Adhering to the current food transport regulations in the UK is crucial to the distribution of foodstuffs, where products are transported from one place to another, often over long distances.
During this process, food is vulnerable to contamination, spoilage, and other hazards that can compromise its safety and quality, all of which may have an adverse effect on human health. To mitigate these risks, it is essential that businesses operating with consumable goods follow legislative advice closely to the letter as possible.
Key regulations
There are several key regulations that ensure that businesses follow best practices for maintaining food safety throughout the food chain, from the moment the food leaves the producer until it reaches the consumer. As there are too many food transport regulations in the UK to document, here are the 5 core examples.
Regulation (EC) 852/2004
Regulation (EC) 852/2004 sets out general hygiene requirements for food businesses, including those involved in food haulage. It requires these operations to implement a food safety management system based on the principles of HACCP and to uphold hygienic practices across their premises, equipment and storage.
The Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013
The Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013 is specific to England and requires local authorities to inspect food businesses regularly and provide ratings based on their compliance with food safety standards. It considers a number of EU provisions regarding food hygiene during the production, processing and distribution of foods.
British Retail Consortium Global Standards (BRCGS)
The BRCGS certification is a voluntary industry standard that outlines safety and quality requirements for the transportation of sensitive products such as temperature-controlled goods. It is audited by an independent third-party certification body and is currently on issue 4.
Dairy Transport Assurance Scheme (DTAS)
The Dairy Transport Assurance Scheme is another voluntary industry standard, but this one is specific to the dairy industry. This accreditation allows businesses the peace of mind that their distributor is meeting the highest standards and transporting the highest quality products to their end destination.
Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP)
HACCP is a food safety management system that is based on the general principles of hazard analysis, identifying critical control points, establishing critical limits, monitoring procedures, corrective actions, and record-keeping. It is a key requirement under Regulation (EC) 852/2004 and is also required by many other food safety regulations.
How are these food safety and transport regulations enforced?
Inspection visits
Food safety during transportation and storage is enforced by means of inspection visits carried out by local authorities. These visits are usually unannounced, taking place during the business hours of the company. The regulatory body has the authority to inspect a business at any point along the food production and distribution process.
Inspection frequency
The frequency of inspections carried out will vary depending on two main factors: namely, the food transport regulations in question and the risk associated with the specific enterprise. For more complex operations that may require temperature-controlled logistics, more frequent inspections may be necessary.
Likewise, if a business has failed to meet the standards required by the regulatory body, e.g. the Food Standards Agency (FSA), or has slipped down the rankings, a follow-up inspection will be carried out at shorter notice.
In general, businesses are expected to be routinely inspected at least every 6 months with a poorer record and those with a positive previous record at a much lower rate.
Typical enforcement action
Authorised officials have the power to take enforcement action in order to protect the public from health and safety risks. This may entail:
- Seizing foodstuffs suspected of contamination or being unfit for human consumption
- Sending the distributor a letter after the inspection, detailing compliance issues and problem areas that require improvement
- Serving legal notices that a business must abide by, e.g., forbidding the use of certain processes, premises or equipment
- In the most serious circumstances, recommending prosecution.
Who is covered?
The food safety and transport regulations mentioned thus far cover a broad range of food businesses along the supply chain. This includes:
- Manufacturing and processing
- Storage companies
- Distributors
- Retailers
This means that if you are working with food or ingestible goods in any capacity – raw materials, ingredients, finished products – you are liable to the food transport regulations enforced in the UK.
Common problem areas
There are a number of problem areas that frequently crop up during inspection visits and these should be monitored stringently.
- Inadequate hygiene practices
- Insufficient temperature control
- Poor record-keeping
- Lack of or outdated staff training
As raised earlier, distributors who handle foodstuffs and ingestible pharmaceuticals must strive for and implement vigorous food safety during transportation by maintaining robust systems based upon the HACCP principles. With this safety net in place, the haulage company can address these problems as and when they occur, resolving them swiftly and efficiently.
Requirements for maintaining excellent food safety and transportation standards
A distributor fully committed to meeting the requirements of the key food transport regulations will invest in up-to-date training for both senior management and junior employees, allowing for continual growth and improvement.
They will also work to ensure that site standards are up to scratch and particularly in areas where food is prepared, stored and transported. For example, food-grade tankers will be used to transport liquid food products and will be subject to thorough and frequent cleaning to avoid cross-contamination.
Finally, it is expected that businesses engaged in food haulage will conduct regular risk assessments, updating and reviewing them as per the latest legislation.
Ensure your distribution partner is accredited
At the very least your haulage company should be adhering to the present food transport regulations at work in the UK; however, it is recommended that you work with an accredited distributor with certifications within your field, whether that be dairy haulage or edible oil transport.
To learn more about outsourcing your distribution to the food safety and transportation experts contact the Dennis Distribution team today.