Members Resources

Articles listed are available to Members of Food Solutions.

CONTENTS

Country of Origin Labelling

• Country of Origin Labelling (COOL) - Arguments for and against the proposal
• Beef up your Menu with Origin Labelling - Scotland is famous for its beef and consumers will often actively seek out Scotch Beef in the knowledge that it will deliver in terms of taste and eating quality.
• COOL- New UK Bill proposed to tighten up EU legislation (2009)

Dear Jane

• Dear Jane 1
  • Contracts of employment
  • SSSP
  • Employee holidays
  • Minimum wage Oct 05

• Dear Jane 2
  • Traffic Light nutrition labelling
  • Chopping Boards
  • 99% right cautionary tale
  • Microbiological criteria regulation
  • American obesity tale
  • Beef on the bone

• Dear Jane 3
  • Regional names
  • Natural
  • EHO power increase?
  • What are we eating in Britain?
  • Home Authority
  • Beef and age of beasts

• Dear Jane 4
  • Smoking in public places
  • Maternity leave
  • Egg update

• Dear Jane 5
  • Eastern bloc workers registration
  • Age discrimination
  • Food firm fined
  • B and B farms and eggs

• Dear Jane 6
  • Employment roundup 2006

• Dear Jane 7
  • Employment update 2007

• Dear Jane 8
  • Employment notes
  • Climate change and your business

• Dear Jane 9
  • Selling quails eggs
  • Employment round up 2008

• Dear Jane 10
  • Absenteeism
  • Holidays
  • Young workers

• Dear Jane 11
  • New Apprenticeship Bill
  • Employment law
  • Recruiting outside the EU

• Dear Jane 12
  • holiday increase
  • retirement procedures
  • employee transfers
  • bonuses

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Employment

• Age Discrimination Act
• Eastern Bloc worker registration
• New qualification on the way

EU Legislation

• EU Food Law - the basic rules are in EC Regulation 178/2002. They came into force on Jan 1 2005. Most of the other regulations came in on 1 January 2006. This folder enables you to locate specific regulations quickly and efficiently. There are direct links to all the major regulations and official notes for guidance.

Europe through the crystal ball

• Animal By-Products - Animal By-Product Regulation 1774/2002 came into force on 1 May 2003. It applies to all businesses except retailers. It defines three categories of animal waste.
• Animal Feed Labelling - Details of EC Working Group on Feed Labelling
• Commission Aims - Consumer Protection and how this is achieved
• Focus on Europe - Legislation roundup. GM labelling concerns. Proposals for new labelling regulation.
• Health and Nutrition Claims - An article by Noel Griffin from the Food Standards Agency, outlining the draft EU Regulation on Nutrition and Health Claims. The reaction from MEP's has been, to say the least, unusually forceful.
• Obesity - UEAPME position paper on diet, physical activity and health.
• New labelling rules - Proposal for new labelling rules to be produced by mid 2007. Business and consumer organisations are concerned.
• Your voice in Europe - Food Solutions through UEAPME has the ear of Brussels lawmakers Autumn 08
• FS in Europe - representing you. Groceries Supply code of practice draft.

Fire Regulations

• Fire Risk Assessment - information about the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order (FSO).
• Selecting a competent Fire Risk Assessor - an article by a representative of theIFE Fire Risk Assessors' and Auditors' Register Professional Review Panel.

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Food Regulations - HACCP

• Cross contamination - food poisoning and its causes, preventing contamination and the importance of personal hygiene.Win-08
• Food Safety Checklist - The checklist might assist in highlighting things to consider when reviewing good practice and food safety management arrangements at your premises. Dec-05
• Food Safety Checklist 2007 - An aide-memoire to many of the things you have to do when reviewing the management of your business. Mar-07
• Fighting Pathogens - An article by Kaarin Goodburn. Effectively controlling pathogens is the foundation of food safety.
• HACCP exemption - webpage rundown of HACCP exemption proposal so far - review due in 2009
• HACCP exemption - simplification of the rules proposed to exempt certain small food businesses from HACCP requirements.Win-08
• HACCP exemption latest - update on the proposal. Spring-08
• HACCP law - webpage _ what the law says about HACCP - risks and hazards
• HACCP Explained - The European Commission has recently issued draft guidance on the implementation of HACCP for small businesses.
• A Risky Business - Four steps to risk assessment to identify the hazards by Richard Woods. Mar-07
• Managing Risk - how a risk becomes an hazard and how to control it. Mar-07
• Moulds - exploring moulds, their characteristics and the risks they pose to food safety.Win-08
• Risk Assessment - anyone involved with food must carry out Risk Assessments.
• Risk Assessment - what it is and how to do a basic assessment. Mar-07
• EC Official Guidance - This document is in two parts. The first part defines the full HACCP system. The second part explains what parts of the system need to be done by small businesses.
• Simplification of the regulation - Proposal of HACCP exemption to small business.
• Who owns and is responsible for a HACCP system? - One of the objectives of Food Solutions is to clarify the meaning and interpretation of food Regulations. A key requirement of EU Food Hygiene Regulations is to have in place procedures based on the HACCP principles.

