Welsh Food Advisory Committee
Open Committee Meeting – 19 March 2015
FSAW 15/05/01
DRAFT MINUTES OF THE OPEN MEETING OF THE WELSH FOOD ADVISORY
COMMITTEE HELD ON 19 MARCH 2015 AT THE FOOD STANDARDS AGENCY,
SOUTHGATE HOUSE, WOOD STREET, CARDIFF.
Present:
Welsh Food Advisory Committee (WFAC) Members Attending:
Dr R Salmon - Chairman
Mr R Alexander
Dr H Jones
Mrs S Jones
Mr D Peace
Food Standards Agency (FSA) Officials Attending:
Nina Purcell – Director Wales
Mr R Mclean – for item 5
Mr S Wearne – via vc for item 6
Mr J Barnes – via vc for item 7
Mrs C Stewart – via vc for item 7
Mrs K Thompson – for item 7
Mrs H George – Secretariat
Mrs V Reilly - Secretariat
1. Introduction and Apologies
1.1
The Chairman welcomed members to the open meeting of the WFAC and
notified those present of the guest speakers who would be presenting papers.
Apologies for absence were received from Mr D Morgan and Dr N Barry.
2. Minutes of the Last Open Meeting (Paper FSAW 15/03/01)
2.1 The draft minutes of the open meeting held, on 22 January were accepted as a
true record of discussions. Members noted an update on ongoing action points. An
enquiry was raised in relation to the status of the FSA’s response to the Sentencing
Council’s consultation. It was agreed that this would be clarified. Members
welcomed a brief update on the progress of the investigation of the incidents of
VT+E.coli O157 infection linked to raw drinking milk and look forward to receiving
more details once the outbreak reports have been completed. Action: Secretariat
2.2 It was agreed that the final minutes should be translated and placed on the
website. Action: Secretariat
3. Report from Chairman (Paper FSAW 15/03/02)
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3.1 The Chairman presented his written report on the issues raised by the Board
Chair at the Board meeting held in January.
4. Director’s Update (Paper FSAW 15/03/03)
4.1 Members noted the written report from the Director. There were no
discussions arising.
5.
Food Standards Agency Strategic Plan 2015-2020 (FSAW 15/03/04)
5.1 Members considered the paper which seeks agreement to the proposed
approach to delivering the strategic objectives identified in the FSA Strategy for 2015
- 2020. It also seeks agreement to the key initiatives identified to focus on initially
and the work that should be developed under each initiative. The Committee
welcomed the clarity and practical orientation of the paper and the collaborative
approach emphasised in achieving the aspirations of the Plan. The Committee also
noted favourably that the Plan was supported by robust review and monitoring
arrangements and, in this respect, noted the governance arrangements in place,
including the role of the Portfolio Board, to ensure that strategic outcomes detailed in
the Plan remained on track. Noting the reporting line to the Business Committee,
members welcomed the opportunity of being able to contribute where there were
specific issues pertaining to Wales. Officials will look into developing a process to
achieve this on an ongoing basis. This will help to ensure that systems would be in
place to ensure that any Wales specific issues were captured in local reporting
arrangements. Action: Secretariat
5.2 Reference was made to the preparation of strategic plans for Wales and
Northern Ireland. In the context of issues relevant to Wales, the Committee noted
work undertaken by Sheffield Hallam University relating to the potential impact of
changes to the benefits system on the affordability of food for consumers in Wales.
It was noted that both the FSA and Welsh Government, particularly through its Food
and Drink Action Plan, were considering affordability and inequality issues
associated with the provision of safe and affordable healthy food.
5.3 Other observations made by members included:
the need to ensure that any HR requirements associated with the delivery of
the Plan were reflected in FSA learning and development plans, particularly the
need to retain technical skills within the agency in areas such as “big data” and
genomics; and

the need to keep under review the FSA’s surveillance and sampling systems in
the light of identified risks and incidents, and in this context, changes, proposed
by the EU, in the operation of SRM controls were highlighted as well as the
emergence of Hepatitis E.
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5.4 Subject to the above observations, the Committee concluded its discussion on
the paper in agreeing the overall approach proposed to delivering the strategic
objectives in the FSA’s Strategy 2015-20 and the key initiatives identified for further
development.
6. Future Strategy for FSA Science (Paper FSAW 15/03/05)
6.1 Members considered the paper which provides the framework for the FSA’s
Science, Evidence and Information Strategy for 2015–20. In its considerations of the
key elements of the outline of the Strategy, members made the following comments:
against a background of increasing resource pressures, the importance of
leveraging external resources to support the FSA’s vision for the delivery of
science, evidence and information was highlighted;

