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 and Northern Ireland.
Important
In response to industry queries during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak we have published clarification for producers of animal feed in relation to reformulation and labelling of products, as well as information on production facilities.
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. 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. 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, 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.
Food Law Code of Practice (England) (PDF download)
Food Law Code of Practice (Northern Ireland) (PDF download)
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.
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
Feed Law Practice Guidance
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, 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.