Regulatory Services

Environmental Health

FOOD SAFETY - SAMPLING POLICY/PROCEDURES

All informal samples are taken in accordance with the sampling programme as defined in the following section. Products are obtained from a variety of premises to spread the purchases over a range of manufacturers/processors but concentrating on those situated within East Ayrshire.

Samples taken as part of a surveillance programme are taken in accordance with the agreed protocol.

The sampling officer ensures that the sample is of sufficient quantity to allow all appropriate parameters to be checked. From the time of purchase until being picked up, samples are treated so as to minimise as much as possible any change to their condition, and to maintain the continuity of evidence.

Where possible, samples are purchased on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday mornings and are bagged, labelled and ready for collection by the laboratory driver by 12 noon that same day. Where this is not possible, samples are stored in a refrigerator/freezer as appropriate until collected. Only in exceptional circumstances are samples taken to the laboratory by officers of this Council.

All samples are analysed or examined as appropriate by Glasgow Scientific Services which is accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS). UKAS currently assess laboratories against the European standard EN 45000 series and award accreditation on that basis. Glasgow Scientific Services are therefore currently accredited to this standard.

Food Chemical Analysis

The laboratory has been accredited for food law enforcement analysis since 1994. The list of accredited determinations within their Schedule of Accreditation increases on a programmed basis each year. They are accredited for more determinations than are contained within the publication NIS42. which sets out the minimum accreditation schedule necessary for EC Official recognition.

The laboratory has been registered at the EC Commission as an EC officially recognised laboratory for chemical analysis of food under EC 93/99/EEC on the subject of additional measures concerning official control of foodstuffs (commonly known as the Additional Measures Directive) since this became necessary in November 1998. The FSA register laboratories.

The laboratory also has three Public Analysts who hold membership of the Mastership of Chemical Analysis as required by the Food Safety (Sampling and Analysis) Regulations 1990.

Microbiological Examination of Food

The laboratory has been accredited for the microbiological examination of foods since 1994. The list of accredited determinations within their Schedule of Accreditation increases on a programmed basis each year. They are accredited for more determinations than are contained within the publication NIS42. which sets out the minimum accreditation schedule necessary for EC Official recognition.

The laboratory has been registered at the EC Commission as an EC officially recognised laboratory for microbiological examinations of food under EC 93/99/EEC on the subject of additional measures concerning official control of foodstuffs (commonly known as the Additional Measures Directive) since this became necessary in November 1998.The FSA register laboratories.

The laboratory currently employs six staff members who can use the title Food Examiner through a combination of qualifications and experience as required by the Food Safety (Sampling and Analysis) Regulations 1990.

Details of all samples are entered in the sample register and thereafter in the computer system. The sampling officer gives all samples a unique sample number, determined by reference to the numbering system agreed by the laboratory. Each sample submitted to the Laboratory is accompanied by the appropriate laboratory submission document.

The results when received, are passed to the appropriate officer who is responsible for recording the results and carrying out an evaluation of the results leading to a decision as to what further action is required. The sampling officer advises the person from whom the sample was obtained of the results where appropriate.

This Authority is co-operating with the Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health in the operation of the Scottish Food Surveillance System. This system means that the details of all samples taken are passed to SCIEH who assess the results of samples taken throughout Scotland to determine trends etc., on a wider scale. Information is received from SCIEH as appropriate.