Implementation of food safety management systems in the UK
Developments in international food safety regulation in general and in particular, the UK. Using a survey and case study methodology, the response of food manufacturing enterprises to food safety regulation, and uses statistical techniques to investigate the effects of enterprise size on the drivers for, benefits of, and challenges to compliance. Further, the factors that influence the successful implementation of an integrated food safety management system are also examined. The results show a great deal of both statutory and private regulation that has incentivised enterprises. In response, enterprises have implemented integrated food safety management systems to proactively deal with the risks associated with food safety, however, enterprises claim that statutory regulations are biased towards consumers, without adequate impact assessments on all stakeholders within the chain, and hence causing industry to incur significant costs that could otherwise be avoided. Even though compliance with food safety regulation is burdensome, the cost of non-compliance will also be significant to enterprises. The findings also show that there is no significant effect of size of enterprise on the drivers, benefits and challenges to compliance with food safety regulation.
The governance of food safety has evolved significantly in the past two decades. The
evolution has affected the way in which food safety is assured globally. Notable trends
include: 1) A move towards more stringent approaches to food safety. 2) A requirement to justify food safety regulations. 3) A proliferation of standards. 4) Similarities and differences amongst standards. 5) Attempts at harmonising food safety regulations. 6) Tougher requirements for laboratory analysis and third party auditing bodies. 7) An increased role and responsibility for consumers
Public and private regulation of food safety in the UK control and management of food safety in the UK has been realised through partnerships of both the public and private sector. Compliance with food safety regulation has become a ticket for accessing the global food value chain. Further, the impact of these incentives on the enterprise is dependent on their perception of costs and benefits of compliance or non-compliance.
A survey methodology was complemented with case studies. The study was interested in the institutional arrangements that have impacted on the current state of food safety and the response of food manufacturers to food safety regulation in the UK Food and Drinks manufacturing sector. Methodologies include: 1. Data collection 2. Research instrument
3. Sample for survey 4. Case studies 5. Analysis.
From the research of the empirical survey of the UK Food and Drinks sector. The enterprises that responded to the survey had an integrated food safety management system (FSMS) in place. The BRC global food safety standard turned out to be the most popular amongst the different standards implemented by UK food enterprises. Even though ISO 22000 has been introduced for approximately five years now, the standard and the IFS were less popular with UK enterprises. The enterprises claimed that they were driven by difference motivations for compliance. The enterprises perceived benefits of complying with food safety requirements in the UK Food and Drinks sector. Therefore, Developing, implementing and continually improving food safety management systems require the effort of all employees in an enterprise to be effective and efficient to develop their food safety management systems in-house.
The study reveals a great deal of regulatory interventions by government and the private sector, which were enacted to increase transparency, traceability, consumer confidence in food safety, and protect consumer health and safety. Enterprises have responded to stringent regulations by complying with international food safety standards, through process-based, integrated food safety management approaches and getting audited by third party auditing institutions, while still using performance-based approaches to verify specific levels of certain food safety hazards. Enterprises claimed improvements in operating procedures, which is reflected in their responsiveness to internal food safety issues; a friendlier, trust worthy culture has been created and transparency is increasingly being fostered, through the use of multifunctional teams. Comparing the factors that motivated SMEs to factors that motivated large enterprises revealed two top factors common to both groups (product safety improvements, customer requirement).
However, they are biased towards microbiology, which is sometimes not beneficial for all, and hence, an improved, more targeted training, specific to sub-sectors would be more appropriate. For enterprises that decide to develop and implement the system in-house, management must ensure that employees involved in the process have the requisite competences and skill sets, to enhance morale, which will in turn increase the chances of success of implementation.
In conclusion, food safety has become a sensitive and global issue; from recent developments in the global food industry, there is no way around it without suffering the consequences of noncompliance, regardless of whether both industrial or economic benefits are realised by enterprises or not. Even in the face of significant challenges to enterprises and the reservations of some enterprises about the regulatory process and the role of regulation in ensuring food safety, statutory regulation enhances compliance of enterprises with food safety requirements. Consumer safety is paramount when it comes to food safety regulation; however, regulators need to conduct due assessments of food safety risks on consumers, and the cost implications of enforcement strategies on industry, to mitigate costs incurred by industry, without compromising consumer safety.