directory of expert panels
TRANSCRIPT
Directory of Expert Panels
There are various technical groups that local and national regulators and businesses can contact for clarification and consultation on matters of technical interpretation and practical enforcement. These expert panels play a key role in providing professional expertise to the regulatory community:
Age Restricted Products Animal Health and Welfare CIEH Environmental Protection Forum Environmental Health Policy Forum Fair Trading Fire Safety Business Engagement Forum Food Hygiene Food Standards and Labelling Health and Safety Practitioner Forum Housing Industrial Pollution Control Local Authority Group
Legal Metrology Focus Group LGA Licensing Forum National Agricultural Panel National Companion Animals Forum National Travel Focus Group Primary Authority Supermarkets Group Petroleum Enforcement Liaison Group Product Safety Focus Group Seafood Regulation Expert Group Trade Facilitation
Acronyms
APHA Animal and Plant Health Agency BIS Department for Business, Innovation and Skills CFOA Chief Fire Officers Association CIEH Chartered Institute of Environmental Health DEFRA Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs FSA Food Standards Agency HSE Health and Safety Executive IoL Institute of Licensing LGA Local Government Association LLG Lawyers in Local Government NALEO National Association of Licensing and Enforcement Officers NMRO National Measurement and Regulation Office NTSB National Trading Standards Board OFT Office of Fair Trading RCVS Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons REHIS Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland TSI Trading Standards Institute
Age Restricted Products
Purpose: To reach consensus on best approaches to compliance and act as a conduit with the wider regulatory and business community.
Membership: Trading standards professionals, business representatives, government policy departments, LGA and invited guests.
Chair: Brandon Cook
Government: BRDO
Meetings: 2 – 3 per year
Business Engagement: Yes
Contact: Dennis Ager [email protected]
Animal Health and Welfare
Purpose: To provide a source of relevant professional, practical advice and guidance on all aspects of animal health and welfare.
Membership: Local authorities (all regions including the devolved countries) + APHA, DEFRA, FSA, RCVS, CIEH and TSI.
Chair: Stephanie Young, Staffordshire County Council
Professional Body: TSI
National Regulator: APHA / DEFRA / FSA
Government: DEFRA
Meetings: 4 / year
Dissemination: Lead officers via email + Knowledge Hub
Business Engagement: By invitation for specific discussions
Contact: Regional networks in first instance, then NTSB Secretariat
CIEH Environmental Protection Forum
Purpose: To provide a forum for the consideration of strategic and operational impacts of environmental protection policy and a source of relevant professional, practical advice and guidance on all aspects of environmental protection.
Membership: Senior environmental health managers with a particular interest in environmental protection drawn from different types of local authority throughout the country.
Chair: Howard Price, CIEH
Professional Body: CIEH
National Regulator: DEFRA / Environment Agency
Government: DEFRA
Meetings: 2 / year
Dissemination: Via members to regional groups and the range of CIEH media as appropriate
Business Engagement: Yes
Contact: [email protected]
Comments: Panel has access to chief officer groups, local enterprise partnerships and network of specialist pollution groups throughout the country.
Environmental Health Policy Forum
Purpose: To provide a source of relevant professional, practical advice and guidance on all aspects of environmental health policy.
Membership: Local authority representatives from all English regions + representatives from Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Chair: Steve Duckett, Christchurch and East Dorset Council
Professional Body: CIEH
National Regulator: FSA
Government: Varies
Meetings: 3 / year
Dissemination: Via regional networks and the Knowledge Hub
Business Engagement: No, but open to on specific issues
Contact: Regional networks
Fair Trading
Purpose: Acts as liaison between local authorities, regions, central government and other stakeholders and to provide guidance and technical expertise to facilitate consistency of enforcement and to encourage engagement with EU bodies and agencies.
The Group:
• Acts as a forum for discussion, exchange of ideas and liaison between local authorities, regions and central government, ensuring best practice and consistency between partners.
• Functions as a channel for regional issues to be raised and national matters/decisions to be fed back or consulted upon within the regions.
• Promotes local authority Fair Trading and regional work.
• Considers consultation papers, guidance documents and matters of national interest.
• Facilitates, promotes, co-ordinates and implements best practice by encouraging effective, consistent enforcement standards.
• Maintains liaison with regional groups and any other appropriate agencies and organisations associated with Fair Trading matters.
• Identifies and considers possible sources of funding for councils from Government Departments, EU and others.
• Identifies resource implications of emerging issues, new enforcement responsibilities and key areas of concern.
• Highlights key areas of concern for the attention of stakeholders.
