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Redesign for FSA's regulatory role
meat
The new pilot scheme will redistribute regulation to selected companies including Tesco and restaurant chain Mitchell and Butlers.
Agency creating 'a new blueprint' for regulating food businesses

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is to restructure the way in which food regulation is delivered as part of its 'Food We Can Trust' strategic goal. Increasing demands and pressure on the agency’s current inspection model have sparked a need to readdress how resources are distributed.

In a key note speech at the agency’s Parliamentary Reception, Heather Hancock, FSA chairperson said: "We will move away from a one size fits all approach, to tailored and proportionate regulation that reflects risk, reinforces accountability and delivers more for public health."

The new pilot scheme will redistribute regulation to selected companies including Tesco and restaurant chain Mitchell and Butlers, capitalising on larger companies' own auditing and sampling techniques to monitor and ensure food safety.  

The decision has received a mixed response, with critics concerned about the reliability of self-regulation. However, rapid technological and economical changes in the sector have driven the agency to explore alternative means of keeping pace with the industry.

Heather Hancock continued: "We will use robust industry data to help assure compliance and tackle public trust." She went on to praise the success of the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS): "Businesses seek higher ratings, and that competitive element drives up levels of compliance."

The pilots will run between now and December 2016. The new regime proper is expected by 2020. 

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

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News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.