Retail Surveillance Sampling Programme during Covid-19 pandemic
Retail Surveillance Sampling Programme during Covid-19 pandemic - Recommendations
England and Wales specific
This project highlights the importance of undertaking surveillance sampling in order to provide intelligence and evidence of the safety and authenticity of food and provided an excellent opportunity for the 5 OCLs to work together in a co-ordinated manner.
Collaborative working has increased the flow of information between the OCLs and the FSA and has strengthened the enforcement network by making connections between national, regional and local knowledge.
Regular communication between OCLs and the FSA has enabled intelligence sharing not only with regards to this project but also other aspects of enforcement.
In order to maintain a robust food enforcement network OCLs need to be appropriately resourced and with the decline in samples submitted by Trading Standards this project has been a key source of income for all of the OCLs during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The 5 OCLs would welcome the opportunity to work together on future projects identified by the FSA.