Our contents this week:
Retail, Food & Hospitality updates
Food Standards Agency Chair sets out vision for future food regulation: Professor Susan Jebb who has recently been reappointed as FSA Chair has delivered a speech setting out her views on the challenges and future regulation of the food sector. Professor Jebb set out her commitment to developing a system of national level regulation by the FSA for a small number of large national food businesses rather than on a premises-by-premises basis by individual local authorities. Based on evidence from its trials, the FSA strongly believed that by using technology to combine the data that these businesses hold, together with boots on the ground to validate the data and check the things only a person can check, it can deliver a system that delivers value for consumers, taxpayers and business. Professor Jebb emphasised that this is not self-regulation - It’s more regulation – but it’s smarter, more intelligence-led regulation and that if they could drive better collaboration with businesses on data relating to food safety, this might be the foundation for closer working on standards or targets for healthier and more sustainable food too. The FSA would also be exploring whether local authorities could start recovering costs for delivery of official controls from businesses, such as inspections, and how the costs of the delivering official controls in FSA-approved meat establishments should be met. View >
Home Office consult on offences for online platform executives over illegal knife sales: The Home Office has launched a consultation on potentially making the executives of online platforms liable to fines of up to £10,000 in respect of failure to remove illegal content with regard to knives and knife sales within 48 hours of being served with a notice to do so. The Government also intends to ban ‘ninja swords’. Responses are required by 11th December. Consultation > News >
Compliance advice issued to trader recommendation platforms: The Competition and Markets Authority has issued compliance guidance to trader recommendation platforms setting out in detail the steps that they should take to ensure that recommendations are valid. The required steps cover the making of representations to consumers, vetting practices, complaint investigation processes and sanctions, monitoring activities, collection moderation and publication of consumer reviews. Publication > Consultation > News >
Plan to give councils powers to rent out vacant commercial properties: The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has announced that from 2nd December Local Authorities in England will have powers to step in and auction a one-to-five-year lease on commercial properties having sat empty for more than 365 days in a 24-month period.View >
EU updates
EU Court of Justice rule that Chiquita blue and yellow oval cannot be given EU Trademark protection: Chiquita Brands (Florida US) registered its mark with the EU Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO). Following successful challenge by a French business it was declared invalid in 2023. Following an appeal the general court has ruled that neither the shape nor the colour scheme of the mark confer a distinctive character on it. View >
EU Regulations:
- Authorising plant protection products.Allium fistulosum > fenpyrazamine and flumetralin >
- Authorising biocide. Teat disinfectant L lactic acid product family >
- Action limits for presence of nitrofurans in collagen. View >
- Decision on presentation of EU Organic logo. View >
European Food Safety Authority opinion:
- On food additives.saccharin and its sodium / potassium salts (E954) > View >
- On feed additives.Clary sage oil > Sacharomyces cerevisiae >
- Peer review of pesticide risk assessment. fenoxaprop-P-ethyl >
- On maximum residue levels. propamocarb >
Developments to watch
Food Standards Agency: Withdraw advice for peanut allergy sufferers to avoid eating products containing mustard. News > Allergy alert >
Gambling Commission: CEO Andrew Rhodes delivers briefing to senior industry leaders. View >
Office for Product Safety and Standards: Publish lists of designated safety standards for low voltage equipment and machinery. Designated standards low voltage > Designated standards machinery >
Department of Health and Social Care: Publish documentation supporting the Tobacco and Vapes Bill. View >
Department for Work and Pensions: Publish guidance on how the national minimum wage applies in various types of employment. View >
National Audit Office: Publish overview document for new parliaments on regulation and regulatory structures in the UK. View >
For your information
Non-food product safety alerts: Office for Product Safety and Standards >EU Safety Gate > US Consumer Product Safety Commission >
Grocery Code Adjudicator: Publishes governance information.View >
Appointments:
Portman group, Independent complaints panel member – Martin MachrayView >
DEFRA Seafish Board members - Sarah Holmyard and Georgina Wright View >
Office for Product Safety and Standards: Publish information on the funding of community safety initiatives. View >
