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While our response to the Independent Review of Audiology is implemented, we continue to work with the NHS, Third Sector and private providers to identify an appropriate model of community care for any future service reform, and ensure that the voices of those with lived experience inform this work.

The Scottish Government does not hold any information relating to individual NHS Board delivery of audiology services.

Food Standards Scotland (FSS) is currently undertaking research to better understand portion sizes of foods commonly sold by independent out of home businesses in Scotland. The findings will be published later in 2025 on the FSS website and accessible at the nutrition research hub. When published this will be shared with those who have signed up to receive notifications.

Whilst the organisational focus of Food Standards Scotland (FSS) is to support positive changes to the food environment, they remain committed to providing consumers with consistent messaging around a healthy balanced diet. As detailed within the Public Health Nutrition strategy, FSS continue to deliver consistent dietary advice using existing tools such as Eat Well, Your Way and building on the previous successes of our campaigns to increase awareness of advice on vitamin D supplementation during the winter months.

The Operational Delivery Division in Food Standards Scotland has a contingency plan for all meat plants in Scotland. This ensures a continuous service of Meat Hygiene Inspectors (MHIs) and Official Veterinarians (OVs) and to minimise disruption to supply chains during times of severe weather, industrial action, or other extraordinary events.

Under the Food Information to Consumers Regulation, food information must be accurate and not mislead the consumer. This applies to both mandatory information such as ingredients lists and nutrition declarations as well as any voluntary information for example a general claim about a food being a healthy option. Local Authority Environmental Health Departments have powers under the Food Information (Scotland) Regulations 2014 to enforce these requirements and Food Standards Scotland (FSS) encourages businesses to work with enforcement officers to ensure compliance with the law.

To support food producers to meet labelling regulations, Food Standards Scotland (FSS) has published various forms of guidance and training material which are designed to lay the relevant information out in an easy-to-understand way. This includes guidance on the Food Information Regulation, allergen labelling, food sold prepacked for direct sale and front of pack nutrition labelling along with online allergy training and MenuCal resource.

During the preparation, evaluation and revision of food law (including any changes to labelling requirements), Food Standards Scotland (FSS) carries out open and transparent public consultation, directly or through representative bodies. FSS does this by reaching out to business using their Stakeholder Management System and social media. FSS also engages with businesses during the development of guidance documents and provides other tools such as online allergy training.

However, whilst FSS has responsibility for the policies surrounding food composition, labelling and hygiene, local authorities are primarily responsible for the enforcement of the relevant legislation at local level. FSS encourages businesses to work with their local authority to improve compliance.

In line with the Food Standards Scotland (FSS) Food Crime Prevention Strategic Plan 2024-27, FSS works in partnership with local authorities, other law enforcement agencies (LEA), industry and stakeholders at various strategic and tactical fora, including:

• the National Multi Agency Counterfeit Alcohol Working Group
• regular engagement with the drinks industry
• share intelligence with relevant LEA and local authority partners
• engagement with international LEA partners - Europol, OLAF and participate in Operation OPSON
• Food Crime Global Alliance
• access to Trading Standards intelligence system
• media awareness - including risk communication to consumers
• horizon scanning
• proactive sampling projects
• multi-agency inspections
• through joint working/liaison with Police Scotland, HMRC and local authorities
• intelligence requirements from/to various partners
• Food Alerts for Action (FAFA) via local authorities
• liaison with Public Health teams and National Poisons

Food Standards Scotland routinely engages with all sectors of the food industry, providing advice and support to businesses to protect supply chains, including:

• Food Crime Risk Profiling Tool
• Food Crime Prevention Strategy
• in partnership with the Food Industry Intelligence Network and SALSA
• hosting food crime seminars for industry

All information/intelligence relating to food crime is assessed and, where appropriate, is subject to further investigation or referred to relevant enforcement authorities, e.g. local authorities. Since 2018, Food Standards Scotland (FSS) investigators have undertaken forty-seven investigations of varying complexity into alleged food crime, many of which were conducted jointly with local authorities or with the collaboration of other law enforcement agencies (LEA), with FSS having a lead role.

Of these forty-seven investigations:

• 11 identified fraud
• 4 identified culpable and reckless conduct (serious food safety issues)
• 3 identified animal cruelty at FSS approved premises
• 1 identified breaches of hygiene regulations at approved premises
• 7 proved no crime had been committed

(Note: the above listing refers to the principal crime type as in a number of cases there were multiple crime counts, including statutory food safety offences).

As regards the remaining 21 investigations, these identified regulatory food crime or other related matters falling under the principal remit of local authorities or other law enforcement agencies (LEA including international LEA), which were referred for consideration of further action.