Working Groups

Important information Please note that some of the information on this page is out of date.  This content is currently under review and will be updated as soon as possible.

The SFELC working groups work strive to identify best practice and effective service delivery models.  In doing so they support and direct the work of the Subcommittees and main Committee alike.  Several SFELC Working Groups report to each of the subcommittees and are considered to be an important avenue for the enforcement community to influence food safety practice in Scotland.

View the full terms of reference.

• Approvals Pilot working group
• Approved Establishments working group
• Charging for Additional Official Controls working group
• Code of Practice working group: Development Team
• Code of Practice working group: Pilot Authorities
• Diet and Nutrition working group
• Food Crime working group
• Food Standards project group
• HACCP working group
• Imports / Exports working group
• Interventions working group
• Risky Food working group
• Sampling and Surveillance working group
• Scottish National Database: development working group
• Seafood Official Controls working group
• Specialist Cheesemakers working group
• Street Traders' / Regulatory Reform working group

Approvals Pilot working group

Details of the remit of this group and its members will be posted shortly. 

Approved Establishments working group

The Approved Establishments Working Group aims to ensure the delivery of enhanced controls in relation to the approved sector in Scotland.  The Working Group has produced a guidance document ‘Verification of Food Safety Management Systems: Principles for Official Controls in the Approved/Manufacturing Sector’ which espouses a HACCP-focused approach to dealing with the approved sector.  The Working Group has also produced the Scottish National Protocol for Approved Establishments which is applied by both FSS and LAs.

Chair - William Hamilton (Glasgow City Council)

Andy MacLeod (Argyll & Bute Council)

Andy Morrison (Aberdeen City Council)

Dawn Manson (Shetland Islands Council)

Graeme Corner (Highland Council)

Grainne Gilson (Food Standards Scotland)

Izzy Childs (City of Edinburgh Council)

Lorna Murray (Food Standards Scotland)

Lorna Reid (Glasgow City Council)

Lynsey Glover (Aberdeenshire Council)

Rita Botto (Food Standards Scotland)

Charging for Additional Official Controls working group

This working group is in the process of being set up.  The members of the group, remit and terms of reference will be available shortly. 

Chair – Jane Dyer (Glasgow City Council)

Andrew Crawford (Clackmannanshire Council)

Chris Seyfried (West Dunbartonshire Council)

Craig Smith (West Lothian)

Jane Dyer (Glasgow City Council)

Joe Harkin (East Dunbartonshire Council)

Lorna Murray / Steve Hardie / Garry Mournian (Food Standards Scotland)

Martin Keeley (West Dunbartonshire Council)

Oyunn Anshus (Midlothian Council)

Code of Practice: Development Team

This is a collaborative working relationship between FSS and Local Authorities in the development of food law interventions. 

Chair – Bryan Campbell (Food Standards Scotland)

George Barr (North Lanarkshire Council)

Ian McWatt (Food Standards Scotland)

Lorna Murray (Food Standards Scotland)

Paul Bradley (West Lothian Council)

Robin White (Food Standards Scotland)

William Hamilton (Glasgow City Council)

Code of Practice: Pilot Authorities

Aberdeen City

Clackmannanshire

East Renfrewshire

Inverclyde

Midlothian

North Lanarkshire

Renfrewshire

South Ayrshire

West Dunbartonshire

West Lothian

Diet and Nutrition working group

The DNHWG objectives are to support Food standards Scotland (FSS) & the Scottish Government in helping the population meet the Scottish Dietary Goals. The group also aims to consider all aspects of Local Authority involvement with caterers/retailers to improve the nutritional content by reducing levels of salt, sugar and fats in foods provided.

Chair – Eilidh Paton (Glasgow City Council)

Carolyn Cooper (Glasgow City Council)

Christine Morrison (Comhairle nan Eilean Siar / Western Isles Council)

Gerry Fallon (South Ayrshire Council)

Grainne Gilson (Food Standards Scotland)

Gwyneth Heaney (Renfrewshire Council)

Jane Couper (Tayside Scientific Services)

Laura Gunning (East Lothian Council)

Lyn Sedgeworth (Stirling Council)

Kathryn Cairns (Inverclyde Council)

Sally Laing (Perth and Kinross Council)

Food Crime working group

The key objective of this group is to provide aid to LAs and FSS in order to Divert, Deter, Detect and Disrupt the threat of food crime across Scotland.  It develops preventative and control strategies in relation to food crime and develops intelligence on existing and emerging food crime threats. 

