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APHA Newsletter - October Update
Thoughts from the Chair |
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 Summer has passed and autumn is upon us once more; one thing I am looking forward to is our next Executive Board meeting, which is being held in my home town of Belfast at 11.00 AM, on the 18th of October, in the City Hall. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Belfast City Council and particularly Councillor Jeff Dudgeon for making one of the committee room’s available to us and at no charge. Fortunately for me it means not getting up at 5.00 AM to make my way to the International Airport and get the flight to London, as I live less than a mile from City Hall. It will be the turn of the others to rise early to make their way by plane to Belfast.
There has been much talk on the TV news and in the press about Ryanair and the cock upthey have made over pilots holidays. It seems that over the next six weeks, 2000 flights will be cancelled so I hope none of the board members have booked with them! Although I have been assured that our meeting will be quorate so thankfully the business of the Association will not be affected. It only seems like a couple of months ago that we had our last AGM in London? How time flies because it’s coming up fast. The 22nd November is the date for this year’s event; same venue because the Union Jack Club seems to suit most people because its handy to get to. We have a good day planned so I would urge you to book early so you won’t be disappointed I am happy to say that Kate Hoey former government minister and local MP has agreed to open the event and share her views on Brexit and the challenges it poses for the UK.
Finally, I would like to welcome Newry, Mourne & Down District Council as new Corporate members of APHA and encourage them to get involved with the Association's activities. Brexit has potentially dramatic implications for the port health community so there is a greater need than ever for us to pull together so I would encourage all Port Health Authorities to join. I would also like to extend a warm welcome Cllr. Norma Mackie who has just been appointed by Cardiff council as their representative with APHA and look forward to working with her in the future.
All the very best.
Pat McCarthy MBE
Chair |
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| No Deal Brexit Risks Bringing Food Imports to a Halt |
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 It was good to hear John Averns, Port Health and Public Protection Director at the City of London Corporation, appearing on the Today Programme last week. He outlined the threat of checks currently reserved for meat from the rest of the world (third countries) having to be applied to meat coming the EU in order to maintain consumer protection standards. This could potentially result in gridlock.
APHA has advocated that the lack of a suitable trade deal following Brexit could result in the need for food safety checks being applied to food imports from the EU. Port Health Authorities are neither resourced nor equipped to undertake such checks under current arrangements.
There is the potential for major delays if additional checks on imported food are applied at British ports. As John Averns indicated this would come with a cost and that cost would inevitably be passed on to consumers.
Owen Patterson MP (former Conservative Secretary of State for environment, food and rural affairs)was interviewed following the item and it has been argued that he seemed to show a lack of understanding on this very important issue. Known as a Brexiteer, he formed UK2020, a centre right think tank that has developed its own policy for Agriculture, Environment & Fisheries post Brexit. In it they recognise as vital the need for reciprocated free trade arrangements with the EU. However, during the interview, it was clear that he is not a member of the government and he was sticking to the line of UK2020's policy that all will be well if there are reciprocal agreements in place. Of course our concern is, and we should be planning for, what happens if such deals are not in place. Port health officers, like the rest of the EU, just want clarity and maybe it is just too early in the negotiations to expect such clarity.
The Chair of the APHA Executive Board, Pat McCarthy's, view was that it was good that John had raised this issue with the media. The Association share his concerns and have attempted to raise it with Government and will continue to do so. We believe that it is essential that whatever happens after Brexit, food imported from the EU can continue to enter the UK without a glitch.
John Averns appeared on the Today programme, 20th September 2017. The item can be found approximately 1hr 33 min in and just after the 7.30 news here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b093hwcp |
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| APHA NEWS |
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O&S Committee The Overview and Scrutiny Committee met at the Union Jack Club on 2ndAugust 2017. Chaired by Cllr Keith Morley (Hon Associate), the meeting was well attended and included representation by Clifford Smith from Highland Council in Scotland via Skype. The committee undertook their scrutiny role by asking a number of questions in relation to the minutes of the Executive Board meeting and the finances. They also queried whether there would be any consultation with regard to increasing Ships Sanitation Inspection Charges for the next financial year. The minutes can be read here:
2 Aug 17-O&S Minutes-draft
Executive Board The next meeting of the Executive Board will be held at Belfast City Hall on 18th October 2017, commencing at 11.00. APHA would like to thank Cllr. Jeff Dudgeon and Belfast City Council for hosting this meeting, it is very much appreciated.
Scottish PLaN Group The next meeting of the Scottish PLaN Group is scheduled for 2ndNovember 2017 and will be hosted by David Kernohan of the Scottish Government's Population Health Directorate at:
Saughton House,
Broomhouse Dr,
Edinburgh
EH11 3XG.
