The Prime Minister, Tony Blair, commissioned a report in March 1997 (when leader of the opposition) because of the lack of public confidence in MAFF. On launching the proposals for the FSA in April, Mr Blair said: "Confidence in the safety of food we eat has been severely undermined and I am determined to rebuild that trust."
Problems with the old system
The many food scares that have faced the public in the
last ten years have eroded confidence in the current system of food management.
MAFF has an important role in promoting the economic interests of the food
industries, but this conflicts with its responsibility of protecting public
health. Prof. James said: "What is needed, is a new body which separates the
role of health and safety from that of promoting business"
The Food Standards Agency
The new Agency should have a remit that
encompasses the complete food chain (see figure 1). It would take over MAFF's
responsibilities relating to food safety, food standards and nutrition and
public health.
The FSA would cover:
public health and national food policy;
food standards and labelling;
proposing draft legislation;
responsibility for public education;
powers of surveillance and enforcement 'from the plough to the plate'.
The FSA would receive most of its funding from the Department of Health, and would report to parliament through the Secretary of State for Health.
PSD to lose safety evaluation role?
Under the proposed measures, the FSA will take over
the safety evaluation of pesticides from MAFF's 'next steps' agency, the
Pesticides Safety Directorate (PSD). PSD would still licence pesticides, but
only evaluate efficacy and the technical side of pesticide approval.
Responsibility for monitoring pesticides and for policy on pesticide use would
be with the FSA.
The FSA should also assume
responsibility for evaluating the safety of veterinary medicines. This will
include problematic OP sheep dips. Licensing and assessing the efficacy of
veterinary medicines would remain with the Veterinary Medicines Directorate. The
FSA should also be responsible for monitoring human adverse reactions to
veterinary medicines and for surveillance of residues in meat and animal
products.
Implementation
Given the heavy legislative programme, and the need
for consolidation and further analysis, it is unlikely that the FSA will be
established by statute before 1998-99. As an interim measure, the FSA could be
established quickly and initially act in an advisory role.
Similar action in Europe
This parallels moves in Europe, where again food
safety controls are in the hands of those who promote the food industry. A new
food safety division may be set up in the Consumer Affairs Directorate (DGXXIV).
Some scientific committees including pesticides might move from DG VI
(Agriculture) to the Consumer Directorate. (DB)
Food Standards Agency, An Interim
Proposal by Philip James, 30 April 1997, Rowett Research Institute, 55p.
[This
article first appeared in Pesticides News No. 36,
June 1997, page 14]