Become a member

News

News / Technical

PLANS TO CUT NUMBER OF CIVIL SERVANTS COULD THREATEN FOOD SAFETY

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) have warned that the Prime Ministers plans to slash the number of civil servants by 91,000 (about a fifth of the current workforce), with the aim of saving £3.5bn, is a threat to food safety that could undermine the UK’s food standards.

The FSA’s workforce has grown from around 960 in 2016 to about 1,200 today, largely to cope with additional responsibilities taken on since the UK left the EU. It has also announced recently that it was employing an extra 70 Official Veterinarians (OV) – a 25% increase, due to the shortage of vets needed to inspect abattoirs.

The Cabinet Office has asked every government department – including the FSA – to model headcount cuts of 20%, 30%, and 40% in a bid to return numbers of civil servants to 2016 levels.

The PM announced the plans saying that the civil service had become “swollen” during the Covid pandemic and “We have got to cut the cost of government to reduce the cost of living.” Government Efficiency Minister Jacob Rees-Mogg said the cuts are about “doing things more efficiently”.

If carried out, the cuts would hinder the FSA’s ability to handle dangerous food incidents such as recent salmonella outbreaks, implement import controls on EU food, and reform EU law on issues like novel foods, CEO Emily Miles told attendees at the most recent FSA board meeting .

A decision on the civil service job cuts is expected in the autumn.

You can read more here and here

Articles over 1 year old See Technical News Archive
Member Benefits

Exclusive Partnership deals on key products and services:

  • BFFF energy deals and rates
  • Vypr member deals and introduction
  • Defib Plus deals
  • Company Shop – membership
  • Mentor – MHE training health check

Exclusive access to networking opportunities and events:

  • Meet the Buyer events (retail & foodservice)
  • Annual Business Conference with networking dinner
  • Specialist H&S and Technical Conferences
  • Special interest groups (packaging, frozen food temperatures)
  • Annual Lunch
  • Awards Night
Upcoming Events More Events
Sponsorship Packages

We offer a range of sponsorship opportunities to BFFF members across our events throughout the year, with flexible packages that can be tailored to suit your business objectives.

Contact Us
British Frozen Food Federation Members Logo
what our members say...
  • Wakefield Council

    “What an amazing piece of work and indicative of how BFFF respond to the concerns of their members and make an impact on the whole industry sector.”

    See Full Quote

  • Sysco

    “You guys really ‘Do The Right Thing’ for the good of the industry”

    See Full Quote

  • Darta

    “The BFFF awards night is becoming an “appointment not to miss” on our calendar and we again enjoyed it immensely together with lots of well-known people from our industry. The…

    See Full Quote

  • Kantar Worldpanel

    “The Business Conference was an excellent day that was very well organised and allowed so many likeminded individuals in the room to learn so much more around the Frozen industry….

    See Full Quote

  • Lakeside Food Group Ltd

    “This Not For EU labelling situation alarmed us and quickly became a major worry to our business. These are times when you really rely on some support and from previous…

    See Full Quote

  • Meadow Vale Foods Limited

    “We had a few questions with respect to the new EPR waste packaging legislative changes. I know some of my colleagues have been assisted by BFFF in the past so…

    See Full Quote

  • Newberry International Produce Ltd

    “I am writing to express my heartfelt gratitude for the outstanding event you organised. I have only worked in this sector for the past nineteen months coming from twenty-five years…

    See Full Quote

  • Place UK Ltd

    “The BFFF 2024 Conference was compelling and thought provoking, with a many relevant and interesting topics covered at great pace and some depth by excellent speakers – will certainly attend…

    See Full Quote

  • Roswel Spedition GMBH

    “Thank you and the team for rushing around so brilliantly before, during and after the conference. It was pleasure to be part of the conference.”

    See Full Quote

  • Seara

    “The event was great, in my opinion. Not only it was very well organised, but the venue and the catering were excellent too. Furthermore, the content of the presentations was…

    See Full Quote

Website Designed & Built by we are CODA