Food law enforcement monitoring data

Member States of the EU are required under article 14 of the Official Control of Foodstuffs Directive 89/397 (OCD) to send to the European Commission annual returns on official food enforcement activities. The Commission uses this information to ensure that foodstuffs are subjected to appropriate food controls across the EU.

The Food Standards Agency is responsible for collecting returns from all UK food authorities and arranging for the summary data to be submitted to the Commission.

Review of food law enforcement monitoring system
Monitoring form: guidance
Local Authority Enforcement Monitoring System (LAEMS)
Enforcement data 2006/07
Enforcement data 2005/06
Enforcement data 2004/05
Enforcement data 2003
Enforcement data 2002
Enforcement data 2001
Enforcement data 2000
Enforcement data 1999

Review of food law enforcement monitoring system

Working groups and meetings

The review of the food law enforcement monitoring system will be based on a three-part structure: the Performance Strategy Group, the Monitoring System User Group, and a Project Management Board.

Local authority roadshows

The 'roadshows' are a series of meetings held across the UK, to offer local authority colleagues the chance to learn the latest progress on the monitoring system review project, and to raise questions and issues with those involved in the working groups.

Monitoring Matters Newsletter

Newsletter updating local authorities on the review of the food law enforcement monitoring system with information of forthcoming key events.

Register of Issues

As part of the review of the food law enforcement monitoring system, a register showing issues being addressed has been drafted. If you want to add any issues, please email us at la.monitoring@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk.

Proposed changes to local authority enforcement monitoring system 2006

We are seeking your views and comments on proposals to improve the monitoring system used by Local Authorities (LAs) to report on feed and food law enforcement activities to the FSA. This is the second consultation, following the one held in March to May 2005.

Monitoring form: guidance

General guidance on completing monitoring form

General guidance on how to complete both the existing electronic monitoring form and the Microsoft Excel version can be found in the Framework Agreement on Local Authority Food Law Enforcement, the revised Code of Practice for local authorities and correspondence sent to local authorities.

Guidance for electronic monitoring form: interim arrangements for 2007

Guidance for local authorities that are planning to continue to use the existing electronic monitoring form to submit their 2007 food law enforcement monitoring data to the Agency.

Microsoft Excel version of monitoring form and supporting guidance

Local authorities electing to use the Microsoft Excel version of the FSA food law enforcement monitoring form can download a copy to make returns for 2006/2007. Guidance to completing the Excel form is available.

Guidance on validating data

Guidance for local authorities on how to undertake an internal validation of food law enforcement data before submitting monitoring form returns to the Agency.

Aide-memoire for completing food law enforcement returns 2007

An aide-memoire for local authority staff responsible for completing food law enforcement monitoring returns for 2007 is available.

Frequently asked questions

The following document has been compiled and updated based on queries received from local authorties since the launch of the monitoring form.

Local Authority Enforcement Monitoring System (LAEMS)

General information

General specification and overview of the system, with guidance on the delivery process and mapping of local authority activity/product/premises codes to the required Food Standards Agency (FSA) monitoring categories.

Technical guidance

Technical guidance on LAEMS is available, primarily aimed at providers of local authority software.

Definitions of monitoring categories

Definitions of Food Standards Agency (FSA) monitoring categories for LAEMS, including 'premises', 'sampling' and 'enforcement'.

Data summaries

Examples of LAEMS data summaries.

Enforcement data 2006/07

Data by local authority for 2006/07

Tables showing key data for each UK local authority, listed alphabetically by type of authority, i.e. English County Councils, English District Councils and Unitary Authorities.

Summary returns 2006/07

Summary returns for 2006/07 for UK, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Enforcement data 2005/06

Data by local authority for 2005/06

Tables showing key data for each UK local authority, listed alphabetically by type of authority, i.e. English County Councils, English District Councils and Unitary Authorities.

Summary returns 2005/06

Summary returns 2005/06 for UK, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Enforcement data 2004/05

Data by local authority for 2004/05

Tables showing key data for each UK local authority, listed alphabetically by type of authority, i.e. English County Councils, English District Councils and Unitary Authorities.

Summary returns 2004/05

Summary returns 2004/05 for UK, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Enforcement data 2003

Data by local authority for 2003

Tables showing key data for each UK local authority, listed alphabetically by type of authority, i.e. English County Councils, English District Councils and Unitary Authorities.

Summary returns 2003

Summary returns 2003 for UK, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Enforcement data 2002

Summary returns 2002

Due to concerns over the accuracy of the official controls of foodstuffs data reported by local authorities for 2002, it was decided that the data for this year would not be published.