An international study led by scientists at the MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research (CVR) has found a key human gene responsible for blocking most avian flu viruses from spilling over into people.

The study into the pandemic potential of avian flu, identified the human gene BTN3A3, which is commonly expressed in our airways, as a key human defence against avian flu. Through a series of extensive tests, the study team were able to show that the BTN3A3 gene is vital to protecting humans against avian flu, as most strains of the virus cannot get past its defences.

Since 2022 there has been a rise in bird flu cases around the world in both domestic and wild birds. While the disease mainly affects birds, it has been known to spill over into other species, including, in rare cases, humans. For example, the 1918 Spanish flu virus which caused more than 25 million deaths worldwide is believed to have originated from an avian strain.

However, experts agree there are still several gaps in our scientific knowledge that make it difficult to be able to predict which variant of avian influenza virus might spill over into the human population and when.

You can read more about the study on the University of Glasgow website.

The study, ‘BTN3A3 evasion promotes the zoonotic potential of influenza A viruses’ is published in Nature.

 

The Institute of Grocery Distribution (IGD) has recently published its latest consumer research highlighting that concerns around food and drink product availability have remained stable since last month.

In this latest consumer research, conducted for IGD (23-25 June 2023), two thirds of adults (64%) experienced shortages of some food and groceries in-store or online recently. This remains the lowest level since September 2022. However, this is still significantly higher than when this was first measured in July’21 (50%).

Availability concerns have declined again for fresh produce (29% compared to 32% last month and 52% in March). This followed some supermarkets introducing limits on some fruit and vegetables due to extreme weather conditions in Spain and north Africa affecting harvests. Availability concerns are now highest for dairy products (33%).

Availability concerns are highest in Northern Ireland, mostly around availability of fresh meat or fish, household paper, pet food and baby products.

Concerns for fresh produce are highest for those living in Wales whereas the East Midlands is most concerned about dairy.

You can view the research in more detail here

 

There have been a number of recent changes to the UK’s R&D tax relief scheme affecting many industries including the Food and Beverage sector.

BFFF members Ayming are aware of many frozen food businesses that don’t believe or know they can claim against the relief scheme when in fact they can. Even if you do already claim, you can see what this could mean for your business and get up to speed on all the recent changes and by watching the webinar in the link below, hosted by Ayming UK’s Associate Director for R&D Tax, Ben Craig.

Webinar | R&D tax relief scheme changes | On demand (ayming.co.uk)

The Plastic Packaging Tax (General) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 (SI 2023/622) were laid before the House of Commons on 9th June 2023 and have subsequently come into force from 1^st July 2023.

These Regulations change the Plastic Packaging Tax (General) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/117) in order to make a change to the way in which tax credits are claimed in respect of plastic packaging tax (PPT).

Regulation 1 provides the citations as well as detail of the commencement.

Regulation 2 specifies how a liable person who wants to claim a tax credit in respect of plastic packaging tax should make that claim in a return.

Guidance is already available top businesses on how to complete to their returns and can be found here

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS) have both published revised Food Law Codes of Practice.

The FSA Code of Practices cover England, Northern Ireland and Wales and introduce a new model for delivering food standards controls.  All EU references have also been updated, to accurately reflect the law now in force, in all new or amended guidance published since the Transition Period ended at the end of 2020.

It is envisaged that the changes will help local authorities to take a more risk-based and intelligence-driven approach to inspection.

The updates to the FSA’s Food Law Codes of Practice can be found here.

Responses to the England and Northern Ireland consultations which informed these revised codes of practice, can be accessed here and here.

The FSS revised Food Law Code of Practice (Scotland) can be found here

The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Parliamentary Committee have recently launched an inquiry into the UK’s trade policy in food and agriculture.

The inquiry will investigate the opportunities and challenges that new Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) present for UK food and agriculture, as well as their cumulative impact on the agri-food sector. It will also look at what support is available to food producers in light of lower tariffs on food imports.

Following its departure from the EU, the UK has signed FTAs with Australia and New Zealand and has also acceded to the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) free trading bloc. Negotiations are ongoing for further FTAs.

The call for evidence can be found here

All responses must be submitted by midnight on 29 July 2023.