Friday 13 December 2024 @ 11am – Virtual meeting via Microsoft Teams
Members Present
- Jamie Knox - Dr Pepper [JK] Chair
- Annette Sweeney - TUD [AS]
- Dave Lang - Craft Butchers of Ireland [DL]
- Janis Morrissey - Irish Heart Foundation [JM]
- Patrick Farrell - Keelings [PF]
- Paula Barry Walsh - DAFM (retired) [PBW]
- Jonathan Griffith - IHTA [JG]
- Conor Mulvihill - DII [CM]
- Sorcha Kavanagh - Repak [SK]
- Elaine Clohosey - BWG Foods [EC]
- Andrew Mahon - Bord Bia [AM]
- Dermott Jewell - CAI [DJ]
Apologies
- Dale Crammond – Meat Industry IE [DC]
- Catherine Morrison - BIM [CM]
- Deirdre Ryan - Bord Bia [DR]
- Eamonn Quinn - Kelsius [EQ]
- Siobhan Murphy - HSE [SM]
- Mark Christal - Enterprise Ireland [MC]
Absent
- Adrian Cummins - RAI [AC]
- Alice McGlynn - Consultant [AMG]
- Paul McKeown - HPSC [PMK]
- Regina Sexton - UCC [RS]
- Louise Reynolds - INDI [LR]
FSAI staff
- Gail Carroll [GC]
- Gerard Power [GP]
- Jane Ryder [JR]
- Rob Phillips [RP]
- Jill Murphy [JM].
1. Welcome and Declarations of Interest
Chair JK talked through the agreed agenda and welcomed new Council members EC and AM to their first meeting.
JK 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.
Actions:
- n/a
2. Chair updates
JK announced that the position of FSCC Deputy Chair will be filled by both PBW and DL, both of whom applied for the position.
JK gave details of the FSCC Chair presentation to the FSAI Board on 03 December 2024 as part of the agreed annual update from the Council Chair to the FSAI Board. JK and GC noted comments from the Board advocating possible future collaboration opportunities between the FSCC and the FSAI Scientific Committee (SC). GC noted complementary praise from Board members to the work carried out by the FSCC throughout 2024.
Actions:
- n/a
3. Minutes and actions from previous meeting: 13 September 2024
Minutes from previous meeting agreed with no feedback noted from Council members. GP confirmed all outstanding actions were completed.
Actions:
- Minutes from 13 September 2024 meeting to be uploaded to the FSAI website.
4. FSAI Strategy 2025-2029
GC thanked all FSCC members who attended the launch in FSAI offices on 03 December 2024. GC gave a presentation on the new strategy to Council members.
The topics discussed included:
- The new FSAI Strategy 2025-2029
- The FSCC deliverables within
- Vision, purpose and values of the FSAI
- The four agreed goals within the strategy
Engaged discussions and feedback proceeded this update, with noted feedback from JG relating to the consistency in approach to risk assessment and management within Goal 2 of the strategy. JG observed that the importance that all relevant stakeholders understand any approach adopted by the FSAI, as some industry measures may currently differ from the FSAI approach. GC stated that all FSAI staff would strive to apply a consistent approach to risk assessment through stakeholder engagement.
JK noted the invaluable contribution and championing of the FSCC by FSAI CEO Pamela Byrne for the duration of her tenure.
Actions:
- GP will distribute a copy of the presentation to Council members
5. FSCC topic discussion: Regulating eCommerce
RP gave a presentation to the Council and the subject of ‘eCommerce and eFood Businesses: a new approach for regulators’. Within this presentation RP led discussions on the following topics:
- The digital evolution of eCommerce
- Challenges faced by the FSAI
- Current national and EU controls in place
- The EU Digital Services act (2022/2065) and its relevance to the online food sector
- Agri-food lawsEC working groups dealing with this issue
- Industry engagement
JM then joined the meeting to give a presentation on the recently launched FSAI eCommerce and Online Food Business Forum, which held the inaugural meeting on 25 October 2024. JM discussed the following topics:
• The key objectives of the new forum
• A breakdown of participating stakeholders
• Run-through of the agenda from the inaugural meeting
• Initial areas of work identified for 2025
Actions:
- n/a
6. Update from FSCC subgroup on potential Food Hygiene Rating Schemes (FHRS)
PBW provided the Council with an update of the first FHRS subgroup meeting held on 02 December 2024. PBW advised on the agreed scope of the subgroup and proposed monthly meetings until completion of the assignment.
Council members were invited to provide any contact details for European counterparts currently operating such schemes for possible consultation and future presentation to the subgroup for information.
Actions:
- Minutes of subgroup meeting to be circulated by GP
- Any potential European contacts to be supplied by FSAI and FSCC
7. 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 precautionary warnings from the FSAI for consumers with peanut allergies
- FSAI Industry and Artisan Forums
- Enforcement updates
- Recent FSAI publications
- FSAI Scientific Committee report on the suitability of analytical methods for assessing food authenticity
- Recent launch of FSAI Guidance Note 41 on the approval of food establishments
Actions:
- n/a
8. FSCC Open Meeting
GC confirmed that the date for the 2025 FSAI Open Meeting was set for 25 February 2025. This in-person event will be held at the Gibson Hotel in Dublin, with further event details to follow once the agenda was confirmed.
JK spoke on the confirmed topic for this event relating to AI and Food Safety. JK also requested attending Council members to engage any industry contacts they know who may be able to speak at this event, with guest speakers currently being earmarked for consideration.
Actions:
- Council members were invited to advise the FSAI of any potential industry contacts they may recommend as a potential guest speaker for this event
- Further event details to be shared with Council by GP
9. AOB
JK took the opportunity to thank all Council members for their contributions throughout 2024 and stated he was looking forward to continuing the work of the Council in 2025.
Actions:
- n/a