One of the central ideas in official food controls today is that
controls are based on risk. Risk-based
official controls are thought to result in, among others, increased
effectiveness and equality . Controls should also be based on documented procedures such
as control plans to ensure a high quality. In Finland,
the environmental health and food control units shall compile risk based
food control plans, which include for example the contents
and frequency of controls . In addition, food control officials often draft more
detailed inspection plans for the specific food premises they are
responsible for controlling. The units shall compile and implement
quality systems for their controls in order to provide operative staff
information and instructions about issues such as their tasks, responsibilities
and duties, their work objectives, control methods
and techniques and the actions taken following controls . The quality and efficacy of inspections can
be further increased by providing operative staff with the specific
tools used during inspections, such as checklists for inspections and
templates for inspection reports.