Delivering Food Safety Through: Initiatives, Partnerships, Information

Food Safety Authority of Ireland annual report 2007 Item Type Report Publisher Food Safety Authority of Ireland Download date 29/09/2021 06:33:57 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10147/69384 Find this and similar works at - http://www.lenus.ie/hse Delivering food safety through: Annual Report initiatives, partnerships, information, training, enforcement and analysis 2007 Year in Review Our Governance Financial Statements 02 Chairman’s Statement 42 Official Agencies with Service 54 Index to the Financial Statements Agreements 04 Chief Executive’s Review 54 Report of the Comptroller 05 Food Safety Control Services 43 Management Structure and Auditor General 09 Inspections and Enforcements 44 Board Members 55 Statement of Responsibilities 14 Direct Enforcement by the Authority of the Authority 46 Staff 17 Food Incidents and Alerts 56 Statement on Internal Financial 48 Scientific Committee Members 18 Audit Activity Control Food Safety Consultative 19 Food Surveillance 50 Statement of Accounting Policies Council Members 57 28 Foodborne Illness Surveillance Statement of Income Industry Forum Members 58 31 Developments in Food Legislation 51 and Expenditure Statement of Board 32 Information and Communications 52 Balance Sheet Members’/Chief Executive’s 59 34 Training Initiatives Interests 60 Cash Flow Statement 36 Engaging with the Food Industry Statement of Scientific Notes to the Financial 38 Partnership Activities 53 61 Committee Members’ Interests Statements 39 Scientific Advice 39 International Participation 40 Corporate Management 41 The Future Contents To the Minister for Health and Children The Board is pleased to submit to the Minister, its ninth annual report and accounts for the twelve-month period ended 31 December 2007, in accordance with Section 25 of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland Act, 1998. Mr Eamonn Ryan Dr John O’Brien Chairman Chief Executive Our mission is to protect consumers’ health and consumers’ interests by ensuring that food consumed, distributed, marketed or produced in the State meets the highest standards of food safety and hygiene. 10 Questions In 2007, the ten most frequently asked questions to our Advice Line were: What should I do if I want to What is required to market a Do I need to have start a food business? food supplement in Ireland? a traceability system page 6 page 17 in place? page 35 What do I need to consider How can I make a complaint when importing food of in relation to food? What is being done to animal origin into Ireland? page 21 reduce the level of salt page 11 in processed food? page 37 What sort of training do I need Do I need to comply with any to work in a food business? legislation when making a page 24 What information must health claim, e.g. ‘helps lower be on a food label? cholesterol’? page 41 page 15 Should the country of origin of beef be listed on a restaurant’s menu? page 28 Year in Review It was a great honour to be appointed Chairman of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland in early 2007. The Authority’s reputation as a sound and successful regulatory agency is well established both nationally and internationally, and offers exciting challenges as the organisation cements its role as a significant influencer in the important national and European food arena. Chairman’s Statement Ireland boasts a world class national food a market were there is a robust and scientific advice to underpin risk safety regulatory structure – it was one of independent food safety regulatory management decisions, risk the first countries in the European Union framework in place. communication and continuing to forge to establish an independent agency nine the Authority as a centre of excellence years ago and is still regarded to this Coming from a business background, in all its outputs. We recognise that while day as the model to emulate. The core and one focused on selling the benefits our overall aim is the protection of premise of our remit is based on being of Ireland abroad through my previous consumers at home and abroad, an independent, science-based body, role with IDA Ireland, it is apparent that achieving this requires a strategy that dedicated to protecting public health the Authority’s sound reputation abroad addresses all of the key influences and consumer interests in the area of is a significant component in Ireland’s on the Irish food safety arena. food safety and hygiene. To achieve this overall high quality image. Our role requires continual raising of standards in safeguarding food produced here Food safety is a shared responsibility for across the food chain in terms of food underpins the integrity of our food export all stakeholders in the food chain: from production and delivery, and ensuring industry – a significant employer and food producers, manufacturers, retailers, that food on sale provides appropriate major contributor to Ireland’s exporting caterers through to consumers. Everyone information for consumers to