How enforcement works
The Food Standards Agency works with enforcement officers to ensure that food and feed law is applied across the entire food chain.
The responsibilities of all the enforcement authorities in the UK are set out in the Single Integrated National Control Plan for the UK.
The Agency’s interaction with enforcement officers is set out in the Framework Agreement on Local Authority Enforcement. This document gives a structure to the Agency’s supervision of local authority enforcement work.
The Food Law Code of Practice (and the equivalent Feed Law code) sets out the way local authorities should apply food law, and how they should work with food businesses. Practice guidance is also provided as a further help to enforcement officers.
The Agency also provides guidance on specific regulations which are relevant to enforcement officers and food businesses to ensure that the law is clear.
Find out more
National Control Plan for the United Kingdom
The National Control Plan for the United Kingdom details the roles and responsibilities of the different authorities and associated organisations involved in the monitoring of compliance with, and enforcement of, feed and food law, animal health and welfare rules and plant health requirements.
Framework Agreement
The Framework Agreement on Local Authority Enforcement provides the Agency with a mechanism for implementing its powers under the Food Standards Act to influence and oversee local authority enforcement activity.
Food Law Code of Practice
The Code of Practice sets out instructions and criteria that local and port health authorities (food authorities) should comply with when enforcing food law. Food authorities must follow and implement the provisions of the code that apply to them.
Feed Law Code of Practice
The code of practice sets out instructions and criteria to which local authorities – the feed authorities – should have regard when engaged in the enforcement of animal feed law. Feed authorities must follow and implement the provisions of the code that apply to them.