Restrictions on travel over the last twelve months have led to meetings, conferences and presentations on virtual platforms becoming the norm. In November CFA Director Karin Goodburn presented at the Food Focus South Africa Food Safety Summit. The conference attracted over 800 participants and Karin joined international high profile colleagues including Bill Marler (MarlerClark), Richard Swannell (WRAP), and Prof Lucia Anelich. Issues covered included emerging pathogens, biocides and antimicrobial resistance. In February, Karin opened the National Biofilms Innovation Centre webinar on Microbes and Biofilms in the Food Industry with a presentation on Food Hygiene Biocides – Regulation and Reality and […]

Given that the vast majority of foods represented by CFA comprise ingredients from animal origin (e.g. meat, dairy, fish) and plant materials, they are categorised as Composite Products in international trade, requiring Export Health Certificates (EHCs) signed off by Official Veterinarians (OVs). Last autumn, CFA secured a member’s involvement in live trials of exporting a composite food, which confirmed critical issues previously highlighted by CFA to Defra. With the end of the Transition Period at 2301h on 31 December 2020 came the introduction of extensive Third Country veterinary certification requirements for export of foods containing animal origin ingredients, from Great […]

CFA has developed this checklist with the British Veterinary Association to assist food businesses in ensuring that Certifying Officers (Official Vets) have appropriate professional status, required specific training and adequate insurance cover for their food certification work for export, e.g. EHCs. Links are included to supporting information on specific Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, APHA and Improve-OV requirements.   29 January 2021