Food Regulations - Allergens

• Allergens for food handlers - Simple guidance
• Allergens: Guidance notes for pre-packed food -Regulations exist that you must declare any allergens in the ingredient list. This guidance covers the chance inclusion.
• Being Allergen Aware - An article by Richard Wood
• Allergen Labelling - The law on allergen labelling came into force on 25th November 2005. This demands that any allergenic foods included deliberately in food must be declared on the label. It is for pre-packed foods only.
• Food allergies - research and what allergy sufferers can expect from you.
• Food allergies and allergens - webpage - your duties.

Food Regulations - Eggs

• Understanding Egg Marking Regulations - This article explains the codes that are stamped on the egg shell. Could be a used as a poster next to egg sales point to inform customers. Could also be used as an aid to staff.
• Labelling and storage of Eggs - This article clarifies the labelling and storage of eggs.
• Egg Marking Regulations - Egg marking regulations changed on 1 July 2005, all un-graded eggs sold by a producer to the consumer at a local public market - including farmers' markets - have now to bear a stamp to indicate the producer distinguishing number, which includes origin.
• The Lion Quality Mark - The lion Quality mark on eggshells and egg boxes means that the eggs have been produced to the highest standards of food safety in the world. This article gives information about the quality mark.
• Bed and Breakfast Farms and Eggs - Following a query about the use of home produced eggs by farmers who do Bed and Breakfast we put the matter to the Food Standards Agency. This article has their response.

Food regulations - Labelling

• Beef labelling - special rules.
• Understanding the label - Labelling is an area currently under review. The subject can be complex and the laws are changing. Essentially, in order to protect the consumer, labels and any literature should be informative and must not mislead by word or implication.
• Dates on Labels - It is a legal requirement that a durability date should be put on all prepacked foods.
• Labeling - webpage, getting labels right, dates, eggs, allergens
• Front of pack labelling - Research on consumer preferences - the simpler the better.Win-08
• New Health and Nutrition Claims Regulation - Details of permitted claims.
• Labelling confusion - Nutrition labelling, 100g or normal portion size?
• UEAPME position paper - UEAPME respnse to draft labelling regulation Jan 2008
• Draft labelling regulation - Full text of draft proposal on the provision of food information to consumers Jan 2008
• Fresh, pure, natural guidance - FSA guidance on the use of these terms on food labels 2009
• Draft labeling regulation update - Latest information on the labeling regulation Autumn 08

Food Regulations -Traceability

• Traceability - The regulations explained in detail.
• EC Guidance - Link to EC Guidance on the Traceability Regulation. It explains what you have to do, what records to keep and what to do with unfit product.
• Traceability again - resume of what the regulations mean - what records you must keep and for how long.

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Food Solutions Guidance Notes

Food Solutions produces Guidance Notes on specific subjects. These highlight key issues and also direct the subscriber to sources of further help and assistance.
Contents:

• The use of chopping boards
• Bed and Breakfast Establishments
• Egg Storage
• Who needs to comply?
• Lion branded eggs
• Dates on labels
• Who is responsible for HACCP?
• What is risk assessment?
• Risk assessment - a practical example

Gas Regulations

• Gas Regulations - Gas Regulations and your responsibility.

General Food Regulations

• Consumer protection - FSA and regulation enforcement.
• Your business and the Law; a Summary - Somewhere between 95 and 98% of food hygiene law now comes straight from Brussels as regulations. It is almost the same as the old British Food Safety Acts, but it does allow more flexibility for low risk operations. This article summarises the law.
• What do you have to do? - Food is any substance or product, whether processed, partially processed or unprocessed, intended to be, or reasonably expected to be ingested by humans. That includes drink, chewing gum and any substance, including water, intentionally incorporated into the food during its manufacture, preparation or treatment but excludes medicines, tobacco and cosmetics. This article explains what YOU have to do.
• Premises - the regulations that cover what you must have.
• Hygiene Regulation for Premises - This is what the regulation actually says you have to have. The final part shows the demand for training of personnel.
• Environmental Legislation - Some say that the merged Ministries of Environment and Food and Farming present a paradox. It can be difficult to maximise farm production without running a risk of upsetting the environmental balance. So various rules, many coming from the European Commission, define what can and cannot be done and which might change the environment.
• Does everyone have to comply with all food regulations? - Clarification of the rules.
• Approval to Trade - If you are dealing with produce of animal origin, you must be approved before you start trading. This page outlines the regulations.
• New powers for EHO's? - Levy of charges for extra inspections or controls following detection of non-compliance.
• Hygiene Law Enforcement and Your Business - The regulations on 'official controls' changed significantly in January. They lay down the responsibilities of the officials who enforce food law e.g. environmental health practitioners, trading standards officers, meat hygiene service staff and how they must act when they are inspecting your business.
• Macrory recommendations become law - new laws came in on 1st October 2008 giving EHPs new powers to fine and issue various notices to erring businesses Autumn 08

Health and Safety

• Shattered lives - HSE advice for caterers
• Shattered lives - HSE advice for retailers
• Shattered lives - HSE advice on ladders and eLearning for food businesses Autumn 08

Links to key suppliers

Food Solutions introduces you to products and services that might be of use within your business or organisation. Listed by region if applicable. These links are also available under Useful Links in the open section of the website.