The meeting is scheduled to start at 10.30 and will be open to both APHA members and non-members. For more information contact John Laird, the Scottish PLaN secreatry at: john.laird@falkirk.gov.uk
Our thanks to David Kernohan for hosting this meeting.
APHA AGM/CPD Event
The next APHA AGM will be held in conjunction with a CPD event on the 22nd November 2017 at the Union Jack Club, Sandall Street, Waterloo, London. It will be open to both members and non-members, and will provide an ideal opportunity to network and gain some valuable CPD. The Rt Hon Kate Hoey MP has kindly agreed to open proceedings and the event will include speakers from the FSA, Public Health England and Seafish Regulatory Authority. It should prove an interesting day. |
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| APHA Handbook 2018/19 |
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| The long awaited next edition of the APHA Handbook has now been drafted. The handbook has been extensively revised and updated to reflect not only changes in contact details but also in legislation. The information and references will be extremely useful to anyone involved with port health. The copy is now with the publishers and publication is expected in good time so that it can be launched at the APHA AGM/CPD event in November. Our thanks are extended to all those who contributed to updating the content. |
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OTHER NEWS
Legionnaires Disease in Europe. |
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A report looking at the prevalence of Legionnaires' disease in Europe between 2011 and 2015 has been published by Eurosurveillance. See: Eurosurveillance, Volume 22, Issue 27, 06 July 2017
Carried out under the coordination of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), the European Legionnaires’ Disease Surveillance Network (ELDSNet) conducts surveillance of Legionnaires’ disease (LD) in Europe. Between 2011 and 2015, 29 countries reported 30,532 cases to ECDC (28,188 (92.3%) confirmed and 2,344 (7.7%) probable). It is interesting that four countries (France, Germany, Italy and Spain) accounted for 70.3% of all reported cases, although their combined populations represented only 49.9% of the study population. Demographics and infection setting remained unchanged with ca 70% of cases being community-acquired and 80% occurring in people aged 50 years and older. Clinical outcome was known for 23,164 cases, of whom 2,161 (9.3%) died. The overall case fatality ratio decreased steadily from 10.5% in 2011 to 8.1% in 2015, probably reflecting improved reporting.
The report concludes that the burden of LD appears to be growing in Europe and at least 450 people still die of the disease each year in the EU/EEA. The epidemiology is very similar to that observed in the United States, with a comparable notification rate and similar settings of infection. In countries with persistently low notification rates, ad hoc studies should identify reasons for this. They recommend that all countries should endeavour to develop and maintain appropriate control measures in man-made water systems to prevent LD cases. |
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 Change is coming to the CIEH Network |
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Colleagues may like to know that following a review, proposal have been drawn up to restructure the CIEH Network. The main proposals are as follows:
Regional Hubs: Amalgamating the 2 tier Regions and Branch structure into a single tier of 21 - 22 Regional Hubs. The final number has yet to be determined but a key factor will be keeping existing local alliances together.
Communities: The formation of Communities that will be based on the main technical areas of environmental health e.g.
Port Health
Housing
Health and Safety
Food
Environmental Protection
Members will be allowed to join as many communities as they would like with the aim of using the Community structure to target members with pertinent communication.
It is proposed that as part of this re-organisation, the current Management Board structure will go and be replaced by a Lead Co-ordinator, a Co-ordinating Ambassador and supporting volunteers. It is also proposed that it will become an all volunteer network.
As part of this re-organisation, the Special Interest Groups (SIGS) will be stood down, with the functions that they deliver being taken up, in the main and on a more local basis, by the Regional Hubs. The plan is for the functions of the Port Health SIG to continue as one of the Communities. It is also planned that the Assembly Representatives will be stood down in December 2017.
It is understood that the main aim of these changes is not to change what is being delivered, just how it is being delivered; making the Network more relevant, representative and responsive. This will include making the whole process less bureaucratic with removing the requirement for business plans and lengthy agendas.
The implementation plan is as follows:
20 September 2017 - Network meeting: The proposals were discussed and subject to a robust debate at a meeting of the Chairs, Secretaries and assembly Representatives.
28 September 2017 - Collation of feedback to update the Board of Trustees.
5 October 2017 - Update the Membership and Professional Advisory Group
28 September to 30 October 2017 - Network and wider membership consultation on the proposal implementation.
23 November 2017 - Collation of feedback to finalise implementation plan for Board of Trustees agreement.
2018:- Phased transition and implementation.
The Port Health SIG was well represented by members of the Management Board at the Network meeting on 20 September 2017; with several constructive points being made. The Board were keen to confirm that the changes would not result in a reduction of service delivery to the Port Health Community nor a significant change to the successful way the SIG operates . There was a suggestion that, as a national group, a Port Health Hub would be more appropriate but it was clear that the hubs are to be locality based so other potential options are being considered.
