The Scottish Food Enforcement Liaison Committee (SFELC) Approved Establishments Working Group was tasked with developing methodologies which would enhance the approval process as well as the delivery of official controls in establishments liable for approval under Regulation (EC) 853/2004.
Previous deliberations had resulted in a proposal to transfer the responsibility for approval of establishments to Food Standards Scotland (FSS). However, following consultation with the Society of Chief...More
Foodborne illness remains an important public health problem for Scotland, resulting in disruption to the workforce and burdens on health services which have consequences for the Scottish economy. Prior to the establishment of Food Standards Scotland (FSS), we worked as part of the Food Standards Agency to develop, implement and evaluate interventions for improving the safety of the food chain and help consumers to understand the steps that they need to take to protect themselves and their...More
Food Standards Scotland (FSS) would welcome your comments on the draft Caseins and Caseinates (Scotland) Regulations 2016 (see Annex B below) and the partial Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA – see Annex C below)
The purpose of the draft Scottish Statutory Instrument is to:
Transpose and
Provide penalties for non-compliance with
the requirements of Directive (EU) 2015/2203 (hereafter referred to as the CC Directive) which repeals and replaces Council...More
A few years ago, Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on the provision of food information to consumers (FIC) brought together EU rules on general food labelling and nutrition labelling into one piece of legislation. The Food Information (Scotland) Regulations 2014 revoked most of the old Food Labelling Regulations 1996 (as amended) and enable local authorities in Scotland to enforce the requirements of FIC. The majority of the requirements of the new legislation came into force on 13 December 2014...More
Food Standards Scotland (FSS) has produced our first Science, Evidence and Information (SEI) strategy. The SEI strategy will support the FSS statement of performance of functions including how FSS operates, to ensure that appropriate science governance arrangements are in place to help the delivery of FSS’s vision and strategic priorities. The SEI strategy will link, for our staff, FSS organisational and SEI values and provides three key SEI themes with underpinning approaches.
FSS...More
As Scotland’s national regulator for food and feed FSS has a statutory responsibility under The Food (Scotland) Act 2015 to protect consumers from food safety risks, to improve dietary health, and to protect consumers’ other interests in relation to food. How we fulfil our role as a national regulator and the approaches we adopt will be important in achieving these objectives to deliver the best outcomes for consumers, and a key priority for FSS is developing a future regulatory strategy...More
Bivalve shellfish, such as mussels, oysters, scallops (pectinidae) and razor clams, are filter feeders and can accumulate dangerous toxins and pathogens quickly. Shellfish toxins, which can be fatal, are heat stable which means that, unlike microbiological and viral contaminants, they cannot be removed through cooking. These toxins are produced by naturally occurring phytoplankton (algae) and therefore present a different risk management challenge to faecal-borne pathogenic contaminants,...More
Food Standards Scotland is the competent authority for the determination of harvesting area classifications. This process is currently undertaken on an annual basis with the classification year running from April to March. Provided there are no prolonged and significant changes in year that classification usually remains static for the duration of that period.
Classifications which are current are likely therefore to run until 31 st March 2017, and work is underway to determine...More
The guidance is intended to help food businesses manage the inherent risk of biotoxins in scallops and to help local authorities (LAs) assess food safety management procedures in the businesses they inspect. It is anticipated that LAs will utilise this guidance in order to assess compliance in food businesses handling or processing scallops. FSS will audit LAs against the appropriate regulations and guidance in due course.
This consultation provides an opportunity to comment on...More
Food Standards Scotland (FSS) would welcome your comments on the draft Natural Mineral Water, Spring Water and Bottled Drinking Water (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2017 (see Annex B) and the partial Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA - see Annex C).
The purpose of the draft Scottish Statutory Instrument is to transpose the requirements of Commision Directive (EU) 2015/1787 in relation to bottled drinking water which is marketed as spring water or bottled drinking water. The...More
Food Standards Scotland (FSS) would welcome your comments on the draft Novel Foods (Scotland) Regulations 2017 (see Annex B) and the partial Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA – see Annex C).
The purpose of the draft Scottish Statutory Instrument is to:
enable the enforcement of and
provide penalties for non-compliance with:
the requirements of Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 which defines foods classed as “Novel Foods”. The EU Regulation lays out...More
Food Standards Scotland's (FSS's) Strategy to 2021 sets out a vision for a food and drink environment in Scotland that benefits, protects and is trusted by consumers. Ensuring the safety and authenticity of the Scottish food chain is key to delivering this vision. Outcome 1 (Food is Safe) and Outcome 2 (Food is Authentic) of the FSS strategic plan describe the importance of effective food surveillance systems in enabling the identification of risks to food and feed. Surveillance plays a...More
The Codex Committee on Food Hygiene established an Electronic Working Group (EWG) to revise the General Principles of Food Hygiene. The UK has been leading this work with France, Ghana, India Mexico and the United States of America as co-Chairs. Comments on the report from the EWG have been requested from member countries in preparation for discussions during the plenary session of CCFH 13-17 November in Chicago.
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Food Standards Scotland (FSS) have in place a Strategy to 2021 that sets out a vision for a food and drink environment in Scotland that benefits, protects and is trusted by consumers. Ensuring the safety of the Scottish food chain is key to delivering this vision. Outcome 1 (Food is Safe) of the FSS strategic plan describes the importance of effective food surveillance systems in enabling the identification of risks to food and feed. This surveillance plays a key role in generating...More
Food Standards Scotland (FSS) would welcome your comments on the Draft The Animal Feed (Basic Safety Standards) (Scotland) Regulations 2018 (see AnnexB).
