At the end of 2020, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) published the long-awaited response to the consultation on restricting promotions of food and drink which are high in fat, sugar and salt (HFSS foods).

The response, which can be found here, confirms that from April 2022 promotion of HFSS foods in terms of location and promotional activity will be restricted. Location restrictions will apply to store entrances, aisle ends and checkouts as well as their online equivalents. Retailers will also be prohibited from offering promotions such as “buy-one-get-one-free” or “3 for 2” offers on HFSS products.

Whether a food is classed as HFSS will be determined using the Nutrient Profiling Model.

The restrictions will apply to medium and large retailers (with 50 or more employees), including symbol group stores.

Prepacked food and drink in the following categories will be in scope of the restrictions: soft drinks, cakes, chocolate confectionery, sugar confectionery, ice cream, morning goods (for example pastries), puddings, sweet biscuits, breakfast cereals, yoghurts, milk-based drinks with added sugar, juice based drinks with added sugar, pizza, ready meals, meal centres, including breaded and battered products, crisps and savoury snacks, chips and similar potato products.

In the Out-of-Home sector the restrictions will also apply to free refills of sugar-sweetened drinks.

The restrictions will not apply to micro and small businesses (fewer than 50 employees) or stores that are smaller than 185.8 square metres (2,000 square feet) (even if they are part of a medium or large business with 50+ employees). Specialist retailers that sell one type of food product category e.g. sweet shops are also exempt.

Legislation is due to be laid in England by mid-2021.

A consultation on the enforcement of the restrictions has now been launched and can be found here. All responses must be submitted by 22 February 2021.

The BFFF are pleased to confirm that BRC Global Standards (BRCGS) have now published the draft version 3 of the Agents and Brokers Standard for public consultation.

The Agents and Brokers Standard provides a framework for Brokers, Agents, Importers and Exporters to manage product safety, quality and legality in the food and packaging industries.

The BFFF welcomed being part of the working group reviewing this Standard to ensure it incorporated the latest industry best practice and regulatory and customer requirements.

The draft Standard can be downloaded here along with a feedback form which should be returned to enquiries@brcgs.com no later than 28th February 2021.

Following on from the consultation, it is proposed that Issue 3 will be published in October 2021 with certification against Issue 3 commencing from 1st April 2022.  

Note: All certificates issued against audits carried out prior to this date will be against Issue 2 and be valid for the period specified on the certificate.

The presence of Avian Influenza H5N8 in pheasants on Anglesey has been confirmed by The Chief Veterinary Officer for Wales. A temporary control zone (TCZ) has been implemented on Anglesey and could be increased if the lab tests confirm the strain is highly pathogenic.

The test results from the laboratory are expected within the next 48 hours and if they show that this is a highly pathogenic type, the TCZ that has been imposed on Anglesey to limit the risk of the disease spreading will be extended by a 3km protection zone and a 10km surveillance zone.

This is the first confirmation of the disease in Wales in the winter of 2020/21, yet it follows confirmation of several outbreaks of Avian Influenza in other parts of the UK this winter. In addition, there have been many findings of the virus in wild birds, mainly waterfowl, including in Wales.

The advice from Public Health Wales (PHW) is that the risk to public health from the virus is very low and the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has made clear that Avian Influenza does not pose a food safety risk for UK consumers. Thoroughly cooked poultry and poultry products, including eggs, are safe to eat.

“This case of Avian Influenza in pheasants on Anglesey serves to reinforce the need for all keepers of poultry and other captive birds to practice the very highest levels of biosecurity. This is why in November, the Minister for Rural Affairs declared an all-Wales Avian Influenza Prevention Zone,” said the Chief Veterinary Officer for Wales, Christianne Glossop.

“The Prevention Zone, which requires keepers of poultry and other captive birds to apply strict biosecurity measures and to keep their birds indoors, or otherwise separate them from wild birds, remains in place, as does the temporary suspension on gatherings of poultry.

 

“Even when birds are housed, there remains a risk of infection originating in wild birds, particularly waterfowl, entering sheds and buildings indirectly. There must be a strict biosecurity barrier around housed poultry to prevent infection entering through machinery, feed, clothing and equipment.

“Bird keepers should remain vigilant for signs of disease and report any suspicions to their veterinary surgeon.”

 

 

To read the full article – click here.

The Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) between the EU-UK mean that there are new rules affecting the trade of seafood. The new agreement came into force on 31^st December 2020 and affects customs, labelling, VAT and tariffs.

There are checks between the EU and UK to ensure that imported/exported goods meet the regulatory standard. Seafood specifically needs to be accompanied by EHC (Export Health Certificate), Catch Certificates and Customs Declarations.

Be aware that although the EU/UK have agreed not to apply import/export duties on products of UK or EU origin trade, as they are separate customs territories, there will be customs and vat procedures that will still be necessary – even if tariffs are not.

To be eligible for zero tariffs the seafood must originate in the UK or EU. For further information on the Rules of Origin – please click here. NB: if non-origination ingredients (fish or non-fish) have been used in a final product but only make up 10% of the value of the product then it is still deemed to be UK origin.

The TCA only covers EU27 countries. Therefore, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein are considered third countries and continue to trade under World Trade Organisation (TWO) rules under the terms of their agreement with the UK.

We recommend that you refer to the information published by the UK Government –click here and here – to ensure that you are fully compliant with the new rules.

To see the full article – please click here

The new Interim Chair of the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has been announced as Dr Ruth Hussey CB, OBE, DL. She takes up the post from 1^st February 2021 for up to 3 months whilst the Chair recruitment is concluded.

Dr Hussey previously served as a Board Member of the FSA in Wales and the Welsh Food Advisory Committee from 2016 before being appointed Deputy Chair of the FSA in July 2020. She also had a successful career in Public Health which culminated in her role as the Chief Medical Officer for Wales. Prior to that she worked in local and regional public health in England and as part of the Department of Health Public Health Transition Team at Whitehall.

Dr Hussey said, “I am delighted to be able to step into this new role. The FSA is a progressive and effective organisation which works in an evidence based and transparent way.  As the food system continues to evolve, I will strive to ensure that food safety and public health continues to be protected with confidence. I look forward to working with my fellow Board members to continue to protect consumers’ interests in relation to food.”

Heather Hancock, the current Chair, stands down as Chair at the end of January 2021 having been elected the master of St John’s College, Cambridge. Heather served as Deputy Chair from 2015 until being appointed Chair of the Board in 2016.

The European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) has approved mealworms for human consumption. This is the very first insect-based food to be approved although it does await endorsement from the European Commission.

Mealworms are high in protein and fibre and are in fact not ‘worms’ but larvae of the darkling beetle. It could soon become a main ingredient in smoothies, snacks, curries and other food products. The mealworms can also be ground down making it suitable for flour for the production of biscuits, pasta and even bread.

It is also relatively sustainable compared to meat products with their low-carbon emissions.

There are fears that European consumers may take to the idea of eating mealworms but other parts of the world have been eating insects for a very long time eg Central America and Africa.

It is being regarded as a major breakthrough by the International Platform of Insects for Food and Feed (IPIFF) who are hoping that this is the first of many approvals and will reassure consumers on the trustworthiness of this industry.

To see the full article – please click here