5 replies to this topic

[Abdul Jaleel]

Dear All,

Could you please write or let me know your contry having any protocol or system for selecting EHO or Food Inspectors?


Abdul jaleel

[GMO]

In the UK, you have to ask your home authority which is usually a district or city council. They will select an EHO for you.

For an external audit, you normally contact the audit body and they assign an auditor for you.

How you determine which audit body to use is different. I personally prefer SAI Global over LRQA because LRQA auditors I've met tend to be generalists and not product specialists. I believe that specialism is important.

[Abdul Jaleel]

Thank you for your reply.

I heard about the system you have in UK. In fact i am interested to know about the food safety enforcement and inspection system existing in your country.

enforcement officer qualifications/approach/scope of job/ frequency of visit/inspection base/ penalty system/ meritis and demerits of the system.

I would most graetful if you could post some of your thoughts.


I know SAI global 5 years before and i knw Mr. Colin stuart the GM of SAI global. I met with him in bangok during one the conferences.

Regards

AJ

[Marco]

Hello Abdul,

Try the link below:
The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health

Probably the most relevant links to your question are the No.1 and 10.


Regards,
Marco

[Abdul Jaleel]

Dear Marco,

Thank you for the help. I have gone through the site and got a lot of information. This is only one area. Could you please share with me the inspection process in UK and how do they asses the business. The reason i ask this question, in many places this is subjected to the personal preference and discretion, but within the parameters, and subjected to the subject knowledge of the inspector.


Here in UAE i ask this questions to the authority. Out of some number of inspectors some of them are acceptable to the industry, industry accept, others are completely unacceptable. The point here is all of them are carrying the same message of Government and the objectives are the same. But why this is happening. Is it because of lack of guidlines or weak system?

Please post your thoughts.

Best regards

AJ

[Marco]

Hello Abdul,

Here in the UK the assessment of the food business is made against the regulations (i.e. The Food hygiene regulations 2006, The food safety Act 1990, The general food regulation 2004, EU Regulation 852/2004, 853/2004, 178/2002).

I shall attach an ispection report/template as soon as I can find one.

The reason i ask this question, in many places this is subjected to the personal preference and discretion, but within the parameters, and subjected to the subject knowledge of the inspector.

IMO this is something the government should act upon in terms of inspectors training and guidelines.
I cannot tell you if the system in UAE is weak as I do not know it.
From what you write perhaps it just needs to be consolidated and then comunicated or shared better (i.e. training, work shop, simulation) with the inspectors.

IMEX also here there is the "issue" with the personal preference and discretion and subject knowledge of the inspector but in the end if you think they are wrong you can challange them on the basis of the legislation.


Regards,
Marco