Membership: Regional trading standards groups
Chair: Tim Root, Central Bedfordshire Council
Professional Body: TSI
National Regulator: BIS
Government: BIS
Meetings: 2 / year
Dissemination: Knowledge Hub + Regional group members
Business Engagement: By invitation only
Contact: Regional networks in first instance, then NTSB Secretariat [email protected]
Fire Safety Business Engagement Forum
Purpose: To provide a source of relevant professional, practical advice and guidance on all aspects of business fire safety.
Membership: Trade bodies, businesses, fire safety industry reps and fire safety regulators.
Chair: Gary Ferrand
Professional Body CFOA
Government: DCLG
Meetings: 2 / year
Dissemination Trade associations through members and lead officers via email + Knowledge Hub
Business Engagement: Standing representation at both meetings
Contact: Enforcement – Regional networks in first instance, then BEF Secretariat
Business – Trade Association
Food Hygiene
Purpose: In relation to food safety and hygiene the Food Hygiene Expert Panel:
• Acts as a forum for discussion, exchange of ideas and liaison between local authorities, regions and central government, promoting good practice and consistency between partners.
• Functions as a channel for regional issues to be raised, and national matters / decisions to be fed back or consulted on within the regions.
• Promotes local authority food hygiene and associated work.
• Considers consultation papers, guidance documents and matters of national interest.
• Facilitates, promotes, co-ordinates and implements best practice by encouraging effective and consistent enforcement.
• Maintains liaison with central government (primarily the FSA, and the devolved governments), and any other appropriate agencies and organisations associated with food hygiene matters.
• Engages with the business sector to seek advice, understand working practice and to reach a common aim.
Membership: Food sector trade associations, research associations, academics and professional bodies + FSA, Institute of Food Science and Technology, Chair of local regulators group.
Chair: Fiona Wright [email protected]
Professional Body: CIEH
National Regulator: FSA / DEFRA
Government: Department of Health
Meetings: 4 / year
Dissemination: Knowledge Hub Food Forum and subgroup FHFG
Business Engagement: Yes
Contact: Regional networks in first instance, then the FSA Secretariat
Food Standards and Labelling
Comprises the Business Expert (Food Standards and Labelling) Group and the Food Standards and Labelling Enforcement Group
Purpose: To provide a source of relevant professional, practical advice and guidance on all aspects of food standards and labelling.
Membership: Business Group – Trade body representatives and Government Policy leads.
Enforcement Group – Local Authority regulators and Government Policy Leads.
Chair: Business Group – Helen Darracott
Enforcement Group – Andy Mackay
Professional Body TSI
National Regulator FSA
Government: DH / DEFRA / FSA
Meetings: Business 4 / year / Enforcement 2 / year
Dissemination Trade associations through members and lead officers via email + Knowledge Hub
Business Engagement: Standing representation at both meetings
Contact: Enforcement – Regional networks in first instance, then FSLEG Secretariat
Business – Trade Association
Health and Safety Practitioner Forum
Purpose: To provide technical input to assist the development of HSE operational guidance for local authorities. This is supplemented by regional liaison between HSE and local authorities.
Membership: Nominated representatives from county liaison groups within England, Scotland and Wales.
Chair: Colin Alborough, Rushmoor Borough Council
Professional Body: CIEH / REHIS
National Regulator: HSE
Government: Department for Work and Pensions
Meetings: 3 / year
Dissemination: PF members via cascade at regional / local LA meetings. Wider communication by LAU.
Business Engagement: N/A
Contact: HSE Secretariat: [email protected]
0151 951 3114 Tracy Hamilton, HSE Local Authority Unit, 5S3 Redgrave Court,
Merton Road, Bootle, Merseyside L20 7HS
Housing
Purpose: To provide a source of relevant professional, practical advice and guidance on all aspects of housing standards.
Membership: Trade bodies, businesses, fire safety officers and Environmental Health Officers.
Chair: Bob Mayho
Professional Body: CIEH
Government: DCLG
Meetings: 2 / year
Dissemination: Trade associations through members and lead officers via email
Business Engagement: Standing representation all meetings
Contact: Bob Mayho
Industrial Pollution Control Local Authority Group
Purpose: To provide a source of relevant professional, practical advice and guidance on all aspects of industrial pollution.
Membership: Representatives from some 30 local authorities.
Chair: Nicola Leeds, DEFRA
Professional Body: CIEH
National Regulator: DEFRA
Government: DEFRA
Meetings: 2 / year
Dissemination: DEFRA website
Business Engagement: Via other DEFRA-convened fora
Contact: [email protected]
Legal Metrology Focus Group
Purpose: To provide a source of relevant professional, practical advice guidance and opinion on all aspects of the law and practice of weights and measures covering legislative provisions, quality assurance, technical matters and competence.