Chair – Martin Keeley (West Dunbartonshire Council)

Vice-chair - Paul Birkin (Glasgow City Council)

Andrea Carson (Aberdeen City Council)

Andy MacLeod (Argyll & Bute Council)

Andy Morrison (Aberdeen City Council)

Greg Douglas (Dumfries & Galloway Council)

Jane Couper (Dundee Scientific Services)

Jane White (Glasgow Scientific Services)

Karen Gunn (Midlothian Council)

Lorna Starkey (Fife Council)

Ron McNaughton (Food Standards Scotland)

Food Standards project group

This working group short term sub-group of the SFELC Food Standards Sub-Committee it's core objectives are to create resources (i) to support Small to Medium Enterprises in understanding and complying with the requirements for food labelling, composition and quality, and (ii) to support in understanding of, and consistency in, enforcing the requirements for food labelling, composition and quality. 

Chair - Carolyn Cooper (Glasgow City Council)

HACCP working group

This working group has now ceased activity after having produced the documents on; CookSafe, ButcherSafe and RetailSafe. 

Chair – Andrew Morrison (Aberdeen City Council)

Aiden McCormack (The Moray Council)

Doreen Tawse (Food Standards Scotland)

Gerry Fallon (South Ayrshire Council)

Grainne Gilson (Food Standards Scotland)

Helen Henderson (Clackmannanshire Council)

Margaret Gregory (Angus Council)

Michael Lapsley (Inverclyde Council)

Imports / Exports working group

This working group is in the process of being set up.  The remit and terms of reference of the group will be available shortly. 

Co-Chair - Graeme Corner (Highland Council)

Co-Chair - Andy MacLeod (Argyll and Bute Council)

Andrea Carson (Aberdeen City)

Claire Donaghy (Midlothian Council)

Jane Fleming (East Dunbartonshire Council)

John Gannon (City of Edinburgh Council)

John Laird (Falkirk Council)

Karen Fisher (Glasgow City Council)

Pat Smyth (Food Standards Scotland)

Robert Marshall (Renfrewshire Council)

Susan Carter (West Dunbartonshire Council)

Interventions Working Group

The Interventions Working Group is a short-term sub-group of both the SFELC Food Safety Sub-committee and the Food Standards Sub-Committee. It will, where necessary or appropriate, produce ad hoc reports, guidance and other papers on; inspection/interventions in the catering and retail sectors; the implications of merging food hygiene and food standards within one inspection/intervention; and the review of the Interventions section of the Food Law Code of Practice. 

Chair – Luke Henderson (Clackmannanshire Council)

Andy MacLeod (Argyll and Bute Council)

Bryan Campbell (Food Standards Scotland)

Carrie Cooper (Glasgow City Council)

David Hunter (East Renfrewshire Council)

Elaine Davies (Aberdeen City Council)

Jacquie Sutton (Food Standards Scotland)

Karen Spalding (West Lothian Council)

Kenny McDonald (East Dunbartonshire Council)

Mary-Kate Dougan (West Lothian Council)

Stephen Duffy (North Lanarkshire Council)

William Hamilton (Glasgow City Council)

Risky Food working group

This Working Group developed guidance for Local Authority officers on foods of particular concern, specifically the significant issue of less than thoroughly cooked burgers.  A guidance document was produced in order to ensure a consistent and robust approach to enforcement across Scotland.  It can be found here. 

Co-Chair - Graeme Corner (Highland Council)

Co-Chair - Lorna Reid (Glasgow City Council)

Andy MacLeod (Argyll & Bute Council)

Andy Morrison (Aberdeen City Council)

Bryan Campbell (Food Standards Scotland)

Darren Johnson (East Lothian Council)

Gillian Scott (Dumfries and Galloway Council)

Izzy Childs (City of Edinburgh Council)

Jane Horne (Food Standards Scotland)

Lorna Murray (Food Standards Scotland)

Lynne Bissett (Falkirk Council)

Lynsey Glover (Aberdeenshire Council)

Martin Keeley (West Dunbartonshire Council)

Sampling and Surveillance working group

The aim of the Sampling & Surveillance Working Group is to ensure facilitation of the sampling and surveillance requirements of Scottish Local Authorities.  It takes into account the impact of changes in enforcement practice e.g. the Food Law Code of Practice Annex 5 Review, and makes best use of all resources involved in sampling and analysis. 

