FPC members can benefit from the opportunity to access advice and information from qualified experts on food safety and hygiene regulation, thanks to a Primary Authority Partnership between FPC and South Holland District Council.
The partnership stemmed from collaboration between FPC and the local authority to review and update the FPC guidance to members ‘Stowaways on board vehicles carrying fresh produce into the UK’. However, the scope of the partnership goes beyond the immediate concerns raised by potential contamination of consignments of fresh produce due to stowaways on board vehicles.
Already individual FPC members have benefited from the partnership, in the case of consignments suspected of being contaminated from stowaways on board a vehicle. Professional advice from South Holland District Council supported the case of a member in negotiations with an insurer where the local authority did not have the experience and was not in a position to support the company directly.
The partnership aims to provide a consistent and coordinated approach to the interpretation of relevant food safety and hygiene legislation throughout England. FPC hopes that individual members will take advantage of this service and that the fresh produce industry will benefit from greater consistency in the interpretation of legislation. If you'd like to learn more then check this Q&A on the partnership.