The team responsible for carrying out checks on imported food entering the Port of Tyne has been praised.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) says North Tyneside Council’s Port Health team is doing a “great job”.
Port Health, a service delivered for the local authority by its partner Capita, is responsible for a range of functions connected with the Port of Tyne and all shipping that enters the port.
This includes infectious disease control, sanitation inspections and food safety checks on board vessels. As a Designated Port of Entry (DPE), Port Health is also responsible for carrying out checks on any imported food.
Following an audit of Port Health’s work, an FSA Senior Imports Policy Advisor wrote to the team to say they were doing a “great job” and had found no serious concerns. He made just one recommendation, which related to products not currently received at the port.
Cllr Carole Burdis, cabinet member with responsibility for Environmental Health said: “I welcome the findings of this audit and would like to congratulate the Port Health team.
“The Port of Tyne welcomes vessels from around the world and the public will rightly expect that there are appropriate checks in place on any imported food.
“This audit should give people the confidence that our team is operating effectively.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
Capita Local Public Services, part of Capita plc, is dedicated to making processes smarter, organisations more efficient and customer experiences better across the local government, health and education sector in the UK. We unlock value for our clients by applying talent and technology. Responsible for operating all of Capita’s major local, public sector partnerships, we deliver a wide range of specialist services including IT and digital transformation, customer management, revenues, benefits, finance, infrastructure support and regulatory services, education support and back office processing.
Capita Local Public Services can also draw on specialist capabilities, such as HR, payroll and procurement from across the wider Capita group, to ensure the very best market knowledge and outcomes are achieved.
In November 2012 Capita entered into a partnership with North Tyneside Council to deliver a range of technical services: engineering; property; planning; building control and public protection
