Recall / Withdrawal Procedures in the UK

1. Recall / Withdrawal Procedures in the UK Elizabeth McNulty Head of Incident Response Food Standards Agency

2. Incident Definition ‘Any event where, based on the information available, there are concerns about actual or suspected threats to the safety or quality of food that could require intervention to protect consumers’ interests’

3. How does the FSA manage Incidents? • Set procedures – Incident Response Protocol • Notification • Risk Assessment • Risk Management • Risk Communication

4. Basis for notification Article 19 of EC Regulation 178/2002, in UK General Food Regulations 2004 Placesresponsibility on food business operator (importer, producer, processor , manufacturer or distributor) – if they have reason to believe food not in compliance with food safety requirements to immediately withdraw food, toinform competentauthoritiesand if necessary to effectively and accurately inform consumers of the reasons for the recall.

5. 3 KEY STAGES • Risk Assessment – undertaken by relevant policy group on the instruction of NCP and team. • Risk Management-Decision on the actions that need to be taken reflecting the risk assessment • Risk Communication– How we make stakeholders aware of the issue

6. Risk assessmentto consider • Nature of contaminant? • What/who is affected? • What is the estimate of exposure? • Can risk be quantified? • Media/press interest? • Political factors? • Public interest and perceptions? • Do you have enough resources to handle the incident?

7. Risk Classification • Agency matrix – High/Medium/Low • Resource allocation • Severity • Health Effects • Consumers affected • Risk assessment • Perceived risk • Potential media interest • Complexity • Number of reports • Number of products/locations • Number of Agencies involved • Traceability

8. Risk management Options • Withdraw/recall • Restrictions • Increased sampling/monitoring • Advice to consumers • Prevent imports • Take no action

9. Product Recall / Withdrawal Information Notice (RIN / WIN) • Product(s) withdrawn or recalled • Risk assessment • Action taken by retailer/manufacturer • Copies of any press/POS notices

10. Food Alert For Action(FAFA) • Risk assessment • Product details • Applicable legislation • Distribution details (if available) • Action to be taken

11. Allergy Alerts • Launched March 2007 • Targeted to ‘at risk’ consumers • SMS text & e-mail alert systems • FBO informs Allergy Support Organisations • Information circulated to local authorities via dedicated mailboxes

12. What Information do we Require • Product • Precise problem • Description-Size, Date Code, Lot Code Photograph of product if possible • The amount produced and when • The amount distributed and recovered

13. What Information Do We Require • Where it has been sold • What action the company have taken so far • Who supplied product or affected ingredient • When did company receive affected product. • Any other relevant information

14. Issuing a ‘RIN’ or ‘WIN’ • Information is put into a draft notice. • Draft notice circulated internally to policy, legal and communications colleagues for comment. • Final draft sent to FBO to comment on factual accuracy. • Draft signed and cleared by Incident Unit Manager. • Notice placed on FSA public website and sent to all Local Authorities

15. Issuing a FAFA • If we feel that an FBO is not meeting the requirements of Article 19 of EC Regulation 178/2002 we will issue a FAFA • The FAFA will direct our Local Authority enforcement officers to remove products from sale. • We will also publish the details of the affected product on our public website www.food.gov.uk • Follows the same drafting and issuing process as RINs and WINs

16. Thank you for your attention Liz McNulty Head of Incident Response Food Standards Agency liz.mcnulty@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk