Bill to create new Scottish food safety body
Plans to create a new food safety body for Scotland have been unveiled as a Bill begins its passage through the Scottish Parliament.
The Food (Scotland) Bill, published on 16th March 2014, sets out objectives for a new public body to replace the current UK organisation, the Food Standards Agency.
The key aims of Food Standards Scotland (FSS), as outlined in the new Bill, will be to:
- Make sure food in Scotland continues to be safe to eat
- Advise on how to improve the diet and nutrition of people in Scotland
- Be more efficient and more responsive to Scottish circumstances
- Be an effective and proportionate regulator, supporting the Scottish food and drink industry in growing its international reputation for safe, quality food
- Support Scotland’s food and drink policy.
Commenting on the new authority, Michael Matheson, Public Health Minister, said, “While Scottish businesses were not responsible for last year’s horsemeat scandal we have included extra measures in the Bill so consumers can be even more assured that targeting fraudulent behaviour throughout the food supply chain remains a high priority for us in the future… We hope the body will be a trusted source of food safety advice to the Government, led from within Scotland and with the confidence and ambition to ensure Scottish food continues to be safe and healthy to eat.”