CIEH statement in response to FSA Board Meeting

The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) welcomes the FSA Board's recognition that further work and engagement are required before progressing the National Level Regulation (NLR) proposals. CIEH appreciates the Board’s assurances that these proposals focus on the use of data in enterprise-level regulation, rather than moving toward self-regulation. We acknowledge the value of data in modernising food regulation but believe all viable options on how this is achieved must be explored, with thorough cost-benefit and impact assessments supporting any decisions.

We are pleased that the FSA Board acknowledged the need for more detailed plans, which are expected in December, and recognised the concerns around the late release of the evaluation report. It is essential that the report undergoes a proper assessment to ensure the evaluation was comprehensive and that its findings support a move to enterprise-level regulation.

CIEH also welcomes the FSA Board’s recognition of the crucial role Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) play in maintaining food safety, particularly the importance of onsite inspections. While data analytics can supplement regulatory oversight, it cannot replace the need for physical inspections, and we are encouraged that the Board recognises this.

The FSA Board raised several questions that resonated with our concerns and we welcome the requirement that they be considered in this planning. CIEH will engage fully with the FSA.

While the FSA Board clarified that they are not currently considering or approving a direct regulatory role for the FSA, we are concerned that this possibility has not been ruled out completely. CIEH intends to seek clarification on this and will issue an update in due course.

In the meantime, the FSA has committed to consulting more widely with key stakeholders, and CIEH is keen to engage fully in this process to ensure that our concerns around consumer confidence, public health, regulatory integrity, and impact on the local authority delivery model are understood and addressed.