The Food Standards Agency (FSA) have launched a consultation seeking stakeholders’ views on proposed changes to the Food Law Code of Practice (the Code) and the Practice Guidance (PG) in England.  

(Note: The proposed amendments are subject to separate consultations in Wales and Northern Ireland) 

This consultation will be of most interest to:  

• Competent Authorities – Local Authorities and Port Health Authorities 

• food businesses and industry trade bodies 

• third-party assurance organisations for food safety  

• awarding bodies for environmental health and trading standards professionals   

• Trade Unions and expert groups may also have an interest   

Consultation subject  

This consultation seeks stakeholders’ views on proposed changes to the Food Law Code of Practice and Practice Guidance. Key proposals include: 

1. an updated risk-based approach to the prioritisation and timescales for undertaking initial food hygiene official controls of new food establishments 

1. enabling, in certain circumstances, an establishments food hygiene intervention risk rating to be amended following a wider range of official control methods and techniques, including those undertaken remotely 

1. extending the activities that officers, who do not hold an ‘appropriate qualification’ for food hygiene or food standards, can, if competent, undertake 

1. a clarification in approach to interventions at food business establishments that fall into risk category E for food hygiene 

1. removal of a prescriptive number of hours required for continuing professional development 

1. other amendments which do not amend policy, to provide clarity and improve consistency and keep pace with current practices 

How to respond  

The consultation pack and England Code and Practice Guidance can be found here  along with a response form to provide your comments.  

Once completed the form should be emailed to CodeReviewResponses@food.gov.uk. 

The closing date for responses is May 19th 2025 

Within three months of a consultation ending the FSA aim to publish a summary of responses received.