make success. The Authority’s work also has a key role to play and our role is to informed purchasing choices. supports the ambitions of our important act as an independent voice to ensure tourism sector which is now the largest that this responsibility is clearly Enhancing food safety and hygiene indigenous industry here employing some understood. During the year, significant standards has obvious direct benefits 150,000 people. Food is an important progress was made in instilling within for consumers in Ireland, but also for the aspect of Irish culture and an integral the food industry the importance of consumers who enjoy Irish food abroad. part of the ‘Ireland product’ marketed traceability measures, product recall Accordingly, the presence of a food safety in the international tourist markets. capabilities and accurate labelling agency has additional benefits for requirements on foodstuffs. Ireland’s position in the global food In 2007, our work involved an intricate market. Purchasers of Irish exported focus on a number of key areas – these foodstuffs have the reassurance that the include enforcement, engaging with the products they purchase have come from food industry, the provision of sound 2 Food Safety Authority of Ireland Chairman’s Statement Annual Report 2007 Highlights 296 48,597 76 enforcement actions were taken inspections on food businesses were food incidents were managed by under the FSAI Act in 2007. The FSAI carried out in 2007 by environmental the Authority in 2007. The majority Act provides authorised officers with health officers. Of those inspected, of incidents related to chemical the power to serve Improvement there were a total of 19,582 and microbiological hazards. Notices, Improvement Orders, infringements recorded based on In the event of a food incident Closure Orders or Prohibition Orders non-compliance with statutory the Authority prioritises consumer on food businesses, in addition to requirements. health and safety above all else the power to prosecute and other and where necessary, instigates enforcement provisions on specific a product recall or withdrawal. pieces of food legislation. Through the commitment of staff in the The Board would like to thank the Minister The food safety environment is constantly State bodies with whom we work through for Health and Children, Mary Harney T.D., changing and evolving given the service contract agreements – the Health Minister of State, Mary Wallace T.D., and globalised nature of food delivery, Service Executive, the Department of the staff of the Department of Health and changing eating patterns and the impact Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, local Children who all have been supportive of of new food technologies. It places a authorities, the Sea-Fisheries Protection the Authority in its endeavours and weight of responsibility on the Authority Authority, the Marine Institute and the actions in 2007. I pay tribute to my fellow to continue to lead the industry and all National Standards Authority of Ireland – Board members for their commitment and parties involved in the food sector in we have developed a strong, co-ordinated in particular, their contribution to the Ireland in setting the highest goals and and integrated food safety inspection strategic direction of the Authority. standards in the interest of continuing to service. This gives us access to the ensure consumer wellbeing. Everyone’s services of over 2,000 expert and Almost 100 independent scientific participation is crucial to safeguard specialist staff to supervise an ever experts participate in our scientific Ireland’s position as a producer of safe growing number of food operations, advisory structure and are a significant food. The Authority continues to be well now standing at around 45,500. We asset to formulate best thinking and placed as a catalyst to influence and are grateful to all the staff in the official approaches based on science; they are deliver positive change to the ultimate agencies for their professionalism and to be thanked for giving us their time and benefit of consumers at home efforts, together with their ability to expertise on a voluntary basis. I would and abroad. take on the implications of a constantly also like to thank the members of the changing legislative environment and Food Safety Consultative Council for their applying that to the work they do each constructive inputs to our thinking on the and every day. wider aspects of the food safety agenda. Finally, I would like to thank our Chief Executive, Dr John O’Brien and all the staff of the Authority for their work, dedication and enthusiasm. Mr Eamonn Ryan Chairman Chairman’s Statement Food Safety Authority of Ireland 3 Annual Report 2007 Year in Review The Authority’s programme of work in 2007 continued to re-enforce to the food industry its legal responsibility to produce safe food, whilst in tandem harnessing our surveillance and inspection activities to seek to establish the level of compliance required.

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