Food Standards Agency Publishes Report on the use of Contractors

The summary report on the use of contractors/consultants for food enforcement work has now been published on the agency's website.

The report can be found by clicking here

Some of the Key Issues Identified within the report

• A lack of or inadequate documented food premises inspection procedures;
• Inadequate or inconsistent records of food premises inspection findings;
• Incorrect risk rating scores that were inconsistent with the findings on inspection;
• Inadequate evidence to confirm that full assessments of the adequacy of food safety management systems had been made by the contractor;
• Failure to adequately confirm inspection findings in writing to the food business operator.
• A lack of appropriate graduated enforcement action in cases of persistent non-compliance by food business operators;
• A lack of appropriate and proportionate follow-up action by the local authority where serious contraventions were found by the contractor on inspection; and
• Inadequate enforcement policies, including those that required review.
• Lack of robust internal monitoring procedures covering all relevant aspects of contractors’ work;
• Insufficient records of internal monitoring activities;
• Internal monitoring arrangements that did not extend to cover follow-up work referred to LA officers by the contractor