The first phase of the Government’s Border Target Operating Model (BTOM) finally started to come into effect on 31 January. Uncertainties and concerns over BTOM’s implementation for EU-GB trade were the catalyst for a letter sent to Steve Barclay, EFRA Secretary of State from the SPS Certification Working Group. In the letter the Group, which comprises some 30 trade and professional organisations (representing £100bn of the UK’s food supply, production and distribution chain, enforcers and port health), detailed 16 different concerns, and proposed solutions around four issues: BCPs, groupage, EHCs and Authorised Operator Schemes. Concerns included the lack of details […]

The EU is consulting only until 8 May on proposed changes to L. monocytogenes (Lm) legislation. This would require Lm to be Not Detected (ND) throughout life in 25g if the Competent Authority is not satisfied with a product’s shelf life basis (criterion 1.2b). This criterion applies to ready to eat foods supporting the growth of Lm but currently states ND at the point of last control by the producer. The industry position, substantiated by epidemiological evidence, is that the current law is effective when it is enforced including commercially, that ND is not based on science, will lead to […]