Our people

Together we also play our part in helping to make food healthier and more sustainable for everyone.

Our people include scientists, statisticians, analysts, researchers, inspectors, enforcement experts, policy professionals, economists, veterinarians and frontline inspectors, who work alongside our operational delivery partners to inspect abattoirs and other primary production sites.

As a non-ministerial government department, we are governed by a Board, rather than ministers. (Our Board is accountable to the Westminster Parliament through the Secretary of State for Health and to the Senedd and the Northern Ireland Assembly through the Health Ministers in Wales and Northern Ireland.) Our Board sets the overall strategic direction of our organisation.

Our Chief Executive is responsible for ensuring that FSA activities are carried out efficiently and effectively and is accountable to the Board for the exercise of their powers. The CEO is a principal accounting officer so is directly accountable to Parliament for the value for money of the FSA’s activities.

The Welsh and Northern Ireland Food Advisory Committees provide advice and insight to the Board relating to food safety and standards in their respective countries.

The Board is also guided by independent Scientific Advisory Committees, which draw on the views of more than 150 experts, ensuring that our guidance is always based on the best and most recent science and evidence.