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 2010-15 describes the priorities for the evidence we will need and the activities we will carry out to ensure we obtain and use science and evidence effectively in our work. It will support the delivery of the Agency's strategic objectives, test our progress and inform the development of our work beyond 2015.
Government’s food strategy: Food 2030
The cross-government food strategy, which was published in January 2010, sets out a joint vision for the UK food system in 2030 and how this vision will be achieved.
By 2030 the strategy, which can be found on the Defra website at the link below, aims to ensure:
- Consumers are informed, and can choose, and afford healthy, sustainable food. This demand is met by profitable, competitive, highly skilled and resilient farming, fishing and food businesses, supported by first class research and development.
- Food is produced, processed, and distributed to feed a growing global population in ways that:
- use global natural resources sustainably
- enable the continuing provision of the benefits and services given to us by a healthy natural environment
- promote high standards of animal health and welfare
- protect food safety
- make a significant contribution to rural communities
- allow us to show global leadership on food sustainability
- Our food security is ensured through strong UK agriculture and food sectors, and international trade links with EU and global partners which support developing economies.
- The UK has a low carbon food system that is efficient in using resources – any waste is reused, recycled or used for energy generation.
The strategy does not set out to replace the Agency's strategy, but covers wider issues and focuses on cross-cutting issues where cooperation across government is beneficial.
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