The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) will examine the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the UK food sector as part of its very first Food Safety Conference online later this month.

The conference will take place between the 21st and 23rd October in association with UKHospitality and will highlight the current food safety challenges identified during the Covid-19 pandemic.

It will also shine a light on incoming changes to allergen labelling rules, as well as latest trends, innovations and challenges in the safe food supply chain.

As part of the conference, Emily Miles, CEO of the Food Standards Agency (FSA), will be delivering a keynote speech on modernising regulation, exploring the challenges and opportunities facing the FSA and their priorities for the future.

“With the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Brexit on the horizon and new allergen rules coming into force next year, there is no better time for us to come together to share best practice and explore the challenges and opportunities for food safety and security.”

Steven Glass, director of global food safety at JustEat, will be discussing how they managed the spike in demand for food delivery from locked-down customers during the pandemic.

The conference will also look at issues such as imported food controls post-Brexit, immigration in food premises and managing food safety in challenging environments, alongside hearing from the chief scientific advisor at the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the founder of the Institute for Global Food Security.

Debbie Wood, executive director of membership and external affairs at CIEH, said: “We are delighted to welcome attendees to our first ever online food safety conference. Now in its 11th year, our flagship conference is always a fantastic event for food safety professionals working across the food supply chain.

“With the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Brexit on the horizon and new allergen rules coming into force next year, there is no better time for us to come together to share best practice and explore the challenges and opportunities for food safety and security.”