Food Control Systems

The food and drink industry is the largest industrial sector in the UK with a gross value added of £190 billion. It’s also the largest employer in the UK, employing 4.7 million people.

On this microcredential delivered by the University of Birmingham, you’ll gain expertise in the field of food safety, hygiene, and management to help you stand out in this competitive sector.

You’ll discover the latest advances in the fast-changing UK and international food legislation and standards, and explore the career opportunities available to you in the field of food safety.

If you’re a food safety inspector or work in a food business and want to develop your legal knowledge around food safety, this microcredential will help you increase your understanding to progress your career.

Understand the common mechanisms of food control

The implementation and enforcement of food hygiene and food standards legislation are key components in food control.

You’ll discover how the delivery of food control is always carried out within a National Food Control System. Using various countries as models, you’ll examine the structure and purpose of these systems to understand how they are used as the framework for food safety and control.

Examine food laws including the Food Safety Act

Food safety enforcement varies between countries according to the relevant legal system but there are commonalities, such as inspection, sampling, licencing and registration.

You’ll look at the UK as an example to illustrate the delivery of food control. You’ll develop a good understanding of the English legal system and the sources of food law, as well as becoming familiar with crucial frameworks such as the Food Safety Act 1990.

With this knowledge, you’ll understand that on a global scale, the law impacts food and principles can be used and implemented to enable safe food.

Understand the roles of the Food Standards Agency and European Commission

Despite country variations, members of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) base domestic legislation on international standards. You’ll examine these in the context of the EU and UK to understand how international standards can be implemented in domestic legislation.

You’ll learn how to access, read, and apply food safety legislation issued by the Food Standards Agency and the European Commission to help you identify the roles and impacts of these enforcement bodies.

Apply your understanding of food law

Once you become comfortable in your understanding of food law, you’ll be able to identify how to use it correctly in typical situations and determine a suitable course of action.

Examining the range of options available to enforcement officers, you’ll look at case studies to learn how to take the appropriate action, give advice, and carry out enforcement in relation to food safety.

Understand the issues associated with environmental health

You’ll also consider the factors that can impact the delivery of food controls, such as enforcement policy, industry structure, and resources.

Engaging with food safety specialists, you’ll be supported as you discuss the legal, moral, and practical issues associated with food safety and food hygiene legislation.

By the end of this microcredential, you’ll be able to identify complex factors that affect legislation development as you increase your understanding of food control and law.