Agency to audit Conwy County Council's food law enforcement activities

Wednesday 14 April 2004

Ref: WA 06 /O4CK

The Food Standards Agency Wales is to undertake an audit of the food law enforcement activities of Conwy County Council. The audit, which will begin on 27 April 2004, will allow the Agency to compare the performance of the authority against a UK-wide standard.

Local authority audits are carried out as part of the Framework Agreement on local authority food law enforcement, which came into effect on 1 April 2001. Local authorities are audited against the Framework Agreement 'Standard', which sets out the full range of their food law enforcement activity.

The audits look at how local authority officers carry out their UK food law enforcement responsibilities. This gives the Agency an overview of the measures put in place by the local authority to protect local consumers and an opportunity to suggest what, if any, improvements are needed.

The findings of the Conwy County Council's audit will be assessed and once the report is complete, details of the authority’s performance will be made public.

Steve Wearne, Director of FSA Wales, said: 'The Food Standards Agency has a key role in overseeing local authority enforcement activity. Local food law enforcers are the first line of defence for the public, ensuring the safety and standard of our food. It is our job in the Agency, in partnership with local authorities, to set a standard and these audit programmes will tell us if this is being met.'

He concluded: 'The programme helps us to understand better how local authorities operate across Wales, and will enable us to highlight and share best practice with other authorities. The audits will also allow the Agency to identify and address areas of concern, and give us information on whether appropriate resources are being directed at this important function.'