Food Standards Agency's Strategy for 2010–2015

Consumers should expect to be eating safer food and be choosing healthier and more balanced meals by 2015, as a result of the Food Standards Agency’s Strategy for 2010–2015.

The strategy, which can be found at the link towards the end of this page, sets the Agency’s strategic direction for the next five years and defines the FSA purpose of safe food and healthy eating for all. It sets out the strategic objective and priorities, and describes the outcomes (see below) and approaches the Agency and others will take to safeguard the UK’s food and encourage positive dietary change.

The strategy is written in a clear and concise way to help consumers understand it, and is shaped by the FSA core principles of putting the consumer first, openness and independence, and being science and evidence-based.

Outcomes
The five outcomes the Agency aims to deliver are:

• food produced or sold in the UK is safe to eat
• imported food is safe to eat
• consumers understand about safe food and healthy eating, and have the information they need to make informed choices
• food products and catering meals are healthier
• regulation is effective, risk-based and proportionate, is clear about the responsibilities of food business operators, and protects consumers and their interests from fraud and other risks

The UK, the EU and internationally
The strategy explains how the FSA works with government, businesses and enforcement delivery partners to ensure food safety and standards are applied and enforced consistently throughout the UK, and that national and local priorities and circumstances are reflected in Agency work.

The FSA aims to provide reliable, up-to-date information about food to help consumers make informed choices. It will continue to work with consumers and consumer groups to do this, and ensure UK food interests are represented in the EU and internationally.

Science and Evidence Strategy
The Agency's Science and Evidence Strategy, which will be published in early 2010, will set out the science, evidence and analysis the FSA will need to support delivery of the Strategy for 2010–2015. The Science and Evidence Strategy will also describe how the FSA will obtain the science and evidence the Agency needs.

The draft Science and Evidence Strategy will be discussed by the FSA Board on 8 December 2009. The Board paper containing the draft Science and Evidence Strategy can be found at the link below.

Delivering value sustainably
The Agency aims to work in a way that is sustainable for the future. This will include delivering our purpose of safe food and healthy eating for all, while maximising positive impacts and minimising negative impacts on society, the environment and the economy.

The FSA also aims to deliver value for money for the taxpayer and give businesses a fair deal. Value for money gains will arise through the formal merger of the FSA and MHS, and their corporate support services, to create a new FSA Operations Group with the work of the MHS at its core. The Agency will also be configured in line with the strategy.

It is calculated that the annual budget needed to achieve each of the five outcomes (see above) for 2011/12 onwards will be £151m.

Background and further information
The Strategy for 2010–2015, which will be reviewed annually and changed as necessary, was developed in consultation with all FSA stakeholders in 2009 and discussed at the Agency’s open Board meeting in November 2009.

The analysis and evidence used to support the strategy, and more details on how the Agency will evaluate success and impact against the five outcomes, can be found in the table of impacts at the link below.