A group within the UK’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) to streamline and improve compliance with food and feed controls will take effect from tomorrow (1 April).

The FSA announced its intention to create the group in July last year and it will coincide with the merger of the agency and the Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) tomorrow.

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The FSA Operations Group is designed to “streamline and improve” the agency’s approach to compliance with official food and feed controls across the UK.

Tim Smith, FSA chief executive, said: “Creation of the FSA Operations Group will improve the effectiveness of the FSA as a regulator, improve public health protection, and build on and strengthen our relationship with our stakeholders. It will also help us to deliver the commitments set out in our Strategic Plan for the next five years.”

The group will have responsibility for delivery of official controls for dairy hygiene, eggs and shellfish through other enforcement agencies including the Department for Food and Rural Affairs Animal Health, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Northern Ireland, and the Scottish Government’s Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate.

Additionally, it will continue to support the work of local authority enforcement of food and feed hygiene and food standards.

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It is hoped the group will provide a more consistent and targeted approach to improvements in public protection of food safety and a reduction in instances of foodborne illness.

All existing regulatory functions undertaken by MHS operational staff in approved meat premises will continue to be undertaken by the same staff in the same way. As the MHS does not operate in Northern Ireland, the equivalent service will continue to be provided by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development on behalf of the Agency.