Attendance
- Jamie Knox
- Dr Pepper [JK] Chair
- Annette Sweeney, TUD [AS]
- Dale Crammond, MII, [DC]
- Dave Lang, Craft Butchers of Ireland [DL]
- Janis Morrissey, Irish Heart Foundation [JM]
- Louise Reynolds, INDI [LR]
- Mark Christal, Enterprise Ireland [MC]
- Patrick Farrell, Keelings [PF]
- Paula Barry Walsh, DAFM (retired) [PBW]
Apologies
- Alice McGlynn, Consultant [AMG]
- Catherine Morrison, BIM [CM]
- Conor Mulvihill, DII [CM]
- Deirdre Ryan, Bord Bia [DR]
- Dermott Jewell, CAI [DJ]
- Eamonn Quinn, Kelsius [EQ]
- Jonathan Griffith, IHTA [JG]
- Sorcha Kavanagh, Repak [SK]
- Siobhan Murphy, HSE [SM].
Absent
- Adrian Cummins, RAI [AC]
- Paul McKeown, HPSC [PMK]
- Regina Sexton, UCC [RS].
FSAI staff
- Gail Carroll [GC]
- Gerard Power [GP]
- Jane Ryder [JR]
- Rob Phillips [RP]
- Gillian McNamara [GMN].
Invited guests: (joined the meeting from item 4 on agenda) Kathryn Baker and Una Campbell, Food Standards Agency Northern Ireland.
1. Welcome and Declarations of Interest
GC welcomed JN as the newly selected Chair of the FSCC, after previous Chair Ray Bowe stepped down in December 2023. JN was appointed by the FSAI Board after an application process and JN began his tenure by acknowledging and thanking all the previous hard work of outgoing Chair Ray Bowe.
JN asked attending Council members to provide any feedback relating to the proposed agenda and to declare any potential conflicts of interest within, with none noted. JN reminded all Council members of outstanding Declaration of Interest forms still to be completed and returned to FSAI.
Actions:
- Outstanding Declarations of Interest to be signed and returned to GP.
2. Minutes and actions from previous meeting: 22 March 2024
Minutes from previous meeting agreed with no feedback noted from Council members. GP confirmed all outstanding actions were completed.
GC provided an update on noted action points from the previous meeting:
- The FSCC Governance Framework is currently being revised, with an update to follow at a future meeting.
- The current requirement of Declaration of Interest forms is currently under review and an amended draft will be shared with the Council once finalised by FSAI at a future meeting.
- The successful launch of FSAI’s new Learning Portal on 25 April 2024 was relayed to the Council and an update on the Breakfast Bite webinar held on 15 April 2024 to inform industry and the public was also provided. It was mentioned to Council members that FSAI is currently analysing data on stakeholder uptake since the launch to best inform future potential learning material for the portal.
Actions:
Minutes from 22 March 2023 meeting to be uploaded to the FSAI website.
3. FSAI Strategy 2025-2029
GNM gave a presentation to the Council on work conducted to date on the FSAI Strategy 2025-2029 and further anticipated work ahead of the proposed three-year implementation plan. Updates were provided on certain topics within the plan:
- Development process, including intended goals and objectives
- The three-year plan process in place
- Overview of examples from other public body strategies launched recently
GNM also gave the Council members an overview of the Periodic Critical Review process that the Department of Health is undertaking on the FSAI as part of its governance and oversight role. She noted that FSCC members input would by sought into this.
Actions:
- n/a
4. FSCC topic discussion: Food Hygiene Rating Scheme
GC advised that the FSAI is currently researching the possibility of launching a Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS) in Ireland. This work corresponds with work currently undertaken by the FSAI Scientific Committee but with each having a different focus. GC confirmed that the FSAI are in the process of seeking broad stakeholder input and opinions to inform potential implementation.
RP then gave the Council a presentation of all work completed within the FSAI to date on this topic including:
- Ensuring food safety and legal compliance
- Examples of FHRS from other jurisdictions, including the UK
- Data on consumer trends
- Challenges ahead
- The questions to be addressed by the FSAI Scientific Committee
- Details of the timeline and resulting workplan
RP fielded queries from the Council about the proposed scope of such a scheme being implemented in Ireland.
Following this guest speakers from the Food Standards Agency (FSA) in Northern Ireland gave a very comprehensive presentation on the implementation of a FHRS in their jurisdiction, with Kathryn Baker and Una Campbell discussing some of the following topics in detail:
- Background work and roll out of the FHRS in Northern Ireland
- Safeguards put in place
- Consistency of implementation and operation
- FSA’s role
- The impact of the scheme for food businesses, District Councils, and consumers
- Media and online awareness campaigns
Throughout the presentation Kathryn and Una welcomed discussion and queries from Council members, with detailed discussion taking place around each topic.
GC and JN then provided an overview of the next steps the FSCC will take, with the formation of a FSCC sub-group to be formed over the coming months to begin work on this topic. Council members are requested to inform the FSAI if they wish to participate in this sub-group and an update will be circulated to Council members upon creation of this sub-group.
JN and GC commended and thanked Kathrn Baker and Una Campbell for the work they had done in relation to the FHRS in Northern Ireland and their highly informative contributions to the FSCC discussion at the meeting.
Actions:
- Council members to confirm nomination to FSCC subgroup on FHRS
- GP to provide further update upon creation of sub-group and meetings.
5. FSAI update to FSCC
GC summarised the FSAI Update provided to Council members in advance of the meeting. The Council were updated on the following topics in detail:
- Public advice provided by the FSAI since the previous meeting about cooking duck eggs, precautionary advice on uncooked or raw beans and advise on slush ice drinks for young children
- The conference for Irish food inspectors to be held on 01 October 2024 in Dublin Castle
- Details of the Periodic Critical Review currently underway within the FSAI by the Department of Health
- FSAI Industry and Artisan Forums
- Enforcement updates
- Recent FSAI publications
- FSAI Scientific Committee
Actions:
- n/a
6. FSCC Open Meeting
JR gave an overview on the historic timeframe in which the Open Meetings where traditionally held by the FSAI. Recently, these meetings had been moved to the last quarter of each calendar year, but the aim was to move them back to their historic setting within the first quarter of each calendar year. The FSAI aim to host the next Open Meeting in February 2025 and will confirm this date to members in due course.
JN confirmed that the topic for this Open Meeting would involve a look at AI and technology within the food industry. Guest speakers will be identified and advised to the Council once confirmed.
Actions:
- GP to confirm Open Meeting date to Council once agreed
7. AOB
JN announced to Council his intention that the position of a Deputy Chair was to be appointed which was deleted to the FSCC Chair. Nominations will be requested from members and a decision will be made once all applications are reviewed.
GC also updated the Council on the ongoing vacancy within the Council for a representative from the retails sector in Ireland. The FSAI launched a public campaign seeking expressions of interest from representatives in this sector via the FSAI website on 28 August 2024. All applications received will be reviewed and the FSAI Board will select a candidate at a future Board meeting.
Actions:
- Council to provide applications for role of Deputy Chair
- GP to advice Council of selected Deputy Chair when nominated.