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Food and Feed Codes of Practice

Find information on the food and feed law codes of practice and practice guidance for England, Wales and Northern Ireland and the Competency Framework for England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Last updated: 25 January 2023
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Important

EU references in FSA guidance documents

The FSA is updating all EU references, to accurately reflect the law now in force, in all new or amended guidance published since the Transition Period ended at the end of 2020.  In some circumstance it may not always be practicable for us to have all EU references updated at the point we publish new or amended guidance. 

Other than in Northern Ireland, any references to EU Regulations in this guidance should be read as meaning retained EU law. You can access retained EU law via HM Government EU Exit Web Archive (Opens in a new window). This should be read alongside any EU Exit legislation that was made to ensure retained EU law operates correctly in a UK context. EU Exit legislation is on legislation.gov.uk (Opens in a new window).  In Northern Ireland, EU law will continue to apply in respect to the majority of food and feed hygiene and safety law, as listed in the Northern Ireland Protocol (Opens in a new window), and retained EU law will not apply to Northern Ireland in these circumstances.

Food Law Code of Practice

The Food Law Code of Practice gives instructions that local authorities must consider when enforcing food law. Local authorities need to follow and implement the relevant sections of the Code that apply. 

England

Food Law Code of Practice (England) (PDF download)

Northern Ireland 

Food Law Code of Practice (Northern Ireland) (PDF download)

Wales

Food Law Code of Practice (Wales) (PDF download)

 

Feed Law Code of Practice

The Feed Law Code of Practice gives instructions that local feed authorities must consider when enforcing animal feed law. Feed authorities need to follow and implement the relevant sections of the Code that apply to them.

England

Feed Law Code of Practice (England) (PDF download)

Northern Ireland

Feed Law Code of Practice (Northern Ireland) (PDF download)

Wales

Feed Law Code of Practice (Wales) (PDF download)

 

Practice Guidance

We issue Practice Guidance that is non-statutory as a complement to the statutory Code of Practice. These provide general advice on approach to enforcement of the law.

Food Law Practice Guidance

England

Food Law Practice Guidance (England) (PDF download)

Northern Ireland

Food Law Practice Guidance (Northern Ireland) (PDF download)

Wales

Food Law Practice Guidance (Wales) (PDF download)

 

Feed Law Practice Guidance

England

Feed Law Practice Guidance (England) (PDF download)

Northern Ireland

Feed Law Practice Guidance (Northern Ireland) (PDF download)

Wales

Feed Law Practice Guidance (Wales) (PDF download)

 

Competency Framework

Knowledge and skills for the effective delivery of official food and feed controls and other activities (the Competency Framework) sets out the competencies required for local authority and port health authority officers in England, Wales and district council officers in Northern Ireland, undertaking official food controls, other official activities and other activities related to these. To assist with the implementation of the Competency Framework we have produced a number of support materials, which can be found on FSA Smarter Communications.

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Related Content

Local authorities

We work closely with local authorities in the UK to help ensure food stays safe and honest. We have agreements and protocols in place to support local authorities in their work and give guidance to explain the regulations and how they can be applied to food businesses.