The purpose of the draft Scottish Statutory Instrument is to;
To prohibit the intentional addition of radioactive substances in the production of animal feedingstuffs.
To prohibit the import or export of animal feedingstuffs to which radioactive substances have, during production, been intentionally added
To...More
This consultation aims to inform stakeholders and seek their views on the proposed implementation of a centralised model of official control delivery for feed and to consult on the draft Scottish Statutory Instrument (SSI) (The Feed Enforcement (Scotland) Regulations 2018) providing for the transfer of competence for feed law from the Local Authorities to Food Standards Scotland. The proposed Regulations are expected to be in force from early 2018/19.
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Local Authorities (LA) are the Competent Authority as delegated by the Minister for food businesses handling live bivalve molluscs (LBM) in Scotland. This includes businesses which purify LBM as required by EU law.
It is the responsibility of the food business operator (FBO) to ensure their product is safe. Classifications are awarded by Food Standard Scotland (FSS) according to the FSS Protocol for Classification of shellfish areas. LBM harvesting areas are classified by monitoring...More
The Food Law Code of Practice (Scotland) (‘the Code’) sets out instructions, processes and criteria to which the 32 unitary Local Authorities in Scotland must have regard when they carry out Official Food Controls in their role as Food Authorities. T he current version of the Code was published in April 2015 following the creation of Food Standards Scotland on 1st April 2015.
We now wish to consult with all stakeholders on an updated Code that reflects ...More
Food Standards Scotland (FSS) would welcome your comments on the draft Foods for Specific Groups (Medical Foods) (Scotland) Regulations 2019 (see Annex B) and the partial Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA - see Annex C)
The purpose of the draft Scottish Statutory Instrument is to
Enable the enforcement of and
Provide penalties for non compliance with
the requirements of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/128 which lays down rules on the specific...More
A sunset clause in the Food Information (Scotland) Regulations 2014 (as amended) provides for the continued use of the low alcohol descriptors and compositional requirements for cheese and cream as contained in regulations 42 and 43 and Schedule 8 of the Food Labelling Regulations (FLR) 1996 (as amended). The sunset clause is due to expire on 13 December 2018.
Food Standards Scotland (FSS) is consulting on how best to continue with these national provisions so that consumers can...More
The proposed Materials and Articles in Contact with Food (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2019 will provide for the execution and enforcement, in Scotland of;
Commission Regulation (EC) No. 282/2008 on recycled plastic materials intended to come into contact with food (“the recycling Regulation”).
Commission Regulation (EU) No. 2016/1416 (“the revised Plastics Regulation”) amending Commission Regulation (EU) No. 10/2011 (“the Plastics...More
Food Standards Scotland (FSS) would welcome your comments on the draft Food Standards and Food Hygiene (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Scotland) Regulations 2019 (see Annex B) and the partial Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA - see Annex C).
The purpose of the draft Scottish Statutory Instrument is to
Amend the Fruit Juices and Fruit Nectars (Scotland) Regulations 2013 to draw businesses’ attention to Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1040/2014;
Amend...More
Food Standards Scotland (FSS) would welcome your comments on the proposed amendments and options to ensure Scottish domestic legislation can continue to operate if the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
This consultation concerns proposed technical amendments to food and feed safety and hygiene, food compositional standards, labelling and nutrition labelling domestic legislation applying in Scotland to ensure that this legislation can continue to operate after the UK has left the...More
Food Standards Scotland would welcome your comments on newly developed guidance which will assist food enforcement authorities and Food Business Operators in complying with food law and dealing with food withdrawals and recalls.
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The Scottish diet is too high in calories, fats, sugars and salt and this can impact our health. Diet related diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease and some cancers can seriously affect individuals, families and communities, as well as the nation’s economy and productivity.
There is no single solution to tackle our poor diet. However eating outside the home is one of the areas where change is needed, as overall, the food and drink on offer tends to be skewed towards...More
Food Standards Scotland (FSS) would welcome your comments on proposed amendments and options to ensure Scottish domestic legislation can continue to operate effectively if the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
We are consulting on proposed amendments to domestic legislation relating to:
Country of origin labelling of blended honey;
Recognition of natural mineral water;
Transitional arrangements for food labelling and health...More
Regulation (EU) 2017/625 on official controls and other official activities performed to ensure the application of food and feed law, rules on animal health and welfare, plant health and plant protection protects – referred to as the Official Controls Regulation (OCR) – is a directly applicable EU regulation and an overarching piece of legislation that sets operational standards for the performance of official controls and other official activities by competent authorities (CAs)...More
Food Standards Scotland (FSS) would welcome your comments on the proposals for Foods for Special Medical Purposes for Infants, Infant Formula and Follow On Formula and Addition of Vitamins and Minerals (Scotland) Regulations and the partial Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA).
We are consulting on proposed amendments to domestic legislation relating to:
Foods for Special Medical Purposes for Infants;
Infant Formula and Follow On Formula ;...More
Food Standards Scotland (FSS) are preparing Scottish Regulations to provide for the enforcement of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 775/2018 which lays down detailed rules on the provision of Food Information to Consumers, indicating the country of origin or place of provenance of a primary ingredient where it is not the same as the origin of the food as a whole.
The EU Implementing Regulation is directly applicable which means that food...More
The purpose of the consultation is to seek views on the proposal to implement a centralised model for the delivery of animal feed official controls which will see functions transferred from LAs to FSS. Information on the proposal is contained in the Consultation Letter and BRIA (downloads).
Further information on ongoing work in the feed sector can be viewed here on the FSS Scotland website
Currently, LAs are legally required to deliver official controls and...More