foods.

Food Standards Agency activity

• Carry out a review of the 2007/2008 imported food control enforcement activity by local/port health authorities and use the results to inform the setting of future performance targets, including consideration of a target for the examination of non-animal origin imported foods not subject to specific emergency controls or safeguard measures.