³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ

The Crown Office Prosecution Service have advised that there have been no prosecutions for unnecessary suffering under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 relating to the use of electronic training aids since 1 October 2018. Information on the use of the guidance in providing advice to enforcement authorities and dog owners will be gathered during the review of the guidance in autumn 2019.

The Scottish Government committed to reviewing the effectiveness of the guidance on dog training aids in preventing welfare compromises due to aversive training methods after 12 months and in light of the experience of enforcement authorities. The Guidance was published in October 2018 and the review has therefore not yet begun.

Food Standards Scotland (FSS) purchased the licence for MenuCal from the Food Safety Authority of Ireland in March 2016, costing £132,947.25.

Subsequently, FSS, in partnership with the Scottish Food Enforcement Liaison Committee, piloted MenuCal with Scottish businesses. The outcomes from the pilot report, have been considered and changes have been made to improve the usability of the tool for businesses in Scotland, costing £12,336. The outcomes from the pilot report can be accessed on the following link: . MenuCal is currently being promoted to businesses via the Environmental Health Departments in Local Authorities and the Trail Blaze sites outlined in the Scottish Government’s ‘A healthier future: Scotland's diet and healthy weight delivery plan’ which can be accessed on the following link: .

It is the legal responsibility of food business operators to produce safe food, and that includes having effective procedures in place in relation to allergens. Food businesses are required by law to ensure that staff have the necessary knowledge to produce safe food. Food businesses are expected to have staff capable of providing accurate allergen information to consumers about what is in the food they buy. As a matter of best practice, it is recommended that food business operators consider using a system where staff direct allergen queries to a nominated person to ensure the consistency of allergen information to consumers.

Where a single-use drinks container sold online is delivered to a consumer in Scotland, a deposit will be applied to that container. Retailers that provide a delivery service will be required to provide a doorstep takeback service. We are considering further what duties should apply to online sales which are fulfilled using a postal or courier delivery service.

The Scottish Government will shortly publish a Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment offering an analysis of the costs and benefits to business associated with implementation of a deposit return scheme.

The valuation of all non-domestic property is a matter for independent Scottish Assessors and it will be for them to consider the appropriate practice pertaining to the valuation of reverse vending machine sites in accordance with valuation law. The Scottish Government will continue to consider the implications of the scheme on those businesses acting as return points.

We are working with the UK Government on the interaction between DRS and the existing packaging obligations. Our intention is that producers will not pay into the PRN system for containers obligated under the DRS .

The Scottish Government is clear that the desired outcome is that the deposit should not be subject to VAT. Discussions are ongoing with the UK Government to reach a final position on this matter.

Deposit return represents a cost effective mechanism through which businesses will meet their producer responsibility obligations to manage packaging at end of life. In line with the principle of extended producer responsibility, it is for producers rather than Government to meet those costs. The Scottish Government will, however, continue to be engaged around the financing of the scheme as part of the work of the Implementation Advisory Group.