Following UK exit from the European Union (EU), the Windsor Framework (incorporating former arrangements under the Northern Ireland Protocol) requires<br/>Northern Ireland to continue to adhere to the EU Official Controls set out in Regulation<br/>2017/625, ref regarding the arrangement of official controls, including the designation of NRLs. Furthermore, NRLs for NI must be separately designated from those in GB, whereas prior to EU exit, NRLs were designated on a UK-wide basis. Additionally, under the Windsor Framework arrangements, NI NRLs must be located in an EU member state or within European Economic Area (EEA) i.e. they cannot be located<br/>within any part of the United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland.
There is currently limited UK capability to measure MOSH/MOAH levels in foods.
To evaluate dietary exposure and possible migration levels of MOSH/MOAH, methodology for the determination of MOSH/MOAH in foods needs to be established.
The objective of this current piece of work is to apply methods for the detection of MOSH/MOAH within food and ascertain any potential migration levels from food contact materials and as environmental contaminants in food.
The development of these methods and their subsequent validation will allow the FSA to determine the risk to the consumer from exposure from foods which have been contaminated with MOSH/MOAH and additionally respond to incidents.
The successful supplier will be required to undertake an assessment of how new technology within the meat production sector might impact the FSA and how it delivers Official Controls over the next 10 years.
It is expected that a successful end product will include a comprehensive examination of technological innovations such as AI and other digital monitoring tools’ impact on Officials Controls. It should assess their effectiveness, reliability and challenges of these technologies in monitoring hygiene and food safety, as well as animal welfare standards in meat establishments.
The FSA is looking to appoint a contractor to bring together a team of relevant food system experts (including those with expertise in public health, nutrition, sustainability and food security) to deliver a systematic evidence review, case studies, and an evidence-based policy briefing, along with 1-2 expert round-tables to inform and shape the project design and outputs.
The aim of the review is to explore the efficacy of regulatory interventions to improve food system outcomes for deprived communities.
Key research questions:
1. Which regulatory interventions could be most effective in addressing outcomes related to healthier and more affordable food, good economic growth, environmentally sustainable and resilient supply, and vibrant food cultures in the UK food system?
2. What are the likely impacts and trade-offs at (a) population level, and specifically for (b) deprived communities?
3. What are the highest priority interventions to focus on, and where are the evidence gaps?
PLEASE NOTE CONTRACT START DATE IS 07/10/2025
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) intends to award a contract for the delivery of the Consumer Insight Tracker. The FSA has been conducting monthly surveys with consumers (the Consumer Insights Tracker) since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in April 2020. The surveys have evolved over time to meet emerging needs. The FSA is seeking an experienced research agency to continue delivering the FSA’s Consumer Insights Tracker for the next 3 years (with annual break clauses). The supplier will be responsible for all aspects of the project, including recruitment, sampling, logistics and project management.
The National Reference Laboratory(ies) for Feed Additives and Food Improvement Agents for Northern Ireland (NI) will play a vital role in protecting consumers from feeds containing harmful or unauthorised additives or from foods containing unauthorised Food Improvement Agents. The NRL will provide specialist advice as requested by the FSA and technical support to the NI enforcement process for food, feed and products thereof. <br/><br/>This is a dual lot tender. Tenders are invited to bid for one lot or both lots together; please provide details of any applicable discount for multiple awards within the Financial Template. <br/><br/>The designated laboratory(ies) will carry out the provision of Services for the NRLs for NI for the following areas: <br/>Lot 1 NRL for Additives for use in Animal Nutrition <br/>Lot 2 NRL for Food Improvement Agents <br/><br/>This is a 4 year contract with an optional 2 year extension.<br/>The value of the Contract is estimated to be between £0 - £174,000 for the total duration, including the 2 year extension. The FSA is not required to take the extension.
The Food Standards Agency has put in place a contract for the provision of a weekly rental, laundering and disposal of garments in approved establishments in England and Wales.
The FSA is the competent authority responsible for the classification of live bivalve mollusc (shellfish) production and relaying areas. Where a decision in principle is made to classify; the FSA is obliged to carry out several specific actions collectively termed a sanitary survey.
The FSA is the competent authority responsible for the classification of live bivalve mollusc (shellfish) production and relaying areas. Where a decision in principle is made to classify; the FSA is obliged to carry out several specific actions collectively termed a sanitary survey.
The FSA is the competent authority responsible for the classification of live bivalve mollusc (shellfish) production and relaying areas. Where a decision in principle is made to classify; the FSA is obliged to carry out several specific actions collectively termed a sanitary survey.
The FSA is the competent authority responsible for the classification of live bivalve mollusc (shellfish) production and relaying areas. Where a decision in principle is made to classify; the FSA is obliged to carry out several specific actions collectively termed a sanitary survey.
The FSA is the competent authority responsible for the classification of live bivalve mollusc (shellfish) production and relaying areas. Where a decision in principle is made to classify; the FSA is obliged to carry out several specific actions collectively termed a sanitary survey.
