LexBlog (Blogs)
582 results for LexBlog (Blogs)
- LexBlog Ireland LexBlog, 2019
-
Data Breaches and Spreadsheets: How to Avoid Fines When Excelling
The ICO has fined the Police Service of Northern Ireland (“PSNI”) £750,000 in what it has described as the “most significant data breach that has ever occurred in the history of UK policing”[1]. The ICO imposed the largest ever fine on a public body following the unauthorised disclosure of an Excel spreadsheet containing the personal...
-
FSAI warns of rise in ‘complex’ food incidents in annual report
In its annual report, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) warned that food incidents are becoming more complex and often serious. FSAI marked its 25th anniversary in 2023. External challenges impacting food safety include the potential for supply disruption due to political unrest in the Middle East and the war in Ukraine, regulatory divergence...
-
The FSA sampling survey finds a high level of compliance
A food sampling exercise found limited safety concerns but problems with declared meat content and added water. Findings come from a survey published by the Food Standards Agency (FSA), which helps monitor emerging food safety risks. The survey, which took place from July 2023 to January 2024, sampled 1,025 products from 31 commodities bought in England,...
-
Ireland shares the latest pathogen statistics
Ireland has reported the number of infections caused by major pathogens from April to June. Data comes from a report published by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) that includes foodborne illnesses in the second quarter of 2024. In the first quarter of 2024, there were 733 Campylobacter cases, five Listeria infections, 67 Salmonella cases,...
-
Ireland and Canada donate to the Safe Food Trade program
Ireland and Canada have donated thousands to support food safety and agriculture trade efforts. Ireland’s donation of €200,000 ($223,000) will support Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) projects and programs that improve access to global and regional markets for developing economies and least-developed countries (LDCs). Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, World Trade Organization (WTO) Director-Gene
-
Britain’s Renowned Higher Education Institutions Face Financial Headwinds, Potential Insolvency
British universities facing financial challenges and shifting enrollment patterns are considering restructuring plans in light of potential insolvencies. Revered for their academic excellence and preeminent research facilities, the universities in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Scotland have a collective annual revenue of over £48 billion, largely from fees and expenses paid by...
-
Irish project shows the mycotoxin situation in the cereals industry
Scientists have looked at mycotoxin issues in the cereals sector in Ireland to help better protect consumers. Ireland is an important producer of oats and barley. While some of the output is used as animal feed, a significant proportion is used in the food and beverage industries. Chris Elliott, an ex-professor of Food Safety at...
-
FSAI repeats duck egg warning after Salmonella cases
Several Salmonella infections in Ireland have been linked to eating duck eggs. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) said duck eggs should only be eaten after thoroughly cooking. FSAI and the Health Service Executive (HSE) have investigated five cases of Salmonellosis linked to duck eggs within the past 12 months. No information about the...
-
Ireland plans official control changes, issues raw bean warning
Ireland is to change who conducts certain official food controls to make the most of available resources. Official controls currently undertaken by the Local Authority Veterinary Service (LAVS) will be transferred to the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine (DAFM). The transition is expected to be completed in quarter four of 2024. At a...
-
Ireland: Meat thermometer use up; glycerol advice issued
An Irish survey has found a significant increase in the percentage of people who own a meat thermometer. A total of 38 percent of home cooks now own a meat thermometer, up from 17 percent three years ago. Ipsos B&A conducted the research with 2,006 respondents aged over 15 on the island of Ireland. Safefood,...
-
FSA finds link between food prices and risky behaviors
Analysis of a Food Standards Agency (FSA) survey has found people worried about being able to afford food are more likely to take food safety risks. Data comes from a report on the Consumer Insights Tracker covering July 2023 to March 2024. This monthly online survey monitors the behavior and attitudes of 2,000 adults in...
-
FSA sees incidents decline as Listeria claims top spot
Listeria has overtaken Salmonella as the main pathogen in incidents involving the Food Standards Agency (FSA). FSA was notified of 1,837 food and feed safety incidents in England, Northern Ireland, and Wales during 2023/24. This is the lowest amount for the past six years. While incidents have declined, the agency said it deals with more complex...
-
Ireland reveals illness data for early 2024
According to a recent report, Campylobacter and Listeria infections have increased, but Salmonella and E. coli cases dropped in Ireland in the first three months of 2024. Campylobacter infections increased from 700 in Q1 2023 to 733 in Q1 2024. Listeria infections rose from one to five. Salmonella cases decreased from 84 to 67, and...
-
Irish Investigation Uncovers Horse Traceability Issues
An investigation in Ireland has shone a spotlight on the welfare of horses and how their meat can enter the food chain. Traceability, misuse of microchips, and fake passport issues were raised in a program by Irish broadcaster RTÉ, including undercover footage and microchip record analysis. In response, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the...
