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The Food and Agricultural Team is responsible for the enforcement of a wide range of legislation relating to food labelling and standards, animal feeds and fertilisers. The work includes:
Carrying Out Sampling Projects
Where appropriate, following an inspection, complaint or failed sample, an investigation is carried out to determine whether a criminal offence may have been committed.
Responding to Complaints Received from Members of the Public
The Team is responsible for dealing with any food/animal feed complaints received from the general public, for example, an allegation of substituted spirits in a bar. Once the investigation is completed, the complainant is notified of the outcome.
Routine Inspections of Food Businesses and those Premises on which Feeds are Produced, Sold or Used
Food Businesses
All food premises are risk-assessed against a number of factors. Depending upon the nature and size of the business in question, visits may be undertaken annually for highrisk premises, falling to a lesser frequency for lower risked premises.
Agriculture
The Department enforces legislation relating to animal feed and fertilisers in a similar way to that described for food above. Visits are undertaken to feed mills, merchants and farms; samples are taken and records checked.
Advising the trade on any food/feed issues Assistance to local businesses is provided when requested. Much of the advice is given on a one-to-one basis but, where appropriate, more general advice is sent out to particular sectors. This is often carried out when there is a significant change in legislation; for example, a leaflet advising on beef
labelling was sent out to every butcher in Somerset to provide guidance on complex new labelling requirements.
Sampling Projects
Sampling projects are carried out to ensure that food, feeding stuffs and fertilisers comply with compositional standards and are labelled correctly. Additional checks are carried out on animal feeds to ensure they are safe. The Team has also been involved with regional and national sampling projects in partnership with agencies such as the Food Standards Agency (FSA), the Local Authority Co-ordinators of Regulatory Services (LACORS) and the South West of England Regional Co-ordinator of Trading Standards
(SWERCOTS).
Enforcement Action
Once evidence of a contravention has been established, the Team has a range of options available to it, including:
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Advising the manufacturer or retailer
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Issuing a written warning
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Issuing a Home Office Formal Caution
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Prosecution
The Team has regard to Departmental policies relating to enforcement and prosecution. These policies seek to ensure that a measured and consistent approach is taken. The Department is also signed up to the ‘Enforcement Concordat’ that lays down principles of Good Enforcement.
For more information on Food & Agriculture, contact us (see right).
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