Local Authority Food Law Enforcement Audit Programme (England): July - December 2005

Monday 27 June 2005

This intercessional 05/06/03 paper sets out the English local authorities (LAs) to be audited by the Agency between July and December 2005 and provides an update on recent LA audit activity.

Audit Programme July-December 2005

Listed at Annex A are 30 LAsto be audited as part of a programme of focused audits looking specifically at their arrangements in relation to:

• the operation of the Home Authority Principle
• advice to business
• food safety and standards promotional activities

The programme is designed to audit the authorities' performance against the requirements in the relevant sections of the Standard in the Framework Agreement on Local Authority Food Law Enforcement. As well as identifying areas where performance can be improved, the audits will also be used to inform Agency policy decision making and to identify and disseminate good practice in relation to these areas of food law enforcement.

In addition to the audits listed in Annex A, follow-up audits of previously audited LAs will also continue during July to December 2005. These follow-up audits, which monitor local authority implementation of audit action plans, will include LAs audited as part of the focused audit programmes on internal monitoring and external review, and LA arrangements for the provision of statistical monitoring data.

Update on recent LA audit activity

The continuing programme of audits of ports where relatively low levels of imported food (products not of animal origin) are entering England is due to be completed by the end of June.

Following on from the completion of the audit programmes focusing on internal monitoring and external review, and LA statistical monitoring arrangements, summary reports of the two programmes have been produced and published on the Agency's website.

Liaison with LAs and LA Organisations

The LAs selected for audit between July-December 2005 have been contacted to arrange a suitable date for the audit to be carried out.

We will also be writing to LACORS, TSI, CIEH, as appropriate, to formally notify them of the local authorities selected.

Liaison with other Government departments

Details of the programme will also be sent to the Audit Commission, Office of Fair Trading, Defra, Cabinet Office, Health & Safety Executive and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Media handling

As previously, the audit programme will be placed on the Agency's website including links to the published audit reports when they are available.

Action

The Board is invited to:

• note the audits scheduled for July-December 2005 (Annex A)