About FSA Scotland
Our commitment is to improve food safety and standards in Scotland and protect the health of Scotland’s population in relation to food.
Food Standards Agency in Scotland works to ensure that the way in which we operate and the decisions we make are open and transparent, made with a maximum level of public involvement.
Food Standards Agency in Scotland handles issues in Scotland involving:
- Food standards, nutrition and diet
- General food hygiene, fish, shellfish and milk hygiene
- Hygiene controls on meat and meat products
- Regulation of animal feeding stuffs
- Novel foods, radiological safety and emergencies
Food safety and standards are devolved matters and legislation governing Scotland is determined by the Scottish Parliament. In Scotland, the Food Standards Agency will provide advice on proposed legislation to the Minister for Public Health and the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment in the Scottish Government.
Food Standards Agency Scotland operates within the UK Food Standards Agency. This ensures consistency of approach while allowing for specific Scottish circumstances to be fully taken into account in the implementation of food safety and standards policy in Scotland. There are two Scottish members of the main Food Standards Agency Board – the independent body which governs the operation of the UK Agency – Dr James Wildgoose and another position which is currently being recruited. The Agency is accountable for its actions to both the Scottish and Westminster Parliaments.