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<p>Data for local authority food inspectors on 31 March 2023 for England, Wales and
Northern Ireland can be found in the attached document. Local authorities report their
resources by food hygiene and food standards as there are two separate returns.</p><p>Local
authorities are responsible for enforcing compliance with food safety and standards
legislation for most food businesses. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has statutory
duties to monitor and report on their performance in doing so. It does this by collecting
data from local authorities. The most recent data from October 2023 survey found:</p><p>-
Full Time Equivalent (FTE) allocated by local authorities to deliver food hygiene
work is 1,616 with 1,464 occupied; and</p><p>- The allocated FTE for food standards
is 432 with 384 occupied.</p><p> </p><p>The FSA recently commissioned research to
understand the challenges and opportunities to recruit and retain Local Authority
Officers to deliver Official Food and Feed Controls. A copy of <em>Local Authority
Capacity and Capability: Executive Summary</em> is attached.</p><p>The overall findings
of the research are complex, and the FSA has started to address the areas they have
direct influence over, for example by reviewing the qualifications and competence
requirements for local authority food officers.</p><p>The FSA has started to collaborate
with other government departments and relevant professional bodies to discuss the
findings and work together to shape and influence potential solutions.</p><p>At the
FSA board meeting on 13 December 2023, the board considered a paper on local authority
performance where one of the recommendations is to write to Local Authority Chief
Executives and section.151 Finance Officers to set out their concerns about resourcing
and delivery, and to remind them of the statutory nature of official food controls
when considering and setting the budget allocation for the next financial year. A
copy of the paper is attached.</p>
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