Enforcement and Regulation
Local authority food law enforcement, delivered by environmental health and trading standards services, has an important contribution to make in relation to promoting safe, sustainable and nutritious food with the aim of improving community health and well being.
The Food Standards Agency’s Framework Agreement on Local Authority Food Law Enforcement describes the obligations on local food enforcement services. Inspections of food and food premises, dealing with local consumers complaints, taking samples of locally produced and/or available food and taking formal action where the public is at risk are services the public takes for granted.
Contraventions may cover hygiene and safety matters but can also include labelling and standards matters such as health related claims, nutritional information and composition of food. Food enforcement services will also provide advice to local businesses on compliance and good practice issues, responding to local or national food incidents, and undertaking promotion work that would include the public as well as local businesses.