The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has launched a 12-week consultation seeking views from local authorities, food business operators, unions and interested groups on the proposed changes to the Code in England.

The proposals involve fundamental changes to the food standards delivery model within the Code, and associated content. It includes a new food standards risk rating scheme that Local Authority officers will use to evaluate the risk posed by a food business. Also proposed is a new decision matrix to determine the frequency at which food standards official controls should be delivered in line with the outcome of the risk assessment.

The changes FSA is proposing will introduce a new food standards delivery model. The new model will allow local authorities to have flexibility to use any of the official control methods and techniques available, and direct local authority resource to where it sees it is most needed to tackle risk in the food chain.

Michael Jackson, head of Regulatory Compliance Division said: “The Food Law Code of Practice enables us to ensure food is safe and what it says it is. The proposed amendments to the Code will enable local authorities to manage resources more effectively, by prioritising their activities on food businesses that pose the highest risk to public health and consumers. 

“As part of the consultation process, we are planning a series of local authority engagement events to discuss the new model and the changes that are being proposed. The consultation ends on 9th January 2023, so we would encourage all those who have an interest in this to respond over the next 12 weeks.”

The consultation page is available on the FSA website , with details about the Food Law Code of Practice. 

All comments and views should be included in the consultation response form and sent to: CodeReviewResponses@food.gov.uk