support for the FSA’s proposals for understanding and ranking risks to ensure
that work is effectively targeted on effective consumer protection and, in this
respect, the committee welcomed the inclusion of genomics and big data in the
activities identified; and

support for maintaining and building the science skills and capabilities of the
FSA in order to deliver the Strategy.
6.2 In agreeing the proposed framework to be used to develop the delivery plan for
the Science, Evidence and Information Strategy, members also welcomed the
intention to utilise the quarterly published reports from the FSA’s Chief Scientist, in
part as a tool to foster public understanding and to engage the consumer.
7. Food Hygiene Rating Scheme: Update and Next Steps (FSAW 15/03/06)
7.1 Members discussed the paper which updates on the operation of the Food
Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS) in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and the
Food Hygiene Information Scheme (FHIS) in Scotland, its impact to date, and
considers next steps. In commenting overall on the operation of FHRS in Wales, the
Committee made the following observations:
that it viewed the operation of the mandatory FHRS in Wales as a highly
successful motivating factor in raising food hygiene standards which in turn
benefits consumers;

that Local Authorities in Wales are to be commended for their role and
commitment in delivering the scheme and that the scheme represented an
excellent example of collaboration between the FSA and local authorities and
with food business operators;
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
that it is clearly recognised in Wales that the work involved and the costs to
local authorities of enforcing the requirement to display ratings is not
insignificant. These are costs that they are unlikely to able to recover; and

that it hoped that the experience of the FHRS in Wales would be useful in
informing discussions on the next steps proposed for FHRS elsewhere in
Scotland , England and Northern Ireland .
7.2 On the specifics of the scheme, and on the need to ensure that its credibility is
sustained and its potential maximised to deliver consumer benefits in the future,
members made the following comments:
that any proposal to open up inspections to accredited third parties, where the
legislative footing would permit this, should be explored cautiously and that
whatever arrangements adopted would need to be supported by proper
governance;

that improved business compliance as a consequence of the scheme should
result in less frequent inspections;

that there is a need to ensure that resources are targeted to high risk premises;

that consumer awareness, recognition and use of FHRS was crucial to the
success of FHRS; and

that the role which consumers can have in policing FHRS should be embraced
with clear directions provided to complaints procedures. It was felt that a
potential opportunity had been overlooked in not providing a portal on the site
where the public could record complaints or other observations.
7.3 The Committee welcomed the progress being made with FHRS and
arrangements for FHIS post April 2015 and agreed the next steps proposed for the
scheme and the options for the long term sustainability of FHRS being developed as
part of the Regulatory Strategy.
8.
Feedback from Committee Networks
8.1
The Chair reported on his participation in a meeting at Techniquest Science
Park of the Science Alliance Cymru, discussing improving science education in
schools which he hoped might be a platform for helping promote further
understanding of food and food safety.
8.2 Three members reported on their recent attendance at a dairy sector
conference organised by Cardiff Metropolitan University.
9.
Question and Answer Session
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Welsh Food Advisory Committee
Open Committee Meeting – 19 March 2015
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9.1
All questions raised by stakeholders who attended the meeting are reflected
in the discussions above.
10. Any other Business
10.1 A member raised an issue previously considered by the Committee in
relation to sachets of sauce in packets of ready to cook chicken being sold at major
retailers. The Committee voiced its disappointment that industry had not recognised
this practice as a possible campylobacter risk. The Chairman agreed to raise this
issue at the next meeting of the Board. Action: Chairman
10.2 The Committee noted that the next meeting would be 28 May 2015. Action:
Secretariat
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FSAW 15/05/01
Welsh Food Advisory Committee
Open Committee Meeting – 19 March 2015
ACTION POINTS
Index
Action
By
Status
Para
2.1
Clarify status of the FSA’s response to
the Sentencing Council’s consultation.
Actioner: Secretariat
31 March 2015
Complete
Para
2.1
Update on the progress of the
investigation of the incidents of VT+E.coli
O157 infection linked to raw drinking milk
once the outbreak reports have been
completed
Actioner: Secretariat
31 May 2015
Ongoing
Para
2.2
Translate and place minutes of the
January 2015 open meeting on website.
Actioner: Secretariat
31 March
2015
Complete
Para
5.1
Keep Committee informed on progress
being made with the Food Standards
Agency Strategic Plan 2015-2020.
Actioner: Secretariat
31 December
2015
Ongoing
Para
10.1
Raise sachets of sauce in packets of
ready to cook chicken being sold at major
retailers as a possible campylobacter risk
during Board discussions.
Actioner: Chair
31 March 2015
Complete
Para
10.2
Complete arrangements for the May 2015 30 April 2015
meeting.
Actioner: Secretariat
6
Complete