Members Present
- Jamie Knox - Dr Pepper [JK] Chair
- Alice McGlynn - Consultant [AMG]
- Dave Lang - Craft Butchers of Ireland [DL]
- Dale Crammond – Meat Industry IE [DC]
- Patrick Farrell - Keelings [PF]
- Paula Barry Walsh - DAFM (retired) [PBW]
- Jonathan Griffith - IHTA [JG]
- Elaine Clohosey - BWG Foods [EC]
- Eamonn Quinn - Kelsius [EQ]
- Siobhan Murphy - HSE [SM]
- Mark Christal - Enterprise Ireland [MC]
Apologies
- Adrian Cummins - RAI [AC]
- Annette Sweeney - TUD [AS]
- Catherine Morrison - BIM [CM]
- Andrew Mahon - Bord Bia [DR]
- Dermott Jewell - CAI [DJ]
- Sorcha Kavanagh - Repak [SK]
- Janis Morrissey - Irish Heart Foundation [JM]
- Louise Reynolds - INDI [LR]
- Conor Mulvihill - DII [CM]
Absent
- Paul McKeown - HPSC [PMK]
- Regina Sexton - UCC [RS]
- Catherine Morrison - BIM [CM]
FSAI staff
- Gail Carroll [GC]
- Gerard Power [GP]
- Jane Ryder [JR]
- Ruth Conefrey [RC]
- Ophelie Davies [OD]
1. Welcome
FSCC Chair JK welcomed all Council members to the meeting and read out apologies from Council members unable to attend. JK also gave a run through of the meeting agenda and requested that any additional topics to be notified under the AOB agenda item.
Actions:
- n/a
2. Agree minutes and actions from previous meeting – 13 December 2024
JK and GP performed a run through of the minutes and actions from the last Council meeting, noting no outstanding actions remained open. Minutes were agreed by Council with no amendments.
Actions:
- FSAI to upload agreed minutes to the FSAI website.
3. FSCC Topic Discussion: The FSAI Learning Portal
RC joined the meeting to provide an overview of all food safety training provided by the FSAI in 2024.. RC confirmed that the Food Safety Culture module had been the most popular during 2024 with 1127 modules completed in that regard. The Food Safety & You training had 135 registered trainers that conducted 388 induction level courses resulting in 2,916 food handlers being trained under the programme in 2024. FSAI have been gearing training toward areas where there are highest levels of non-compliance during inspections, specifically trying to assist smaller businesses who may not have access to in-house food safety expertise or external consultants.
RC stated the intention of the FSAI was to build a bigger audience throughout 2025 to support food businesses in accessing the FSAIs food safety supports, the vast majority of which are free. FSAI is doing this with assistance from the Communications team in the FSAI who will further engage the public via FSAI social media channels. RC welcomed any suggestions from Council members in relation to increased public awareness and engagement. RC confirmed that the FSAI hope to launch 4 new courses throughout 2025.
Following this presentation there follow a comprehensive Q&A session summarised below:
The high quality and benefit to the food industry of the training supports was noted. JK and other members noted that given the investment in developing the training resources that there should also be investment in paid promotion to reach as wide an audience as possible.
AMG queried recognition for courses completed. RC confirmed certificates can be printed upon completion.JG wished to confirm questions were incorporated within the modules, RC confirmed this.
EC queried if courses could be incorporated into FBOs own training. RC stated FBOs are free to copy links and embed in their in-house training courses.
MC asked if Local Enterprise Offices engage with the FSAI in relation to this training with both RC and GC noting strong engagement in this regard.
EQ asked the FSAI what the total market was for such training. RC noted that over 51 thousand FBOs currently operate in Ireland and the goal is to reach all of them if possible.
DL discussed potential language issues throughout the food industry workforce. RC confirms that the FSAI are receiving an increased number of translation requests from FBOs and the intention is to move towards computer assisted translation, with a goal to train food trainers on this topic soon.
SM suggested the FSAI could have targeted press releases pushing the Learning Portal in the aftermath of closure order releases.
