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Applications invited for SFBB special grants

Thursday 22 May 2008

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The Agency is inviting applications from local authorities in England for the third wave of Safer food, better business (SFBB) special grants to help implement SFBB in small catering and retail businesses. The deadline for applications is 4 July 2008.

SFBB is a food safety management programme to help catering and other food businesses improve food safety and increase legal compliance. The FSA launched the SFBB pack, a toolkit for local authority officers and the first wave of the special grant scheme in September 2005. A second wave of grants was launched in September 2006 and a range of further SFBB materials, including an interactive DVD, have been developed.

SFBB evaluation report

A major SFBB evaluation exercise was carried out in 2007 and reported to the Agency’s Board last December. The evaluation looked at progress towards the Agency’s Strategic Plan target of all food businesses to be actively working to achieve compliance with food safety management requirements with at least 75% fully compliant by the end of December 2010.

The SFBB evaluation showed an upward trend, with 48% of businesses assessed by local authority officers as compliant with the requirement for documented food safety management procedures in April 2007 (compared with 30% in 2002).

Research on the business perspective also highlighted improvements in food safety, a high level of satisfaction with SFBB interventions and some financial benefits associated with stock control and minimised wastage.

As a result of this evaluation, the Agency’s Board agreed a third wave of grants.

Applying for grants

All English local authorities will be eligible to apply for funding, although priority will be given to those authorities that received no funding, or limited funding, in previous waves.

Guidance on completing the application form, which has been simplified for this wave, and the detailed criteria that will be used to assess grant applications, can be found at the link below. Also available for applicants are practical tips, an update on the support materials currently available and plans for future development of the SFBB programme.

Criteria for assessment will include:

Further information

Local authorities that need any further information or want to discuss details of their application further should contact Ann Reason (tel: 020 7276 8139), Andrew Stephenson (tel: 020 7276 8388) or email HACCPTeam@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk .

Related links

Annex 1: Application form Third tranche of Safer Food, Better Business special grant scheme

Download word  (Word 87KB) FSA 07/12/04 - Safer Food, Better Business: Milestone Evaluation Report Read the December 2007 FSA Board paper

Download pdf  (pdf 61KB) Letter to local authorities England (issued 22/05/08) Third tranche of Safer Food, Better Business special grant scheme

Download pdf  (pdf 161KB)

See also

Safer food, better business All about SFBB (External) Get Adobe Acrobat reader You may need the free Acrobat Reader to view a pdf

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