Links to official websites

Offers a quick way to find official websites, including:

• Food Standards Agency - The Food Standards Agency have links to all the major regulations together with many safety tips and news items. They are the definitive authority for UK food business.
• Local Authority Coordinating Office on Regulatory Services (LACORS) - LACORS is the Local Authorities Coordinating Office on Regulatory Services. Assists the 467 local authorities in the United Kingdom to improve the quality of trading standards and food enforcement. They have a useful business section, which covers things like licensing laws.
• NORMAPME - Standards for small businesses in Europe
• UEAPME - The organisation that represents small businesses across Europe. See especially the food section under sectorial policies for position papers and potential legislation that could affect SMEs.
• Netregs - website detailing legislation
• Allergen booklets and posters - direct links to the right page on the FSA website

Microwave Ovens

• Microwave Ovens - There is a minority view among caterers that all microwave ovens are the same, the only difference between commercial ovens and domestic ovens being the power and price. This is completely untrue. Jan-07

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Other Subjects

• British Food Supply - safeguarding the supply of food.
• Fats - Fats in your diet, by Penny Brinklow, FSA.
• Food Solutions at the Bank of England - Food Solution's Editor was asked to give a presentation to the Bank of England. The presentation looked at some of the problems faced by small food businesses in the UK
• Macrory Review - Outline of a review of the Food Regulations sanctions available, written by Professor Macrory on behalf of the Cabinet Office.
• SALSA - Safe and Local Supplier Approval. An introduction to the new scheme. Mar-07
• Who's Who in The EU and UK - This article looks at the role of the various agencies in the EU and UK.
• Scores on doors - An update on the scheme.
• Scores on the Doors - April 08 latest information.
• Scores on Doors - Are you ready for the national scheme? Autumn-08
• Scores on Doors - National scheme decided. spring 2009
• Standards - your equipment and its safety and hygiene.
• Vegetarians - Guidance on what is vegetarian.
• Traditional Specialities Guaranteed - EU register recognising speciality foods Autumn 08
• French Cheeses join EU scheme - French products join the EU name protection scheme Autumn 08

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Personal Hygiene

Risks to food from people - webpage

• Sources of contamination - Importance of handwashing - Handwashing versus sanitisers

Red Tape

• Cutting through the red tape - send in your ideas.

Snippets

• Jul-06
  • New regulations
  • Cranberries
  • Salt
  • Camels' milk
  • Acrylamide

• Sep-06
  • Health and nutrition claim FAQs
  • Beef mince regulations
  • Scores on doors
  • Allergens list
  • Definitions in regulations

• Jan-07
  • LBRO
  • Revoked regulations list
  • Chocolate in your diet
  • Donkey milk
  • Reindeer milk

• Mar-07
  • Smoking ban in Europe
  • FSA inspection charges
  • Food giants traffic lights revolt
  • Cabinet Office survey results

• Summer-07
  • New Acts going through Parliament
  • Raw milk cheese
  • Fruit shelf-life extension
  • Smoking ban in England

• Winter-08
  • Acrylamide
  • Additives
  • New shelf-life extending technology
  • Business rates on empty property

• Spring 08
  • Allergen labelling
  • Traffic light labeling adopted in restaurant
  • Biofuels - saviour or demon
  • Smokies - safety investigated by FSA

• Autumn 08
  • GM
  • Salmonella in turkeys survey
  • New preservative against Listeria
  • Performing Rights - do you breach the law?
  • Food and Drink measures

Macrory Review

• Macrory Review - Outline of a review of the Food Regulations sanctions available, written by Professor Macrory on behalf of the Cabinet Office.

Training

• The importance of training - Why you and your staff should have appropriate training.
• Marketing and Selling - There is a wealth of difference between marketing and selling. This article looks at some of the questions you may ask yourself.
• New Training Qualification - Overview of proposed changes to basic food hygiene certificates.
• Training - Getting it right and how Food Solutions can help.

Who's Who

• Officialdom - Describing the powers that be and how they work in Europe and the UK
• CIEH - (Chartered Institute of Environmental Health) the body all EHPs must belong to

© Articles produced by Food Solutions are protected by copyright. They may be used by members of Food Solutions, but cannot be distributed to third parties without prior permission from Food Solutions.

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