Under the Food Safety Act 1990 – Section 27 and the Agriculture Act 1970 – Section 67 the council is required to appoint one or more public analysts for food safety and an agriculture analyst and deputy agriculture analysts as needed.

Following the closure of Worcestershire Scientific services which was part of Worcestershire County Council the council lost both its Public Analyst and Agricultural Analyst.

Hampshire and Kent scientific services are part of Hampshire County Council and Kent County Council and they have the same aims, objectives and responsibilities in regard to food safety act and agricultural act matters