Food standards Bill launched

The government has published a draft Bill that will pave the way for the establishment of a Food Standards Agency (FSA). But responsibility for pesticide safety will ultimately remain with the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food (MAFF), which is criticised for representing the interests of the food industry over those of the consumer.

In general terms consumer/environment groups, through the National Food Alliance (NFA), have welcomed the measures set out in the draft Bill on the Agency. It will mean the FSA will be answerable primarily to the Department of Health, rather than MAFF. This should result in a culture at the FSA that will automatically put the consumer first.
    Specifically in relation to pesticides however, concerns remain because the Pesticides Safety Directorate (PSD) and the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) [both executive agencies of MAFF] will retain responsibilities for all aspects of the authorisation process. 
    The Bill does require PSD's Advisory Committee on Pesticides and the VMD's Veterinary Products Committee to include a member nominated by the FSA and will provide for the Agency to be consulted by the VMD and the PSD on policy issues which are relevant to food safety.
    Last year's government White Paper on the FSA said that PSD and VMD would effectively have a veto over the pesticide and veterinary medicines (eg sheep dips) authorisation process. The NFA is now concerned that this has been watered down in the draft Bill.
    As for the arrangement for surveillance of food for residues of pesticides and veterinary medicines, the Government is clear that the Agency will need to have extensive involvement and to work closely with PSD and VMD in discussing relevant surveillance programmes. The Bill also provides new surveillance powers which could be exercised in relation to pesticides and veterinary medicines, if necessary, as well as other aspects of food safety and consumer protection.

The Foods Standards Agency: Consultation on draft legislation, Presented to Parliament by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, January 1999.

[This article first appeared in Pesticides News No. 43, March 1999, page 23]