Membership: Representatives from some 20 local authorities + NMO.
Chair: Daniel Maxim, Lancashire County Council
Professional Body: TSI
National Regulator: NMRO
Government: BIS
Meetings: 2 / year
Dissemination: Knowledge Hub
Business Engagement: Yes
Contact: Regional networks in the first instance, then Knowledge Hub Metrology Group
Comments: The panel is comprised of representatives from each UK trading standards region acting as a direct conduit between regional focus groups and national regulators. The panel is supplemented by co-opted members representing business stakeholder groups and independent expert consultants that represent UK at WELMEC and OIML. The main focus of the panel is legal metrology policy matters and legal interpretations.
A sub panel comprising of technical experts considers detailed aspects of weights and measures technology and testing applicable to legal metrology and advises the main panel accordingly.
LGA Licensing Forum
Purpose: To provide technical and operational discussion to inform LGA policy on all aspects of licensing including alcohol, gambling, street trading. To identify and discuss emerging issues of importance to licensing authorities.
Membership: Representatives from local authorities + IoL, NALEO and LLG.
Chair: Alan Tolley, Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council
Professional Body: IoL / NALEO / LLG / Welsh LGA
National Regulator: N/A
Government: Home Office / Department for Culture, Media and Sport
Meetings: 3 / year
Dissemination: Via Knowledge Hub, LGA e-bulletin, www.local.gov.uk
Business Engagement: On specific issues as needed or requested. The separate national Licensing Forum, hosted by the IoL, has permanent business representation.
Contact: Any member or the Secretariat LGA
National Agricultural Panel
Purpose: To provide a source of relevant professional, practical advice and guidance on all aspects of animal feed, feed hygiene and fertilisers.
Membership: Local authorities (all regions including the devolved countries) + FSA and APA.
Chair: John Stewart, Derbyshire County Council
Professional Body: TSI
National Regulator: FSA / AHVLA / DEFRA
Government: DEFRA
Meetings: 2 / year
Dissemination: Lead officers via email + Knowledge Hub
Business Engagement: By invitation for specific discussions
Contact: Regional networks in first instance, then NTSB Secretariat
National Companion Animal Forum
Purpose: The remit of the group extends to companion animals including stray dogs, dangerous dogs, animal welfare act and related licensing functions of local authorities, for example, pet shops, animal boarding establishments, dog breeding establishments, riding schools, dangerous wild animals and performing animals.
• Input into consultation responses
• Provide advice / guidance on interpretational queries on existing legislation
• Assist with the preparation of guidance / leaflets etc.
• Identify and discuss future priorities and issues
• Attend group meetings (approx. 2 per year)
• Attend meetings on behalf of LGA in an unofficial capacity
Membership: Local authority staff representing regions or that have specialist knowledge and representation from other organisations as and when i.e. RSPCA, Dogs Trust etc.
Chair: Mark Berry, Stockton on Tees Borough Council
Professional Body: CIEH / TSI
National Regulator: N/A
Government: DEFRA – Animal Welfare Team / Home Office – New Dangerous Dogs + ASB legislation
Meetings: 2 / year
Dissemination: Knowledge Hub
Business Engagement: By invitation for specific discussions
Contact: Regional networks in the first instance, then email members
National Travel Focus Group
Purpose: To provide a source of relevant professional, practical advice and guidance on all aspects of Travel Law including:
• Hotel Proprietors Act 1956 • Carriage by Air Act 1961 • Development of Tourism Act 1969 • Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977 • The Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours
Regulations 1992 • Price Indications (Bureaux de Change)(No2) Regulations 1992 • Foreign Package Holidays (Tour Operators and Travel Agents)
Order 2000 & 2001 • Air Carrier Liability Regulations 2004 • Railways (Convention on International Carriage by Rail)
Regulations 2005 • Civil Aviation (Denied Boarding, Compensation and Assistance)
Regulations 2005 • The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations
2008 • Timeshare, Holiday Products, Resale and Exchange Contracts
Regulations 2010 • The Civil Aviation (Air Travel Organisers’ Licensing)
Regulations 2012 • Merchant Shipping (Carriage of passengers by Sea)
Regulations 2012 • Merchant Shipping (Passenger’s Rights) Regulations 2013 • Rights of Passengers in a Bus and coach Transport
(Exemptions and Enforcement) Regulations 2013
Membership: Representatives from local authorities, central government and business
Chair: Trevor Simpson, Essex County Council
Professional Body: TSI
National Regulator: BIS
Government: BIS
Meetings: 2 / year
Dissemination: Knowledge Hub
Business Engagement: Yes
Contact: Knowledge Hub in the first instance, then members directly
Primary Authority Supermarkets Group
Purpose: Supermarket representatives and their primary authority officers (for trading standards), working together to improve compliance, consistency, consumer confidence and to create a level playing field, for the benefit of the regulatory system as a whole. Primary Authority advice may then be issued to the supermarkets by their respective primary authority partners, to provide compliance assurance.
