The following table has been provided by the Food Standards Agency
| Organisation | Roles and responsibilities | |
| APHA | Association of Port Health Authorities | Primary objective of preventing the introduction into the country of dangerous epidemic, contagious and infectious diseases and ensuring the wholesomeness of imported food. Membership of the Association is open to any local authority or other body with a port, airport, land frontier or customs clearance depot in its district. |
| CIEH | Chartered Institute of Environmental Health | A professional and educational body involved in the promotion of environmental health and the training and the work of environmental health professionals. The CIEH has approximately 9,800 members world-wide, the majority being located in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. As well as providing services and information to its members, the CIEH also advises government departments on environmental health and is consulted by them on proposed legislation relevant to the work of environmental health professionals. |
| DEFRA | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | Government Department responsible for policy issues relating to imports of products of animal origin (meat, meat products, dairy products, honey etc.), plants and plant products. |
| DHI | Dairy Hygiene Inspectorate | DHI is responsible for the protection of the nation's raw milk supply from the risk of contamination by bacteria and other substances, some of which are potentially harmful. They ensure a satisfactory standard of hygiene is maintained on farms in England and Wales, which is of benefit to the farmer and the general public. The DHI acts on behalf of the FSA administering and enforcing schedules 1, 3 and 7 of the Dairy Products (Hygiene) Regulations 1995 SI No.1086, as amended, under Council directive 92/46/EEC. |
| EMI | Egg Marketing Inspectorate | An Inspectorate within DEFRA responsible for checking standards in egg production, packing and distribution centres. EMI works throughout England and Wales, wherever eggs are produced, graded, packed, imported, exported, bought or sold. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own Inspectors. For further information on egg marketing in the devolved regions, you should contact the relevant agricultural department. |
| FSA | Food Standards Agency | Responsible for public health aspects of food imported into the UK. The Agency has particular responsibility for policy issues for imports of fishery products, shellfish, and food, which is not of animal origin. The agency has responsibilities for assisting and co-ordinating local enforcement activities of local authorities both inland and at ports in this aspect of their duties. |
| FVO | Food and Veterinary Office | Primary task is to ensure that Community legislation on food safety, animal health; plant health and animal welfare is properly implemented and enforced. Part of its role is to check on compliance with the requirements of EU food safety and quality, veterinary and plant health legislation within the EU and in third countries exporting to the EU. |
| HMR&C | Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs | Government Department responsible for detecting smuggled goods (including meat, animal products and fish) at the ports and airports (except in areas designated as Border Inspection Posts). They may occasionally operate inland if investigating criminally organised illegal imports of products of animal origin (POAO). They retain responsibility for postal imports whether at sorting offices, ports or airports and for enforcing the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Customs are not responsible for controlling intra-EU movements except where they have not been subject to Customs control elsewhere in the EU. |
| HMI | Horticultural Marketing Inspectorate | An Inspectorate within DEFRA that are responsible for the enforcement of the EC Marketing Standards for fresh fruit, vegetables, salad crops, nuts, flowers and bulbs throughout England and Wales, wherever fresh produce is grown, imported, exported, bought or sold. |
| LACORS | Local Authority Co-ordinators of Regulatory Services | The local government central body that co-ordinates the enforcement activities of environmental health and trading standards services, including food enforcement. |
| MHRA | Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency | Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (formerly MCA - Medicines Control Agency). The Executive Agency of the Department of Health protecting and promoting public health and patient safety by ensuring that medicines, healthcare products and medical equipment meet appropriate standards of safety, quality, performance and effectiveness, and are used safely. |
| MHS | Meat Hygiene Service (Executive Agency of FSA) | Meat Hygiene Service, Executive Agency of the FSA, an independent enforcement agency providing a meat inspection service. |
| PHSI | Plant Health and Seeds Inspectorate | An Inspectorate within DEFRA that carries out import and export inspections. It also undertakes work on seed certification and enforcement. |
| PSD | Pesticides Safety Directorate (Executive Agency of DEFRA) | An Executive Agency of DEFRA established to evaluate and process applications for approval of pesticide products for use in Great Britain and to provide advice to Government on pesticides policy. |
| SITPRO | Formerly 'The Simpler Trade Procedures Board' | SITPRO is one of the Non-Departmental Public Bodies for which the Department of Trade and Industry has responsibility. It receives a grant-in-aid from the DTI. SITPRO is dedicated to encouraging and helping business trade more effectively and to simplify the international trading process. Its focus is the procedures and documentation associated with international trade. |
| SVS | State Veterinary Service | The State Veterinary Service has a presence in most busy ports and airports. They are able to support other enforcement bodies and provide a line of communication with DEFRA HQ. They are also able to provide advice on identifying products and can advise on disposal arrangements, disinfecting etc. The State Veterinary Service are responsible for veterinary checks on products of animal origin at Border Inspection Posts (BIPs) that take only products not for human consumption. |
| VMD | Veterinary Medicines Directorate | Executive agency of DEFRA responsible for enforcement relating to veterinary medicines. Provide guidance and authorisations on the importation of veterinary medicines. |
Head Office
Port Health
Health Protection
Public Protection Section
White Cliffs Business Park
Dover
Kent
CT16 3PJ
Telephone: 01304 872216
Main Switchboard: 01304 821199
Fax: 01304 872416
E-mail: porthealth@dover.gov.uk