The membership will have the opportunity to express their view as part of the wider consultation planned for October. |
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FSA
Report to the European Commission on on Progress in 2016 Towards Implementation of the UK Multi-Annual National Control Plan |
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The 2016 annual report on implementation of the Multi-Annual National Control Plan 2013 – 2018 (UK MANCP) has been published. The multi government agency/department report has been to satisfy a requirement of Regulation (EC) No 882/2004.
The purpose of the report is to inform the European Commission of progress towards achieving the objectives of the UK MANCP. It summarises the results of the official controls and associated activities undertaken by the competent authorities and associated bodies, and outlines the findings of audits undertaken to assess the performance of the competent authorities. The report will be used by the Commission to plan audits of control arrangements in the UK. This report, together with those of the other Member States, will contribute to a report from the Commission to the Council and European Parliament on the overall operation of official controls across the European Community.
The report may be downloaded at: https://www.food.gov.uk/news-updates/news/2017/16505/2016-annual-report-on-uk-multi-annual-national-control-plan-published |
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| Visit by US Food & Drugs Administration |
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The FSA have advised that The United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) will be undertaking an assessment of compliance against US requirements of, as yet unspecified, UK food exporters. During this round of inspection visits, they intend to concentrate on manufacturers of grain/bakery/pasta/cereal/snack products for export to the USA.
The FSA will inform the relevant local authorities once the USFDA have advised which establishments are to be inspected. It should be noted that the USFDA regard these inspections as an arrangement between themselves and the businesses concerned and they notify those businesses directly. They are, however, keen to ensure that the FSA/FSS and local authorities are aware of their activities and are informed about any issues that may arise. Since the FSA do not receive feedback on the inspections from the USFDA, they will ask the relevant local authority to liaise with the company to enable local authority representation during the visit, if not in its entirety, then at least for the closing feedback meeting at the end of the inspection. They will provide a pro forma feedback template for completion and return to the FSA.
These visits are required by the USA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) which was signed into law on January 4, 2011 and mandates the USFDA to significantly increase the number of routine (“surveillance”) foreign inspections they conduct of firms that export food to the United States. The USFDA has explained that these “inspections are meant to cast a wide, global food safety net focused on prevention and enhancing consumer protection, by emphasizing identification of potential food safety problems before the products reach their final destination point in the United States and are consumed.”
Further information on the USFDA’s Foreign Food Inspection Program can be found at:
https://www.fda.gov/Food/ComplianceEnforcement/Inspections/ucm196386.htm
For more information on the USFDA, please visit:
https://www.fda.gov/ |
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| Defra |
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 The Animal and Plant Health Agency have announced the publication of the latest edition of the Border Inspection Post (BIP) manual:
http://ahvla.defra.gov.uk/documents/bip/manual/bip-manual.pdf
The manual provides guidance on veterinary checks on animal products carried out at Border Inspections Posts to protect animal and public health within the European Union. Veterinary checks must be carried out in accordance with the requirements of EU and National legislation. Enforcement authorities should ensure that checks are compliant with the legislation and instructions in the BIP manual as well as verify their effectiveness.
Legislation concerning checks on animal products coming from third countries covers both EU and national rules applicable at BIPs. It is stressed that the manual is intended as a guide only and specific provisions should be checked in the relevant legislation which can be found in the Compendium of Veterinary Checks:
http://ahvla.defra.gov.uk/official-vets/Guidance/bip/compendium.htm
Following the Defra consultation on the proposed banning of the landing of egg-bearing lobsters and crawfish in England, the Government has decided to proceed with the ban. See:
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/banning-the-landing-of-egg-bearing-lobsters-and-crawfish-in-england |
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 EU SHIPSAN ACT |
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Issue 25 of the SHIPSAN newsletter has been published and includes articles on:
- The new Joint Action on preparedness and action at points of entry (air, maritime and ground crossing).
- A detailed article from Martin Walker (Suffolk Coastal PHA)about the Ballast Water Convention which came into force on the 8th September 2017.
- A review of the changes in EU regulations regarding radiation contaminated goods imported to EU member states from Japan by Alison Jones. These regulations were introduced following the earthquake and tsunami off the east coast of Japan on 11 March 2011, when parts of the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant were severely damaged. It resulted in the release of significant quantities of radioactivity into the environment. Of significance with regards to Japan’s exported produce, was the large amount of radioactivity that was released to the air and deposited onto land resulting in the contamination of crops being grown across Japan.
The newsletter can be found here:
http://www.shipsan.eu/Home/NewsandEvents/TabId/116/ArtMID/527/ArticleID/101/EU-SHIPSAN-ACT-JA---Newsletter-Issue-25.aspx |
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