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Redesign for FSA's regulatory role
meat
The new pilot scheme will redistribute regulation to selected companies including Tesco and restaurant chain Mitchell and Butlers.
Agency creating 'a new blueprint' for regulating food businesses

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is to restructure the way in which food regulation is delivered as part of its 'Food We Can Trust' strategic goal. Increasing demands and pressure on the agency’s current inspection model have sparked a need to readdress how resources are distributed.

In a key note speech at the agency’s Parliamentary Reception, Heather Hancock, FSA chairperson said: "We will move away from a one size fits all approach, to tailored and proportionate regulation that reflects risk, reinforces accountability and delivers more for public health."

The new pilot scheme will redistribute regulation to selected companies including Tesco and restaurant chain Mitchell and Butlers, capitalising on larger companies' own auditing and sampling techniques to monitor and ensure food safety.  

The decision has received a mixed response, with critics concerned about the reliability of self-regulation. However, rapid technological and economical changes in the sector have driven the agency to explore alternative means of keeping pace with the industry.

Heather Hancock continued: "We will use robust industry data to help assure compliance and tackle public trust." She went on to praise the success of the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS): "Businesses seek higher ratings, and that competitive element drives up levels of compliance."

The pilots will run between now and December 2016. The new regime proper is expected by 2020. 

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Cold-water dip to raise funds for Vetlife

News Story 1
 The veterinary mental health charity Vetlife is inviting the veterinary community to join it for a sponsored cold-water dip.

The event will take place at Walpole Bay, Margate, on 17 May during Mental Health Awareness Week. Participants of all abilities can join in the challenge and are advised to bring a towel, a hot drink, a snack, and warm clothes to get changed into afterwards.

Those taking part are being asked to try to raise £100 each to support the work of the charity.

Details about how to take part can be found here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Bluetongue low vector period ends

In an update to its bluetongue guidance, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced that the seasonal low vector period for the disease has ended.

With winter over, Defra is planning for a possible increase in cases as midges become more active. It has warned that farms along the east coast of England from Norfolk to Kent, and along the south coast from Kent to Devon, are at highest risk from infected midges blown over from northern Europe.

Since the virus was detected in England in November 2023, there have been 126 confirmed cases. The most recent case to be confirmed was on 1 March 2024.

Farmers are asked to continue to frequently monitor their livestock and ensure their animals and land are registered with the Animal and Plant Health Agency.