Port Health. Tendring District Council is a port health authority and covers Harwich International Port, Harwich Navyard and Mistley quay. Brightlingsea Port is administered by Colchester Borough Council in its role in relation to the Colne. Imported food control for products entering the ports from outside the European Union is contracted out to Suffolk Coastal District Council Port Health Service which is based at the Port of Felixstowe. The staff who undertake this role are appropriately authorised by Tendring District Council and review all manifests of incoming products and take action accordingly if any issue arises. Any follow up work would be undertaken by authorised Suffolk Coastal District Council staff operating on behalf of Tendring District Council’s and following Tendring District Council procedures. There is a very limited amount of imported food from outside the European Union entering through the ports however this is kept under constant review to ensure appropriate compliance. Tendring District Council undertake six monthly audits of Suffolk Coastal District Council to ensure the requirements of the formal agreement have been fulfilled. A formal audit of imported food control at the ports was undertaken by the Food Standards Agency on 19-20 October 2010. A limited number of issues were raised and the Service is working to ensure they are all resolved by 31 January 2011. Other port health work is undertaken within the Service. Vessels are inspected on a regular basis according to risk and guidance issued from time to time by the Association of Port Health Authorities. Inspection for issuance of Ship Sanitation Control / Ship Sanitation Control Exemption Certificates and routine water sampling is undertaken by request. These services are charged for. The increase in numbers and frequency of cruise ships using Harwich International Port has resulted in a significant increase in workload to ensure they are inspected where appropriate. This work is resource intensive over the Summer cruise season.
