Welsh Food Advisory Committee Directors Report April 2022

Paper FSAW 22/04/03
For discussion
Update from Director

Executive Summary

1.    The attached paper signposts to issues introduced by the Chief Executive at the last Board meeting which was held on 9 March 2022. The complete minutes from the Board meeting are available on the FSA’s website. The paper also provides an update on issues of relevance to Wales and forms the basis of the update to the Welsh Food Advisory Committee (WFAC).

2.      The Director for the FSA in Wales will supplement the information provided in this report with an oral update where necessary.  

3.     Members are invited to:

• note the update
• invite the Director to expand on any issues for further discussion

FSA in Wales contact: Lucy Edwards
Lucy.edwards@food.gov.uk

 
Paper FSAW 22/04/03
For discussion
Update from Director

1.    Summary of Chief Executive’s Report to Open Board Meeting 9 March 2022

1.1.   The Board received the written report (FSA 22/03/03) of the Chief Executive. 

2.    Director for Wales’ Report on Matters Pertaining to Wales

External Engagement

2.1.    I have been involved in the following engagement opportunities of interest since WFAC’s last themed meeting on 3 February 2022:

• 11 March: FSA in Wales and Welsh Government Quarterly Liaison meeting – the discussion included an update on COVID-19 recovery and the FSA in Wales business planning for 2022/23.
• 5 April: Chief Medical Officer’s Health Protection Advisory Group meeting – the discussion included the terms of reference of the CMO’s group, and associated sub-groups, for the coming year. An update on food safety is included in the forward look of topics that may be covered. 

Substitution of ingredients in certain food products to avoid food supply disruption

2.2     We have been inputting into the incident response with relation to product supplies and some food products labelled as containing sunflower oil may instead contain refined rapeseed oil. We are in continual engagement with Welsh Government policy officials and are supporting engagement with Welsh Ministers. A letter has been sent to local authorities to acknowledge the current supply chain disruption and in these exceptional circumstances, encourage enforcement officials to adopt an approach to enforcement that is reasonable, proportionate, risk based and considered on a case-by-case basis. 

2.3    Outbreak of Salmonella linked to certain Ferrero (Kinder) chocolate products

We are continuing to work closely with the UK Health Security Agency, Public Health Wales, Public Health Scotland, Public Health Agency Northern Ireland, Food Standards Scotland – as well as international public health and food safety authorities – to investigate an ongoing outbreak of Salmonella linked to certain Kinder egg product ranges and Schoko-Bons produced at one of the Ferrero company’s factories in Arlon, Belgium. We are also in liaison with Welsh Government to ensure they are updated on the progress of investigations. The FSA has issued an updated product recall and news story to inform consumers that a range of Kinder Egg products and Schoko-Bon’s should not be eaten. 

Live consultations

Less than thoroughly cooked beef burgers: guidance for food business operators and local authority officers | Food Standards Agency

2.4     Consultation seeking stakeholder views on the proposed changes to the FSA’s guidance on less than thoroughly cooked beef burgers.
Launched: 27 January
Closing date: 27 April 

Applications for eleven additives for use in animal feed 

 2.5     Consultation seeking stakeholders’ views, comments and feedback in relation to regulated product applications for eleven additives for use in animal feed, which have been submitted for authorisation.
Launched: 7 March 2022 
Closing date: 2 May 2022.

Call for Evidence: Use of recycled plastic, originating from ocean-bound/cycle schemes and similar environmental collection, in food contact material products

2.6     Consultation seeking evidence in relation to how business operators propose to, or currently, carry out their own risk assessment to determine the safe use of recycled plastic that has been sourced from the open environment (ocean, ‘ocean-bound’ or land), in Food Contact Material products. 
Launched: 21 March 2022 
Closing date: 20 September 2022. 

Transfer of ownership for five smoke flavouring authorisations

2.7     Short consultation requesting comments on changes to the names and addresses of five smoke flavouring primary products authorisation holders.
Launched: 31/03/2022
Closing date: 14/03/2022

Amendments to Import Controls concerning certain food and feed of non animal origin from certain countries into GB 

Consultation on proposed routine amendments to Retained Regulation 2019/1793 which applies a temporary increase of official controls and special conditions governing the entry into Great Britain of certain food and feed of non-animal origin from certain countries.
Launched: 14 April 2022
Closing Date: 7 July 2022

2.8    Consultations – Forward look:

• Approved Establishments: Guidance for LA officers – 14-week consultation Launches May 2022
• Qurbani: Consultation on the long-term approach proposed for the summer – We are working to finalise the plans and develop a consultation, due to start in June 2022, to seek stakeholder views on a long-term legislative approach on the direct supply of Qurbani meat and offal during the period of Eid al-Adha in England and Wales
• Defra, FSA and FSS plan to launch a joint consultation on proposed changes to the Bread and Flour Regulations 1998 – launches July 2022
• The FSA intends to launch three, eight-week consultations on the other legitimate factors of the Novel Food, GM and Feed Additive applications included in the second tranche of regulated product applications. The consultations are expected to be launched summer 2022.

3.    Forward Look for Director for Wales

3.1     Between now and the next themed meeting of the WFAC on 14 July 2022, the following are of relevance to the FSA in Wales: 

• 26 April – I will be supporting the Chair in her meeting with the Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing, Lynne Neagle. The agenda will include the labelling issues arising from the conflict in Ukraine and the FSA’s new Strategy.
• May (date TBC) – The next meeting of Safe, Sustainable, Authentic Food Wales (SSAFW) has been moved to a date yet to be confirmed in May due to the Easter holidays. The agenda is also yet to be determined.
• 7 June – Chief Medical Officer’s Health Protection Advisory Group meeting.
• 6 July – Senedd event. We will be holding a lunchtime event in the Senedd with Members of the Senedd and other stakeholders to promote both the new Strategy and the first Annual Food Standards Report to be published June 2022. 

Nathan Barnhouse
Director, FSA in Wales
April 2022