PBW highlighted potential engagement at trade shows, JR confirmed the FSAI had explored this and found diminishing interest in engagement from attendees as years passed by at such events and especially now all resources are on line with very little printed material to disseminate at shows.
JG stressed the importance of promoting the portal to finished product distributors with no part in the food production stage, such as the food supplement section.
AMG and EC cited Bord Bia and SafeFood respectively as potentially good contacts in relation to promotion and engagement of the Learning Portal.
After the Q&A session GC followed up in relation to food safety culture being the most popular module, noting that a working group has been established within the FSAI working to provide a future Guidance Note for industry. This is currently in the finalisation and editing stage, with the aim to launch later in 2025. RC confirms that the FSAI will launch training material following the release of this note and intend on hosting a webinar also. RC will update the Council at a future meeting in this regard.
Actions:
- Members of the Council were invited to provide any suggestions or advise for increased industry engagement with the Learning Portal.
- FSAI to advise Council on completed of FSC Guidance Note
4. FSAI’s FSCC Open Meeting 2025
GC began by expressing how satisfied the FSAI were with the FSCC Open Meeting held at the Gibson Hotel in Dublin on Tuesday 25th February 2025. The theme of the meeting was ‘Artificial Intelligence (AI) in food safety: innovation, risks & opportunities’. Over 150 attendees from 67 organisations were present on the day providing broad representation from food industry sectors, consumers, regulators, academics and technology companies. The event was Chaired by journalist Suzanne Campbell.
JR gave a presentation providing a detailed overview of the event. The line up consisted of guest speakers with real life experience in AI application who shared valuable insights on the practical uses of AI within the food industry media and attendee feedback gathered following the event.
GC advised that due to the high level of interest in this event the FSAI is currently drafting their first post FSCC event report, which the FSAI hope to release to the Council in due course.
DC, DL, PBW and PF all provided positive feedback having attended on the day reporting that they felt the presentations and panel discussion had been highly informative and impactful, praising the guest speakers from industry who gave up their time for the event.
Actions:
- GP to share FSCC Open Meeting report once finalised by the FSAI
5. An update from the FSCC Subgroup on Food Hygiene Rating Schemes
PBW gave a presentation of all the work to date conducted by the established FSCC subgroup of the topic of the potential to develop Food Hygiene Rating Schemes (FHRS) for Ireland. This work is currently underway in conjunction with a subgroup established within the FSAI Scientific Committee. To date two joint sessions have been held with both subgroups, with two more scheduled for June. PBW confirmed that these joint sessions hosted perspectives from invited speakers from other official agencies currently participating in FHRS (UK, US, Brazil), while three meetings of the FSCC subgroup have also taken place to address conversations from an industry perspective. PBW stated that a consultation survey questionnaire has been drafted by the FSAI and will be launched through public consultation on the FSAI website on 26th May 2025. This public consultation is due to run for four weeks, with survey response data being collated in late June for consideration. The possible formation of focus groups might result from the feedback from the public. PBW confirms that the current aim within the subgroup is to produce a report and presentation to Council in late 2025.
GC complimented the FSCC subgroup, noting how engaged and supportive they have been to date. GC also stressed that this work was currently only at the advice to policy stage with any ultimate decision being made by the DoH.
AMG quired if the FSAI held any official position on this yet, with GC stressing the need for organisational engagement with all stakeholders before arriving at any conclusion or opinion.
JK queried the timeline for such a scheme, with GC stating the FSAI plan to advise the DoH in early 2026 after further consultation with the Council in late 2025.
PF acknowledged the work involved from all within the FSAI executive to arrive at this point.
Actions:
- GP to send a consultation survey reminder to Council members
- FSCC members to submit details of public consultation to industry contacts on 26th May launch, FSAI will draft email to assist.
6. Recent International and Regulator Engagement
GC gave a presentation to Council covering recent industry, EU networking, and international regulatory events attended on behalf of the FSAI as part of the organisational strategy for advocacy and engagement. A recent Periodic Critical Review of the FSAI, conducted by the DoH, highlighted stakeholder feedback from FSCC members on the importance of such international engagementto delivery of the FSAI remit. GC stated that through international networks the FSAI hoped to share information and gain more knowledge on emerging risks, new technologies and food industry trends. This supports the FSAI at EU and international level to maintain access to this network of experts and peers, while raising the profile of food safety internationally.
