The National Food Strategy Plan was envisaged as setting out a comprehensive plan to transform the food system... But has it gone too far? In light of the twin constraints of Brexit and coronavirus the Strategy had been divided up into two parts: Part 1 of the Plan published in July 2020 has been relatively successful. It listed specific recommendations intended to help the most disadvantaged families eat well, protect the UK’s high food standards and ensure proper scrutiny of any trade deals.  Seven recommendations were made in total.  Four recommendations re healthy eating schemes ..read more

The recent ASA adjudication against Brewdog plc BrewDog plc - ASA | CAP brought claims that may be made on alcoholic beverages into the spotlight this week and the ASA has provided additional guidance on hard selzers Hard Seltzers: how to keep your marketing communications as sparkling as your water - ASA | CAP to clarify advertising requirements. Where drinks have over 1.2% abv there are only 2 claims that may legally be made; these relate to a reduction in the 1. alcohol and/or 2. energy content. The Brewdog advertising text related to their Hard Seltzer and the text “DUE TO ADVERTISING REGU ..read more

Lockdown Lifting postponed & Euro Football  - Does this mean a boom for beer and bbqs? Or will a worker shortage mean it's a wash-out? The meat industry, in particular, has warned of a severe labour shortage: Brexit, a slowdown in immigration, backlogs in training due to the pandemic, lack of funding in training and apprenticeships and changes in taxation rules, means a shortage of workers particularly in key areas for the food industry such as road haulage, meat processing and hospitality. According to reports and industry experts, the lack of workers in these three sectors could res ..read more

A recent Taskforce report on Innovation, Growth and Regulatory Reform FINAL_TIGRR_REPORT__1_.pdf (publishing.service.gov.uk) was drawn up by Iain Duncan Smith, Theresa Villiers and George Freeman and published last month, May 2021. It is currently being considered by Boris Johnson.  The taskforce report looked at the regulatory approach for the UK and promoted a collaborative, proportionate and flexible common law approach, based on risk rather than ‘tick box’ compliance. As well as recommendations made for the financial sector, replacing GDPR and recommendations for net zero te ..read more

The EU has ruled that British data protection standards are “adequate”.  This is just in time - the interim arrangement under the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement was due to end on 30 June.  This decision will allow digital information to continue to flow between the UK and the EU. The EU adopted final versions of the two adequacy decisions that were issued in draft earlier this year. These permit personal data flows to the UK under the GDPR and the Law Enforcement Directive. The decisions came into force this week and will expire after four years, unless renewed. Data Adequacy ..read more

Restrictions in promotions of HFSS foods from April 2022 The government's obesity strategy proposals are on track to become legislation.  This includes a wholesale restriction on the advertising and promotion of 'HFSS' foods.  'HFSS' products are food and soft drink products that are high in fat, salt or sugar as identified using nutrient profiling.  The Department of Health 2004 to 2005 Nutrient Profiling Model is likely to be used to define whether a product is HFSS Microsoft Word - Nutrient Profiling_DH template.doc (publishing.service.gov.uk).  Alcoholic drinks are ..read more

The Queen’s Speech Queen’s Speech promises change for food businesses (igd.com) on 11th May listed a number of new government bills to support pandemic recovery. It particularly highlighted the government's obesity strategy proposals that are now confirmed to be on track to become legislation.  This includes a wholesale restriction on the advertising and promotion of 'HFSS' foods under the auspices of 'health living'.  'HFSS' products are food and soft drink products that are high in fat, salt or sugar as identified using nutrient profiling.  The Department of Health 2004 to 200 ..read more

As part of the Governments' Obesity Strategy a new bill was laid before parliament that will require large businesses with 250 or more employees in England, including cafes, restaurants and takeaways, to display the calorie information of non-prepacked food and soft drink items that are prepared for customers on menus and food labels from April 2022.   In July 2020, the government published its consultation response on introducing mandatory calorie labelling in the out-of-home sector. The response supported out of home calorie labelling.  New proposed legislation has now been la ..read more

On 12 May 2021 the UK government published an Action Plan for Animal Welfare - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)  proposing measures to further protect the treatment of animals in the UK and abroad. The plan is proposed to build on existing standards by recognising animals as sentient in law and committing to a range of new welfare measures, including those that protect livestock.  It also commits to examine the use of cages for poultry and farrowing crates for pigs; improve animal welfare at slaughter; and incentivise farmers to improve animal health and welfare through future farming policy. As ..read more

Trade & Cooperation Agreement Ratified The EU finally ratified the Trade & Cooperation Agreement on Tuesday 27 April after a tense stand-off in response to the UK government unilaterally extending grace periods to Northern Ireland (NI). At the same time NI has seen tensions mount from loyalists in response to the border in the North Sea. It is likely we won’t see the last of negotiations and political maneuvering on each side. Food Safety & Hygiene fines to Tesco Tesco Stores Ltd (Tesco) has been fined £7.56 million at Birmingham Magistrates' Court after pleading guilty to 22 offen ..read more