Chair – Jane White (Glasgow Scientific Services)

Christina Anthony (Food Standards Scotland)

Jacqui McElhiney (Food Standards Scotland)

Jane Couper (Tayside Scientific Services)

John Bell (Aberdeenshire Council)

Karen Platt (Glasgow Scientific Services)

Kasia Kazimierczak (Food Standards Scotland)

Lesley McFarlane (South Ayrshire Council)

Lorna Starkey (Fife Council)

Lynsey Glover (Aberdeenshire Council)

Paul Bradley (West Lothian Council)

Scottish National Database: development working group

The Working Group will oversee the development of the Scottish National Database to ensure that the Database becomes an effective tool for Local Authorities as well as Food Standards Scotland.  The remit and terms of reference will be available shortly. 

Chair – Paul Birkin (Glasgow City Council)

Bryan Campbell / Robin White (Food Standards Scotland)

Catherine Boyd (North Ayrshire Council)

Gail Black (Aberdeenshire Council)

Izzy Childs (City of Edinburgh Council)

Kenny MacDonald (East Dunbartonshire Council)

Lindsay Matthew (Dundee City Council)

Lorna Twynam-Perkins (Glasgow City Council)

Seafood Official Controls working group

The "Fish and Shellfish Working Group" has been renamed and will be reinvigorated as the "Seafood Official Controls Working Group".  The remit and terms of reference of this group will be available shortly. 
Co-Chair - Andy MacLeod (Argyll and Bute Council)

Co-Chair - Graeme Corner (Highland Council)

Secretary - Frances Gemmell (North Ayrshire Council)

Andrea Carson (Aberdeen City Council)

Andy Morrison (Aberdeen City Council)

Brian Lawrie (South Ayrshire Council)

Catherine Boyd (North Ayrshire Council)

Christine Morrison (Comhairle nan Eilean Siar / Western Isles Council)

Colm Fraser (Comhairle nan Eilean Siar / Western Isles Council)

David Brown (Orkney Islands Council)

Dawn Manson (Shetland Islands Council)

Eilidh Paton (Glasgow City Council)

Gerry Fallon (South Ayrshire Council)

Grainne Gilson (Food Standards Scotland)

Hazel McLaughlin (North Lanarkshire Council)

James McLennan (The Moray Council)

Jennifer Howie (Food Standards Scotland)

John Grant (Aberdeenshire Council)

John Lecyn (Fife Council)

Josep Campins (Food Standards Scotland)

Karen Sievewright (The Moray Council)

Laura Gray (Fife Council)

Louise Moar (Shetland Islands Council)

Margaret Gregory (Angus Council)

Matthew Murdoch (Dumfries and Galloway Council)

Pat Pearson (Orkney Islands Council)

Pat Smyth (Food Standards Scotland)

Robert Marshall (Renfrewshire Council)

Sally Reynolds (Scottish Borders Council)

Specialist Cheesemakers working group

The remit of this Working Group is to enhance the knowledge and understanding of Local Authority Officers on the artisanal manufacture of cheese  and to enable a consistent approach to enforcement.

Chair – Gerry Fallon (South Ayrshire Council)

Alan Dickson (South Lanarkshire Council)

Andy MacLeod (Argyll & Bute Council)

Carol Rattenbury (Highland Council)

Jacqui Angus (Food Standards Scotland)

Jane White (Glasgow Scientific Services)

Julie Martin (Aberdeenshire Council)

Karen Platt (Glasgow Scientific Services)

Linda Kain (Dumfries & Galloway Council)

Steven Craig (Glasgow City Council)

Street Traders’ / Regulatory Reform working group

This Working Group was charged with the task of drafting and implementing the Street Traders’ National Hygiene Standard, in concert with FSS and Scottish Government 

Chair - William Hamilton (Glasgow City Council)

Alison Robertson (Aberdeen City Council)

Maggie Mcwhinnie (Clackmannanshire Council)

Martin Keeley (West Dunbartonshire Council)

Rachel Allan (Glasgow City Council)

Raymond Pang (Food Standards Scotland)

Steve Moorshead (City of Edinburgh Council)