Butchers Award Scheme
Introduction
This scheme was initiated by the local authority to give something back to the local butcher’s who had invested a lot of time and effort complying with the butchers licensing regulations.
The award scheme is intended to go beyond the butchers licensing, the majority of butchers are involved, and all premises are offered the award as long as they meet the criteria. The award is for Safety, quality and standards.Objectives and Purpose
- To sample everything produced by the butchers to ensure that the produce complies with national standards and legislation.
- To ensure the butchers comply with environmental health requirements, food standards, routine sampling, national sampling and also provide advice in these areas.
Methodology
At the premises sample’s are taken – ready to eat, faggots, cooked meats, pies etc. The sample has to comply with standards and safety legislation and guidance. The butchers are revisited if samples fail and given advice and/or an investigation is carried out into why the sample failed.
Initially 200+ samples were taken of the butchers wanting to participate within the scheme. The costs incurred were £70 per sample, how ever there was no charge for any samples that needed to be retested.
If a butcher has several unsatisfactory samples and was therefore not a suitable member they would be excluded from the scheme
Publicity was given to butchers with the award to highlight the high standards achieved.
Lessons Learnt
There has been a saving on the time it takes to carry out a butchers licensing visit, due to officer’s visiting throughout the year on advisory visits. The award scheme has now been built into both environmental and trading standards business plans.
The butchers have a history of being resistant to change however due to this award scheme they have become much more proactive. The local authority in conjunction with Bath Spa University is running a training course for butchers on the new meat products regulations. The local authority and Bath Spa University are funding this course.
Retests showed great improvements, there was an improvement in both the quality and standards of the food produced by the butchers.
The feedback from butchers has been positive, and the generally consensus has been that the butchers are proud to be in the scheme. It has resulted in an improvement of standards in the premises.
Achievements
The scheme highlighted problems in food safety prior to LACORS national survey into long shelf life products which identified that use by dates were incorrect on vac packed produce.
A key benefit resulting from the scheme is improved relationships between butchers and environmental health/trading standards. Butchers now use these services as an advisory service, and are not seen just as enforcers.
Contact Details:
Contact: Phil Wilson,
Organisation: Bath & North East Somerset Council
Tel: 01225 396753
Email: phil_wilson@bathnes.gov.uk