Membership: 12 supermarkets and their primary authority partners. Regular guests include national regulators, Govt. departments, professional bodies, e.g. FSA, ASA, TSI, RPA etc.
Chair: Tim Gass, Hertfordshire County Council (until end Feb 2015)
Professional Body: None (invited occasionally)
National Regulator: None (invited occasionally)
Government: None (invited occasionally)
Meetings: Quarterly at Westminster Conf Centre. PA officers only in the morning. Full meeting of PA officers and supermarkets and speakers / guests in the afternoon.
Dissemination: PASG info is hosted on the PA Register, under Background tab from home page. e.g. agenda for forthcoming meetings, info about the working arrangements and membership of the group. The group’s PA Advice Log is also posted here.
Business Engagement: See above
Contact: The PASG is facilitated by Helen Buckingham, BRDO [email protected] 07500 027471
Comments: New Chair being sought from March 2015.
A framework and policy for agreeing compliance issues amongst group members, which are listed on the PA Advice Log, is currently being worked on.
Petroleum Enforcement Liaison Group
Purpose: To provide a source of relevant professional, practical advice and guidance on Petrol storage at public and private petrol filling stations and at non workplace (domestic) premises including interpretation of Petroleum legislation and the publication of Guidance.
Membership: Local authorities and trade associations + Energy Institute, CFOA, MoD, HSE and HSE Northern Ireland
Chair: Rob Tunnicliff, Stoke on Trent Council
Professional Body: CIEH / TSI / Association of Petroleum and Explosives Administration
National Regulator: HSE
Government: N/A
Meetings: 3 / year
Dissemination: Via Energy Institute website
Business Engagement: Yes
Contact: Regional networks in the first instance, then Energy Institute
Product Safety Focus Group
Purpose: To ensure consistency in enforcement of consumer product safety throughout the UK.
Membership: Regional representatives from England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, with standing invitations to reps from CLG, TSI and an expert technician from LGC
Chair: Russell Clarke [email protected]
Professional Body: TSI
Meetings: 2 / year
Dissemination: Via Knowledge Hub and email
Business Engagement: N/A
Contact: [email protected]
Seafood Regulation Expert Group
Purpose: In relation to seafood to:
• Provide a forum for the discussion of issues relating to seafood and the determination of industry positions
• Liaise with central government (including the devolved governments) and any other appropriate agencies and organisations associated with seafood
• Consider consultation papers and guidance documents • Provide expertise and advice within the framework of the Better
Regulation Delivery Office (BRDO) expert panels
Membership: Food sector trade associations, DEFRA, FSA, Devolved Administrations, Chairs of BRDO Food Standards and Labelling and Food Hygiene Expert Panels, Secretary of BFFF / Seafish Importers Group
Chair: Peter Wilson [email protected]
Professional Body Sea Fish Industry Authority
National Regulator: FSA
Government: DEFRA
Meetings: 3 per annum
Dissemination: Food sector trade associations and Seafish web site
Business Engagement: Yes
Contact: Food sector trade associations and Peter Wilson
Comments: Seafish is a Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB) set up by the Fisheries Act 1981 to improve efficiency and raise standards across the seafood industry.
Trade Facilitation
Purpose: The aim of the Trade Facilitation Expert Panel is to provide a forum for bringing together business, trade bodies and individuals involved in moving goods (including non-tangible goods) across borders with regulators and relevant government departments to discuss and wherever possible identify solutions to issues raised. The UK Government is committed to increasing the number and breadth of UK companies exporting as well as providing efficient and effective border processes to aid the flow of goods and services. The expert panel complements these objectives, ensuring the voice of those at the frontline is heard and fed into wider policy discussions.
Membership: Any business, trade body or individual who moves goods across borders is invited to join. Relevant Government departments with an interest in improving cross border trade are also invited.
Chair: Uday Dholakia / Mark Corby
Government: BRDO
Meetings: 4 / year
Business Engagement: Yes
Contact: Stewart Gibbon [email protected]