-
Survey highlights hygiene issues with smart device use in kitchens
A study in Ireland has highlighted potential risks associated with using smart devices in the kitchen while cooking. The research examined hygiene habits when using a smartphone or tablet in the domestic kitchen. One in three participants didn’t wash their hands after touching raw chicken and before touching a smart device. Three-quarters didn’t wash their...
-
Northern Ireland Appeals Court Rejects Challenge To Religious Education In Schools
In re an Application by JR87, (NI CA, April 30, 2024), is an appeal in a challenge to the legality of religious education and collective worship practices in schools in Northern Ireland. In the case, parents who are humanists and are not raising their daughter in any religious tradition object to the Christian religious education...
-
ESMA agrees with investment restrictions on GBP LDI funds in Ireland and Luxembourg
On 29 April 2024, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) issued a press release which outlines its advice to the Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) and the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF) on investment restrictions for GBP Liability-Driven Investment (LDI) funds to ensure their resilience. The advice follows the notification from the...
-
FSA survey finds cost concerns leading to riskier behavior among consumers
A survey has shown how rising prices are prompting people to take more food safety risks in an attempt to save money, according to recently released research. The Food Standards Agency’s (FSA) Food and You 2 survey was conducted between April and July 2023. A total of 5,812 adults from 4,006 households across England, Wales,...
-
Food-related complaints increase in Ireland in 2023
The number of hygiene and safety complaints received by the Irish food agency in 2023 was higher than previous years, according to statistics recently released. A total of 7,732 complaints and queries were handled by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland’s (FSAI) Advice Line in 2023. There were 4,395 complaints from consumers, with more than...
-
Irish agency highlights shellfish norovirus risk
An agency in Ireland has published a notice to try to reduce the incidence of contaminated oysters in the market and minimize norovirus-related illnesses. The Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) Food Safety Information Notice covers strategies to manage norovirus risks in oysters. It coincides with the SFPA and Food Safety Authority of Ireland’s (FSAI) annual food...
-
Privacy World Week in Review
In case you missed it, below are recent posts from Privacy World covering the latest developments on data privacy, security and innovation. Please reach out to the authors if you are interested in additional information. In Narrow Vote California Moves Next Generation Privacy Regs Forward | Privacy World EDPB Versus Ireland? Does the Opinion on...
-
EDPB Versus Ireland? Does the Opinion on “Main Establishments” Mean the End of the GDPR “One-stop Shop” Mechanism?
On February 13, 2024, the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) released its opinion on the notion of the main establishment of a controller in the EU under article 4(16)(a) GDPR and the criteria for the application of the “one-stop shop” mechanism, in particular, regarding the notion of a controller’s “place of central administration” (PoCA) in...
-
Irish research shows high confidence in the safety of food
Industry and consumer research by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has revealed strong confidence in food safety measures. Consumers believe that food safety in the country has improved in the past five years, with some 9 in 10 people saying food in Ireland is safe. Surveys were undertaken with nationally representative samples of...
-
Dublin and London
The D&O Diary was on assignment in Europe last week, with first stops in Dublin and London. Late January may not seem like the ideal time to visit Ireland and England. Though the weather was chilly and darkness gathered early in the afternoon, it turned out not to be a bad time to visit after...
-
The DUP and The Deal: Power-Sharing Returns to N Ireland
Our December blog, examined the optimism at the end of last year that a way could be found out of the political deadlock that has paralysed the Northern Ireland Assembly for the last two years. As our blog noted, although those hopes did not materialize, the fact that the discussions had reached such an advanced...
-
FSAI assesses official controls in the dairy sector
An assessment of controls at companies in the dairy sector in Ireland has found the system works well overall but there are several areas that need improvement. The audit covered official controls by a Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) division in the dairy production chain. Eleven businesses were audited between August and...
-
Most major pathogens see an increase in Ireland
The number of E. coli, Salmonella, Campylobacter, and Listeria infections have gone up in Ireland, according to 2022 data from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC). During the COVID-19 pandemic, reporting rates for giardiasis, listeriosis, norovirus, rotavirus, salmonellosis, shigellosis, and toxoplasmosis in Ireland decreased compared to pre-pandemic levels. Still, rates for...
-
FSAI airs frustration at food safety law breaches
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has voiced frustration at what it called “repeated, similar and fundamental” breaches of food law. 92 enforcement orders were served on businesses for violating food safety legislation in 2023, up from the 77 reported in 2022. FSAI expressed disappointment at the increase and urged businesses to train staff...
-
Food prices a Christmas concern in Ireland
Almost two-thirds of households in Northern Ireland said the rising cost of food was their biggest concern ahead of Christmas, according to a survey. Research was commissioned by safefood as part of its annual Christmas food safety campaign. The group, which promotes food safety and nutrition in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, encouraged home cooks...
-
FSA survey finds most consumer views stable
Many consumer behaviors have remained the same, but concern about food prices has risen, according to an analysis of a multi-year survey. The report has findings from respondents in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland from six surveys between 2020 and 2023. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) uses the survey done twice a year to monitor consumers’...