The Food Standards Agency intend to award a contract for Survey of Contaminants in Smoked Products.
An analytical survey across a wide range of products including traditionally smoked foods (e.g., fish and meat), smoked ingredients (e.g., salt, water, sugar, herbs and spices) and smoking alternatives would help to gather evidence on the occurrence of potentially harmful contaminants such as PAHs.
The contract is for the supply of Fish Testing and Reporting services to the Food Standards Agency. The successful supplier is Wageningen Food Safety Research.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is currently undertaking a critical fish sampling and testing programme focused on cyanotoxins in fish harvested from Lough Neagh. This follows findings from the 2024/25 programme, which identified the presence of microcystins in fish flesh and anatoxins in viscera, both of which pose risks to human and animal health.
Testing conducted by Wageningen Food Safety Research (WFSR) for:
• Microcystins/Nodularin
• Anatoxins/Cylindrospermopsins
• Saxitoxins
Please Note : The date recorded as the signed date in this UK 7 notice is incorrect. The correct signed date is 08/08/2025
Lough Neagh Sampling Plan - 2025-2026
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is commissioning a 2025/26 sampling programme to assess the presence and levels of cyanotoxins in fish harvested from Lough Neagh. This follows findings from the 2024/25 programme, which identified microcystins in edible fish flesh and anatoxins in viscera, both of which pose significant health risks. The continued sampling is essential to build on existing scientific evidence, monitor toxin trends, and ensure food and feed safety advice remains current. The programme will focus on seven commercially harvested fish species, including pike, due to its potential for higher toxin bioaccumulation. Samples will be tested by GreenWater Laboratories
he date recorded as the signed date in this UK 7 notice is incorrect. The correct signed date is 09/07/2025
Lough Neagh Sampling Plan - 2025-2026
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is commissioning a 2025/26 sampling programme to assess the presence and levels of cyanotoxins in fish harvested from Lough Neagh. This follows findings from the 2024/25 programme, which identified microcystins in edible fish flesh and anatoxins in viscera, both of which pose significant health risks. The continued sampling is essential to build on existing scientific evidence, monitor toxin trends, and ensure food and feed safety advice remains current. The programme will focus on seven commercially harvested fish species, including pike, due to its potential for higher toxin bioaccumulation. Samples will be tested by GreenWater Laboratories
he date recorded as the signed date in this UK 7 notice is incorrect. The correct signed date is 09/07/2025
The genomic data platform developed through the PATH-SAFE programme is an operational, cross-government capability which provides genomic analytics linked to contextual metadata, visualised in user friendly reports for end-users within partner UK agencies. The platform has been built on proven expertise and infrastructure and has been co-designed using community and end-user expertise to ensure the delivery of value to end users. Ultimately the platform is expected to provide annotations comparable between agencies through standardised best practice analytics and QC thresholds, enabling sharing of data and resources across organisations, and the rapid identification and tracking of foodborne pathogens, clusters and AMR.
The platform was made live in March 2024, equipped with analytics solely focussed on Salmonella spp., and enhanced through FY24/25 to include E.coli and Listeria analytics. Further funding has been secured for FY25/26 to continue development of the platform as part of a National Food Surveillance Programme, seeking to build on previous project success and prior HMT investment to date. With the platform ready for use, next steps will require deep focus on data integration (i.e. conduiting of data from individual to collective value) to the platform, deployment and further enhancement to support end user needs.
The platform utilises the capability owned by the supplier to complete analyses required to complete this project.
The genomic data platform developed through the PATH-SAFE programme is an operational, cross-government capability which provides genomic analytics linked to contextual metadata, visualised in user friendly reports for end-users within partner UK agencies. The platform has been built on proven expertise and infrastructure and has been co-designed using community and end-user expertise to ensure the delivery of value to end users. Ultimately the platform is expected to provide annotations comparable between agencies through standardised best practice analytics and QC thresholds, enabling sharing of data and resources across organisations, and the rapid identification and tracking of foodborne pathogens, clusters and AMR.
The platform was made live in March 2024, equipped with analytics solely focussed on Salmonella spp., and enhanced through FY24/25 to include E.coli and Listeria analytics. Further funding has been secured for FY25/26 to continue development of the platform as part of a National Food Surveillance Programme, seeking to build on previous project success and prior HMT investment to date. With the platform ready for use, next steps will require deep focus on data integration (i.e. conduiting of data from individual to collective value) to the platform, deployment and further enhancement to support end user needs.
The platform utilises the capability owned by the supplier to complete analyses required to complete this project.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) undertakes radiological dose assessments on the food safety implications from discharges of radioactive wastes to the environment. Habits survey data are required primarily for dose assessments undertaken by FSA, and their partner organisations, the Environment Agency (EA) and the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) and are necessary to evaluate the radiation risk to members of the public. Habits surveys also provide up-to-date information to improve future monitoring programmes.