We listened in to today's FSA Board Meeting (17 June) and share a summary of key points below:
SPS
- Treasury funding and resources have been announced to support SPS implementation, although funding for subsequent years is still being worked through.
- A summit has been announced for 22 July, with further details expected afterwards.
- The FSA is expected to share information as soon as possible and support transition, including considering how products already authorised in the EU could be approved for use in the UK as quickly as possible.
- The FSA chair is holding weekly meetings with the SPS team to understand impacts.
- Marketing authorisation impact was highlighted due to CBD.
- In the NI update: Windsor Framework will still remain.
Regulatory Learning and International Insight
- Katie’s visit to New Zealand provided learning from other regulators.
- The Norwegian National Level Regulation (NLR) model for different types of businesses was noted as potentially useful for the FSA to review.
Middle East Impacts
- The most immediate domestic impacts of this disruption are likely to be on food affordability and access, but it is also likely to present greater opportunities for food crime.
- The FSA is monitoring the availability of CO₂ for abattoirs in light of impacts in the Middle East. No immediate impact was reported, as an alternative source is available.
Cereulide in Infant Formula Incident
- The cereulide incident and the First Steps Nutrition Trust report were discussed, including recommendations on communication and action.
- Awareness among parents of children under two was reported at 90%, with 96% taking action.
- Partnership working was seen as effective, and the importance of social media as a primary source of information was highlighted as a useful lesson for future incidents.
Allergen Incidents
An increase in allergen incidents was noted, with discussion on whether further review or work is needed on labelling, including work on sampling failures and verification.
Risky Foods Framework
- These are foods which the risks exceed the nature or levels considered broadly acceptable by the FSA, but which some people may accept for other benefits, such as choice or perceived health benefit.
- The framework supports decision-making in areas where scientific, behavioural and economic factors interact to aid identification of such foods, and to monitor the controls applied to them to ensure they remain fit for purpose.
- The FSA board was supportive for keeping this framework and discussed the foods already reviewed under the framework - raw drinking milk and undercooked burgers.
- The framework is encouraged to be reviewed to ensure the scope is clearly defined and if it can potentially support incident and prevention response - an example was given on linking to the increase seen for Campylobacter and Salmonella and the potential link to undercooked burgers.
Chief Scientific Adviser Report - Data Sharing, UPFs and PFAS
- In this paper the breaches for Campylobacter and Salmonella and the input from the EFIG, ACSS and Science Council were mentioned and how there were 8 potential hypotheses identified - 6 under analysis and 2 remaining under consideration.
- Risks associated with UPFs have considerable public interest, and it's unclear on whether adverse effects are also from additives or contaminants.
- Data sharing - there were several comments on whether there can be better access to industry data and insights.
- PFAS - European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has established limits for four PFAS, which may have implications for FSA in the event of an SPS agreement. The FSA has commissioned the development of suitable analytical methods for PFAS and a programme of work to establish levels in a range of foods through sampling will be carried out. This should provide information about levels of PFAS for which limits have been recommended / agreed and in turn inform risk assessments and support any future regulatory measures. The importance of scientific input influencing decision-making was mentioned.
Incidents and Resilience
- High and medium incidents have increased, with scale and complexity e.g. cereulide
incident, needing multi-agency response. - The development of improved data and case management from PRISM was mentioned, as well as greater use of RCA.
- The FSA is reviewing how incidents are classified, including through a classification matrix embedded within a new incidents model.
- RCA is now being embedded more systematically, with insight used to support prevention activity and help direct where effort is needed.
- Technology and AI may help manage the volume and complexity of incidents.
- A new Food System Resilience Directorate will be created to support incidents and resilience.
- The board was supportive of the incidents and prevention work, including closer partnerships with the UKHSA and industry. They wish to understand how more on work with industry and how the information being provided is supporting.
Next steps for members
Within our key working groups like Microbiology and Emerging Risks, stay informed of the developments of the new FSA incidents models and work. In our in-person meetings on a quarterly basis, we have the opportunity to have more detailed discussions with officials, including for SPS.
