Incident Management Plan: aim, objectives, scope and purpose of plan

Aim

1.1 This document sets out the framework for the Food Standard Agency's (FSA) response to all non-routine incidents, crisis and emergencies. The ”Plan” defines the FSA’s response arrangements to those non-routine incidents where the FSA will takes responsibility, either by statutory requirement (as set out in the Food Law Code of Practice), and/or in its role of Lead Government Department (LGD), following an actual or potential threat to the safety, quality or integrity of the food and/or animal feed chain, or as a supporting department. This may also include outbreaks of animal disease or a business continuity event.

1.2 The strategic and tactical command structures and key principles set out in this plan will be followed for all incidents, crisis and emergencies events, including those that fall outside of our remit, but that may require the FSA’s strategic and tactical measures to aid the FSA response and/or recovery of that emergency event. For example, a non-routine policy or trade issue; or a business continuity incident that has the potential to disrupt our business; or a pandemic (where for example a 2-fold response is required; such as food safety advice and the management of the FSA’s own response).

Objectives

1.3 This plan provides a framework to meet the following objectives that are required across government:

• ensure robust command and control procedures are in place that align to The Amber Book – Managing Crisis in Central Government (previously known as UK’s Concept of Operations (CONOPs))
• ensure effective communication across all stakeholders, strategic and tactical responses are consistent and co-ordinated
• escalation and de-escalation mechanisms and criteria are clearly defined
• the ability to determine the key stakeholders (internal and external) and resources required to prepare, respond and recover from an effective response

Scope and purpose of Plan

1.4 This plan summarises those key activities to be undertaken during the FSA’s response to a non-routine incident or emergency. The plan sets out the strategic and tactical command and control structure and procedures for responding to and managing crisis management issues. As well as food and feed safety incidents, these may also include an animal disease outbreak, which are led by other government departments but require a number of interventions by FSA in the course of the response or a business continuity event that impacts on the delivery of our business or falls outside of the FSA’s remit but may still require a tactical and/or strategic response. The framework is followed by all FSA offices across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

1.5 The detailed processes which support this IMP are set out in a series of internal Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and guidance. 

1.6 Routine incidents and outbreaks are not within the scope of this plan. They are dealt with using the FSA’s internal Routine Incident Management Plan and current communicable disease outbreak management guidance. The UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA) (footnote 1) is responsible for health protection operations as part of its remit.  

1.7 A memorandum of understanding with Food Standards Scotland (FSS) is in place to ensure liaison arrangements continue to deliver a co-ordinated incident handling response across Scotland, England, Northern Ireland and Wales. The Food Standards Scotland Incident Management Framework defines how FSS led incidents are managed. This document will be used should FSS lead a non-routine food/feed incident.