The Port Health & Environmental Services Committee meeting scheduled for 21 April 2026 was set to consider several key service plans for the upcoming year, focusing on commercial environmental health and port health food enforcement. Additionally, the committee was scheduled to review a draft Air Quality Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) which aims to guide new developments in minimising air pollution.

Commercial Environmental Health Service Plan 2026-27

The committee was scheduled to consider the Commercial Environmental Health Service Plan for 2026-27, as detailed in the report by Katie Stewart, Executive Director, Environment. This plan outlines how the City Corporation will deliver its regulatory functions for food and occupational health and safety, in line with national Codes of Practice. The plan is expected to be approved by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and the Health & Safety Executive (HSE). The report recommended that the committee approve the plan.

The plan itself details the aims and objectives of the Commercial Environmental Health Team, including promoting a risk-based regulatory regime, ensuring safer and healthier workplaces, and safeguarding food safety. It aligns with the City Corporation's Corporate Plan 2024-29 and other relevant strategies. The report highlights the team's resources, including staffing, and reviews performance against the previous year's service plan. For 2026-27, the plan outlines specific objectives and activities, such as delivering a targeted programme of official food controls, maintaining support for the National Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS), and ensuring appropriate food standards interventions are completed. It also covers developing and implementing a risk-based food sampling programme, ensuring adequate arrangements for health and safety regulation, promoting workplace health and wellbeing, and developing Primary Authority Partnership work. The plan also addresses the development of IT and information management systems.

Port Health Food Enforcement Service Plan 2026-27

The committee was also scheduled to consider the Port Health Service Food Enforcement Service Plan for 2026-27, as presented in a report by Katie Stewart, Executive Director, Environment. This plan details how the London Port Health Authority (LPHA) will deliver its regulatory functions for food hygiene and standards, in accordance with national Codes of Practice. The FSA expects committee approval of this plan. The report also provided an update on the Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement between the UK and EU and its potential impact on future food and feed border controls. The committee was recommended to approve the plan and note the report, including Appendix 2 concerning the UK-EU SPS Agreement.

The Port Health Service Plan outlines the LPHA's aims and objectives, which are to protect public health through effective and proportionate enforcement of food law concerning imported food and animal feed. It details the authority's jurisdiction along the River Thames and its responsibilities, including managing controls on imported food and feed, infectious disease surveillance, and ship sanitation. The plan aligns with the City Corporation's Corporate Plan 2024-29. It describes the organisational structure of the Port Health Service and the scope of its food service, which focuses on imported food and animal feed, including inspection and sampling of consignments. The plan also addresses the demands on the service, detailing increased vessel calls and trade volumes at ports like London Gateway. The enforcement approach is risk-based, in line with the Border Target Operating Model (BTOM), and the plan outlines the interventions programme, food complaints and incidents, and a sampling programme. Liaison with other organisations, promotion and education, resources, and quality assessment are also covered.

Draft Air Quality Supplementary Planning Document (SPD)

A draft Air Quality Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) was scheduled for consideration, with the Planning and Transportation Committee asked to approve it for public consultation, and the Port Health and Environmental Services Committee asked to note the report. This document provides detailed guidance on how applicants should manage and minimise air pollution emissions to comply with policies HL2: Air Quality and HL9: Health Impact Assessments in the City Plan 2040. The draft SPD aims to ensure that development is designed to minimise emissions at source wherever possible, with remaining emissions subject to air pollution damage costs, which will be reinvested in measures to improve air quality across the Square Mile. This approach is intended to improve health outcomes and support the transition to a net zero carbon City by 2040.

The SPD requires major developments to aim for zero emissions of air pollutants wherever feasible. Where emissions cannot be designed out, developers must demonstrate that they have minimised them. Air pollution damage costs will be applied to any remaining operational emissions. The document details the requirements for Air Quality Impact Assessments (AQIAs) for major developments and outlines the structure of such assessments. It also covers construction, deconstruction, and demolition, and the application of air pollution damage costs. The SPD replaces the 2017 version and aims to ensure a consistent approach to managing air quality in planning applications, outlining best practice for development design and measures to mitigate residual emissions.

Report of Action Taken - HARC Fees

The committee was also scheduled to note a report concerning action taken regarding fees and charges at the Heathrow Animal Reception Centre (HARC). This report detailed a delegated decision made under Standing Order No. 40(a) to amend the HARC fee structure by up to 50% per annum for a period of up to six months. This decision was made due to disruptions in flights from the Middle East, which have impacted importers' ability to choose carriers and routes, particularly affecting fish and large animal imports. The report explained that the higher rate for consignments carried by non-HARC designated airlines would not be applied from 1 April 2026, and a temporary reduction in fees for these airlines was recommended to support importers and maintain the Corporation's commercial positioning. The decision was sought via the urgency procedure as the committee was not scheduled to convene before the fee changes were due to take effect.