These schemes are designed by the Government to aid better co-ordination of inspections and enforcement of businesses, resulting in a more consistent approach to the inspection process and any subsequent advice or enforcement action. They are also intended to facilitate greater sharing of information between authorities, creating opportunities for them to target their resources more effectively, and reducing the costs that arise from inconsistent or duplicated enforcement.
Gateshead Food Team acts as informal Home Authority to several large food businesses in the borough.
Home Authority
A local authority is considered to be the Home Authority for food business operating in more than one local authority area, when the relevant decision making base of the enterprise is located in their area. The Home Authority will have close working arrangements with the business, giving them advice on food and feeding stuffs, safety and standards promotion. These working arrangements can range from formal written agreements to informal advice and assistance.
Primary Authority
The Government’s statutory Primary Authority scheme came into force on 6 April 2009. The scheme introduces provisions for businesses, charities or other organisations that operate across more than one site, to enter into a partnership agreement with a single authority for it to become that organisation's Primary Authority.
The Local Better Regulation Office(LBRO) co-ordinates the scheme, including approving and registering all Primary Authorities. Where a primary authority is registered, any other local authority (known as an ‘enforcing authority’ for the purposes of the scheme) proposing to take enforcement action against a food business within the scheme must contact the primary authority first. The Primary Authority can then challenge the proposed enforcement action, if it believes it to be inconsistent with advice or guidance that it has previously provided. LBRO will determine any disputes between a primary authority, or a business, and an enforcing authority.