The Food Standards Agency
Board yesterday agreed to set up a new Food Fraud Task Force, which
will consider
further actions to help tackle the trade in illegal food and protect
consumers.
The task force will be chaired by Dr Philip Barlow, former
Associate Professor of Food Science and Technology at the National University
of Singapore. The task force’s remit will be to consider and report on all issues
that are likely to significantly impact on food fraud and, in particular,
to consider the current controls in place and their suitability to control
and deter food fraud. It is intended that the task force will initially
focus on the meat sector and lessons learnt will then be expanded more
broadly, to the rest of the food industry.
Director of Enforcement at the FSA, David Statham, said:
" Setting up this new task force signals the Agency’s
commitment and determination that everything that can be done to stamp
out food
fraud will be taken forward. Its ultimate aim is to improve consumer
protection from fraud and unsafe practices. It is clear that some current
processes could and should be tightened and this review has been instigated
to deliver solutions.
_ But it is also important that the
food industry takes its responsibility toward fraud and illegal activity
seriously.
Where food fraud is identified
it is key that enforcement authorities work together to stamp out this
crime."
Chair of the task force, Dr Philip Barlow said:
" Food safety is of paramount importance and everyone expects
that the food they obtain is of the highest quality, which in most
cases it
is.
However, there are always a few individuals who will, for personal gain,
try and pass off suspect food as meeting the required standards.
_ The findings and recommendations
of the task force will hopefully give everyone an even greater confidence
in the food they consume."
In the light of the Euro Freeze Ltd investigation, the Agency recognises
that there are some additional issues that need to be addressed that
were not relevant at the time the initial task force was set up. Some
of these issues were discussed by the FSA Board and recommendations were
made about the key areas to be addressed by the new task force, as well
as representatives to be included in the membership. The key issues
recommended included:
- health marking
- identification of animal by-products
- inspection and audit arrangements
for food businesses
- the effectiveness of the Agency support mechanisms
for food fraud
- the adequacy of the existing legal framework for prosecution
and the suitability of penalties
- arrangements for encouraging ‘whistleblowing’
The task force will first meet in May. In preparing a final report
for the FSA Board in October 2007, the Task Force will involve
and consult
all relevant stakeholders. There will be a series of interim reports
to the FSA Board and any necessary actions identified will be fast-tracked
prior to the final report.
News
is included on this website to inform visitors about current health
issues, but not to endorse
any particular view
or activity. The views stated in the article above are not necessarily
those of IvyRose Ltd.. Material in this news item was released
by the Food Standards Agency (UK) on 07 April 2006. For further information,
please visit their website
using the
link below.
|