GC then updated the Council in relation to the 2025 annual Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) conference attending by the FSAI in Dublin in April of this year. The event hosted over 600 attendees from 40 countries, with FSAI CEO Greg Dempsey participating in one of the conference panels. Guest speakers from industry, EFSA, CODEX and other institutions stressed the importance of food safety culture being championed from high level management. GC gave reflections of the event highlighting the positive drive for increased food safety culture among food businesses. JK also provided perspective as an attendee to previous such meetings an echoed much of the positive benefit of such conferences on raising food safety issue in industry.
There followed a brief discussion between Council members in which AMG queried the potential threat to food security given recent global geopolitics, with GC acknowledging this was addressed by speakers at the conference. PBW asked if it were proposed that increased assessment of food safety culture in businesses would be promoted. Both GC and JK stated that current standards and tools are already in place to assist most businesses, but FSAI is producing additional guidance for industry. GC stated that food safety culture is one of the areas of compliance assessed as part of official controls and has been cited on some enforcement notices. JG and JK discussed the topic of private assurance data, with inputs from other Council members.
GC then gave an update on the International Heads of Food Agency Forum (IHFAF) attended by the FSAI in April of this year. Current FSAI CEO Greg Dempsey and recent outgoing CEO Dr Pamela Byrne were also in attendance, as Ireland are a founding member of the forum and part of the secretariat. GC provided reflections from the event and discussed the prominent themes, stressing the increased engagement of the topics of AI and technology in general. Another significant point of engagement related to the topic and data and the need for increased cooperation in the future to increase food safety globally. GC highlighted discussions with other food agencies relating to the increased role of social science in as a discipline used to support enforcement and compliance activities.. EQ questioned the criteria for membership, with GC giving a breakdown of the current mix of global Forum members and a desire within IHFAF to ensure global representation from all regions.
Actions:
- n/a
7. FSAI update to FSCC
GC discussed the FSAI update shared with the Council in advance of the meeting. This report contained updates covering the following topics:
- The FSAI 2024 Enforcement Order report
- Recent audit of the effectiveness of Official Controls by the SFPA at ready-to-eat product establishments
- Enforcement updates covering January to March 2025
- FSAI publications since the last Council Meeting in December 2024
- Recent work of the FSAI Scientific Committee
- FSAI engagement with the Government in relation to the Hot School Meals Programme
- Recent regulatory divergence between the EU and the UK
- The Periodic Critical Review (PCR) of the FSAI conducted by the DoH
GC expanded on the 2024 Enforcement Order report, noting an increase in orders reported by the HSE. SM provided context toward some of the basic issues consistently coming up in reports and the possible future use of data to help guide food business operators (FBOs) as to where they are going wrong.
GC also expanded on details of recently published Guidance Notes (GN) 39 and 42 by the FSAI. GN 39 provided guidance to FBOs by the HSE on their right to second expert opinion. GC also mentioned GN 42 in relation to Cocoa and chocolate products, noting that this is the first time to FSAI have provided guidance on these products due to the growing number of FBOs in this area within Ireland.
From within the FSAI publications shared with the Council PBW queried how often data was checked in relation to the FSAI Scientific Committee Diet Study report shared on the FSAI website. JG followed up with a brief discussion relating to the number of chemicals present in the foods mentioned within the report.
GC also discussed the Hot School Meals Programme, noting FSAI as part of a Government Department and agency group is supporting food safety aspects of the rollout.
GC advised that the new CEO of the FSAI Greg Dempsey was unable to join the meeting due to current work commitments but will join a future meeting.
Actions:
- n/a
8. AOB
The next meeting of the FSCC is scheduled for Thursday 11th September 2025. This meeting will be an in-person event held at the FSAI offices.
Actions:
- GP to circulate reminder invite to Council members for the September meeting