An in-person conference on 26th January will examine the way forward for food regulation and standards in the UK, and the evolving role of the regulators.

There will be keynote contributions from the FSA chair, Professor Susan Jebb, Geoff Ogle, Food Standards Scotland’s chief executive and Helen Munday, president of the Institute of Food Science and Technology.

Discussions will include the impact on key stakeholders in the food and drink sector, health and other public services, local Government and communities of options for developing the UK’s regulatory approach following Brexit – as well as implications for trade and international relationships.

Delegates will assess priorities for improving the long-term strategic direction for regulation, following the Regulating after EU Exit report from the Public Accounts Committee, as well as priorities for the Government’s approach as reform in the UK’s regulatory system is considered by policymakers.

Attendees will examine the proposals for a new food standards delivery model as part of the FSA’s consultation for updating the Food Law Code of Practice in England – with an expected focus on how resources can be improved and utilised to manage food safety risk.

The conference will be an opportunity for stakeholders – including those from the food and drinks sector, local Government, the legal sector, food science and research and advocacy groups – to consider the issues alongside key policy officials who are due to attend from CCS; Defra; DHSC; DIT; FSS; DAERA, NI; House of Commons Library; The Scottish Government Legal Directorate; and the Welsh Government – as well as parliamentary pass-holders from both Houses of Parliament.

Sessions in the agenda include:

• UK-wide priorities: key trends and challenges – next steps for safety, monitoring, imported products and resources
• food safety: responding to changing business environments and consumer trends – surveillance and tackling food crime – supporting local delivery of food standards and enforcement
• consumers: priorities for building trust in food regulation and enforcement
• trade: key issues for international deals and partnerships, food standards, and the UK regulatory regime – navigating challenges around delayed import controls
• science: opportunities and challenges for an evidence-based UK food policy and regulatory strategy
• regulation for good: opportunities for public health, children’s nutrition, sustainability, ethics and standards – industry engagement and compliance – supporting a thriving and resilient UK food system 
• next steps: the evolving role of the FSA and the future for food regulation in the UK.

Key areas for discussion

Future outlook for food regulation and assessing trends

• role of the FSA: assessing the funding and capacity of the FSA to deliver on ambitions, with extra responsibilities when the UK left the EU – where the FSA can offer the most value
• innovation: opportunities to support innovation in the food system – maintaining consumer safety as novel food regulations are reviewed
• collaboration: priorities for industry and stakeholder engagement as new areas for regulation are formed
• business environments: adapting regulation to keep up with changing platforms and purchasing methods – maintaining safety as business environments innovate
• Covid-19: what can be taken from regulation and safety measures in place during the pandemic – examining how this can shape future delivery
• consumer trends: consumer behaviour coming out of the pandemic – horizon-scanning and identifying potential shocks to the system – how these can be monitored and prepared for

Food safety monitoring and surveillance

• local food safety and compliance:
  • examining progress in recovering from backlogs in local food-hygiene checks
  • the impact of increased inspection 
  • addressing staffing challenges 
  • assessing proposals to support local management of risk
• food crime: priorities for monitoring at a time of rising prices
• hospitality: food safety through Covid-19 disruption to business – navigating changes around allergen and calorie labelling – examining the impact of this on delivering standards within the sector
• innovation: monitoring food safety where new ideas are being applied to purchasing and delivery – compliance with novel food regulation – developments in food production
• surveillance: assessing the impact on food safety of leaving the EU – responding to threats – innovative approaches available to the UK going forward to improve surveillance and protect consumers

Maintaining standards through the future trade landscape

• import controls: looking at the impact of delaying new import controls in monitoring the safety of food imports – options for improving new controls
• trade deals: assessing the response to food standards within the development of new deals – efforts to uphold the UK’s food standards
• regulation: examining the role of the FSA in advising on food standards in trade deals
• consumers: trust so far in upholding priorities and standards, and their response in the context of high food prices

The role of regulation in a healthy and sustainable food system

• food science: opportunities to build the evidence base to support the evolving regulatory role of the FSA
• adding value: assessing where, within the budgetary and capacity constraints of the FSA, the regulator can:
  • provide the most value with efforts to improve health and sustainability in the food system
  • utilise compliance and assurance methods to support system changes
• school food: developing approaches to assurance – compliance with local authorities – early outcomes coming out of pilots
• sustainability: options for food regulation around food choices – including food waste and access to meat and dairy alternatives
• research: opportunities to develop the evidence base on food standards, and healthy and sustainable choices – building behaviour change and science around this
• consumers: priorities for transparency with consumers – providing the information and standards they need to support informed decisions.

To book places go to the online booking form.