Scottish Food Enforcement Liaison Committee (SFELC)

The Scottish Food Enforcement Liaison Committee (SFELC) supports the work of FSS by providing information and expert advice in relation to food law enforcement. SFELC contributes to the development and implementation of Food Standard Scotland (FSS) strategies and policies for fulfilling its core functions in respect of food law and consumer protection.

SFELC helps to co-ordinate food law enforcement activity and provide a forum to share best practice.

The Committee was established to provide an independent recommendation on scientific or technical matters related to regulatory procedures in food law enforcement and or any other issue relevant to the work of the committee in order to improve the effectiveness and consistency of food law enforcement in Scotland. Where appropriate, SFELC may research, develop and publish reports and guidance for the enforcement community to assist in the delivery of consistent enforcement throughout Scotland.

The SFELC Executive is a SFELC Sub-Committee which supports the efficient operation of SFELC oversight of the broad range of topics covered by SFELC Sub-Committees and Working Groups. 

SFELC is composed of representatives from the membership organisations which includes LA staff, representatives of professional groups, FSS, consumer groups, food industry representatives and other government departments.

In order that the strategic objectives of SFELC can be implemented, Sub-Committees and Working Groups provide a supporting structure for the Committee.

Two Sub-Committees provide a supporting structure for SFELC and help to implement strategic objectives. Four Food Liaison Groups focus upon consistency of food law enforcement activities in their geographical areas. Additionally, there are several Working Groups supporting all the above. 

The SFELC Acting Interim Chair is Andrew Morrison. Andrew is the Head of the Enforcement Delivery Branch within FSS. He is an Environmental Health Officer, with over 30 years’ experience across both Local Government and FSS (and its predecessor Food Standards Agency in Scotland (FSAS)). He has been involved with SFELC since 2006, has been a representative on multiple working groups, and was previously the SFELC Chair as well as Chairing the Food safety Sub-Committee.

You can view the structure and working arrangements of SFELC in the flowcharts below:

•    SFELC structure

For more information on SFELC, please refer to the website or if you cannot find what you are looking for contact the SFELC secretariat at SFELC@fss.scot. 

The Scottish Food Enforcement Liaison Committee (SFELC) has initiated surveys, projects and co-ordinate specific investigations to support Food Standards Scotland (FSS), Local Authorities (LA) and other bodies.

The SFELC terms of reference document details how the committee works.

SFELC produces advice and guidance for food safety enforcement staff and food businesses on a number of topics:

• Effective Food Sampling: Guidance for local authorities
• Food Law Enforcement Service Matrix – Secondary Production – Food Safety and Food Standards 
• Food Standards Guide: Butchers
• Implementation of cross-contamination guidance 
• Guidance on Article 5 compliance
• Guidance for Local Authority Enforcement Officers on the Safe Service of Less Than Thoroughly Cooked Beef Burgers
• Guidance for Local Authority Enforcement Officers on the Production of Cheese from Unpasteurised Milk
• Training of Food Enforcement Staff – Training Strategy Guidance 
• Training of Food Enforcement Staff – Guidance for Local Authorities 
• SFELC Food Safety Subcommittee Report: Trigger value for secondary inspections
• Resources Methodology: To calculate the required FTE for delivery of the Food Safety Service Plan (Word Document)
• Resources Methodology: To calculate the required FTE for delivery of the Food Safety Service Plan (Excel)