Tough E-coli measures attacked as not enough

However, a butchers' pressure group warned that Professor Hugh Pennington's main proposal for the selective licensing of shops goes too far, and that some small traders will go to the wall.

Up to 1000 small butchers' shops in Scotland face an uncertain future because of another recommendation that raw and cooked meats should be ''physically separated'' within their premises.

However, the long-awaited report, published yesterday, drew back from the interim proposal in January that shops must also have separate staff for handling different meats.

The report follows last year's inquiry ordered by Scottish Secretary Michael Forsyth into the E-coli epidemic in Lanarkshire which claimed 18 lives across central Scotland.

Mr Forsyth immediately accepted the group's radical reforms into the way meat is handled and sold plus a series of tough checks for abattoirs to make sure carcasses with faecal contamination do not enter the human food chain.

However, the top-level investigation into the circumstances surrounding the E-coli outbreak provided no answers.

Mr Pennington's team of experts declined to identify the likely cause or to debate the actions of those involved in controlling the epidemic on grounds that these were issues for a fatal accident inquiry or criminal proceedings. The report also stopped short of recommending an independent Food Standards Agency as sought by the Labour Party.

Shadow Scottish Secretary George Robertson said the report showed the Government had ''betrayed'' the health of Scots because of implicit criticism of ''a lax approach to food safety over the years.''

SNP vice-president Andrew Welsh said: ''The Government must stand condemned that it took a crisis before they took action.''

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Jim Wallace questioned why previous food regulations had not been enforced, and added: ''I think that is indicative of the low priority which the Government has given to the issue of food safety over many, many years.''

Mr Forsyth said the Government's pledge to implement all recommendations underlined its clear commitment to public health.

He dismissed the calls for an independent Food Standards Agency, but pointed out about #20m would be allocated after the election to help local authorities enforce the regulations.

Recommendations range from ensuring that animals are ''clean'' when presented for slaughter to risk analysis for food shops being enshrined in legislation.

Selective licensing for premises not covered by the 1994 regulations will be established, and food handlers will have to go through at least basic training.

Professor Pennington em-phasised the importance of a hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP) sy- stem which could ''largely eliminate'' faecal contamination on carcasses, a main reason for E-coli spreading to humans.

But he warned there was no ''single, simple approach'' to eradicate the dangers, although his recommendations would minimise potential contamination from ''farm to fork''.

He denied references to a ''light touch'' in the implementation of existing regulations was a criticism of the Government. He said the ''light touch'' was because many people in the industry were not aware of the HACCP regulations.

The National Federation of Meat and Food Traders said the licensing proposal went ''beyond what is necessary''.

President Roger Kelsey said: ''Much of the recommendations reflect good practice for butchers which we support. However, we do have concerns on issues of separation.

''Selective licensing, we feel, goes beyond what is necessary to ensure the safe supply of food to the public. Existing legislation properly enforced, sees to that.''

However, Mr John Barr, the butcher whose shop was at the centre of Scotland's biggest E-coli outbreak, welcomed the report as a ''significant contribution to food safety''.

Mr Barr's solicitor said: ''He attaches particular importance to the recommendation that steps should be taken to improve education and awareness so that all involved in meat handling ... should be aware of the nature of E-coli and the risk of contamination.''

Mr Paul Santoni, the lawyer acting for victims of the outbreak, described the report as ''extremely disappointing - because it doesn't deal with the circumstances.''

The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health said the new regulations should be introduced as soon as possible to protect public health.

The Food Commission claimed the report was ''yet another nail in the coffin of the Government's food policy''. It welcomed the recommendations and emphasis put on the meat industry to improve standards, but said many of the points had been made before, including licensing of food premises in 1990, but had been rejected by the Government.

The Meat and Livestock Commission said its aim was to improve consumer confidence and standards after the E-coli outbreak.

The Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland warmly welcomed the report, described as ''comprehensive and far-reaching.'' A spokesman said selective licensing would lead to a much better trained workforce in the food industry.

The British Medical Association in Scotland welcomed the Pennington call for a clear Government policy lead on enforcing food safety measures.

At a news conference in Edinburgh, Mr Pennington and Mr Forsyth said they could not comment on specific aspects of the Lanarkshire outbreak because of pending legal proceedings.

''The overall approach we have adopted is precautionary and preventative. We see the need for a range of complementary measures both to protect public health and restore faith in our meat industry,'' Mr Pennington said.

He denied environmental health officers have been negligent in enforcing rules in recent years, but conceded new regulations introduced in 1994 and 1995 had taken some time for producers and enforcers to adapt to.

Mr Forsyth accepted there has been too much regulation and confusion with regard to implementing hazard analysis, but stressed: ''If you read the report there is no criticism of the Government in it.''

q A hotel where Mr Forsyth was due to hold an election campaign news conference found itself at the centre of a salmonella scare. Twenty people became ill, of whom six have been confirmed as having the bacteria, after eating at the Isle of Skye hotel in Perth, health officials said. The hotel said the source of the outbreak was a mystery as no trace of salmonella had been found there by investigators.