FSA Board Meeting - June 2025: Agenda and Papers

The agenda for this meeting includes:

• Next steps for National Level Regulation 
• Market Authorisation Modernisation 
• Evaluation of the Meat Charging Discount Regime 
• Annual Report of Incidents, Resilience and Prevention 2024/25 
• Glycerol in slushie ice drinks
• Annual Science Update from FSA’s Chief Scientific Adviser 
• FSA Strategy: Annual Update on Progress Indicators 
• Report from the Director of FSA in Northern Ireland 

09:00 Chairs Introduction and Chairs Report

Professor Susan Jebb presents the minutes and actions from the previous FSA Board meeting in March 2025 and presents the Chair's report.

FSA 25/06/01  - Minutes of 26 March 2025 Board Meeting

FSA 25/06/02  - Actions Arising

09:20 Chief Executive's Report

Katie Pettifer presents the Chief Executive's report to the FSA Board.

FSA 25/06/03 - Chief Executive's Report

09:50 Immediate next steps for National Level Regulation (FSA 25/06/04)

Andrew Ashworth presents a paper outlining extensive stakeholder engagement and next steps for National Level Regulation. 

FSA 25/06/04 - National Level Regulation 

10:10 Market Authorisation Modernisation (FSA 25/06/05)

Rebecca Sudworth presents a paper setting out the FSA’s proposals for further reforms to the market authorisation service for regulated food and feed products.

FSA 25/06/05 - Market Authorisation Modernisation

10:45 - Break

11:05 Evaluation of the Meat Charging Discount Regime (FSA 25/06/06)

Dr James Cooper provides the Board with an update on the outcome of the work to consider the operation and purpose of the current discount regime.

FSA 25/06/06 - Evaluation of the Meat Charging Discount Regime

11:40 Annual Report of Incidents, Resilience and Prevention 2024/25 (FSA 25/06/07)

Junior Johnson provides an overview of the work the FSA does in managing and responding to incidents.

FSA 25/06/07 -  Annual Report of Incidents, Resilience and Prevention 2024/25

12:10 - Glycerol in slushie ice drinks (FSA 25/06/08)

Rebecca Sudworth and Dr James Cooper will present this paper.

FSA 25/06/08 - Glycerol in slushie ice drinks

12:45 - Lunch 

13:30 Annual Science Update from FSA’s Chief Scientific Adviser (FSA 25/06/09) 

Professor Robin May presents his fifth annual report to the Board as the FSA’s Chief Scientific Adviser. 

FSA 25/06/09 - Annual Science Update from FSA’s Chief Scientific Adviser

13:50 FSA Strategy: Annual Update on Progress Indicators (FSA 25/06/10)

Rachel Cooper presents a paper to the board to update on the progress of the FSA Strategy and Three Year Corporate Plan. 

FSA 25/06/10 - FSA Strategy: Annual Update on Progress Indicators

14:10 Report from the Director of FSA in Northern Ireland (FSA 25/06/11) 

Anjali Juneja and Andy Cole give an annual update to the Board on the work in Northern Ireland to deliver the FSA priorities. 

FSA 25/06/11 - Report from the Director of FSA in Northern Ireland

14:30 Report from the Chair of the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee (INFO 25/06/01)

The Chair of the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee (ARAC), Anthony Harbinson, presents a report from the ARAC meeting that took place on 10 June 2025.

INFO 25/06/01 - Report from the Chair of the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee

14:40 Report from the Chair of the Business Committee (INFO 25/06/02)

The Chair of the Business Committee, Timothy Riley, presents a report from the Business Committee meeting that took place on 9 June 2025.

INFO 25/06/02 - Report from the Chair of the Business Committee

14:50 Reports from the Chairs of the Food Advisory Committees (oral reports) 

The Chairs of the Northern Ireland Food Advisory Committee (NIFAC), Anthony Harbinson, and the Wales Food Advisory Committee (WFAC), Rhian Hayward, deliver oral updates from the recent meetings of the two Committees.

14:55 - Any Other Business 

15:00 - End of Meeting 

Questions to the FSA Board 

We are keen to ensure, as far as is practical, that questions are addressed in the discussion at the Board meeting. Notwithstanding discussions on the day, all questions will receive a written reply within 20 working days of the meeting.

Please note questions are listed below in the order in which they were received.

Question 1

From: A Private Individual who wishes to remain anonymous

The proposal suggests that ministers empower the FSA/FSS to take market authorisation decisions. However, it remains unclear how — or even whether — this mechanism will be operationalised in a transparent, and reviewable way. We are particularly concerned, given that the FSA has, in the past, declined to publish critical information that directly impact regulated product (ref: FOI IC-177160-S0R7). In 2019, the EU introduced sweeping changes to the EU food law transparency framework (EU) 2019/1381 relating to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) — including rules on risk communication, access to studies, and public consultation. However, this has not been transposed into GB law.

Our experience with the FOI, calls into question the FSA's willingness to uphold transparency, hence my question:

• Will reasons for authorisation decisions, and the supporting evidence (including external risk assessments), be published in full?
• How will the FSA be held accountable if there is a perception of regulatory capture or a loss of impartiality?

The delegation of authority is not inherently problematic — but doing so without enforceable transparency standards and safeguards, risks further eroding public trust.

Question 2

From: Dr Mark Tallon, Managing Partner, Legal Products Group Ltd

Please provide a response to the current questions regarding novel foods submissions:

1. Please can the board provide an update on the current status of CBD novel food submissions that now are in the risk management phase given it has been over 12 months since some submissions completed the safety assessment.
2. When will these be sent to ministers for authorisation?
3. When is the likely time frame these final decisions are made so that companies can make a decision on next steps should the current ADI set by the FSA remains in place despite consideration of label warnings that should resolve concerns over vulnerable groups.

Question 3

From: Charlotte Flores, Research Associate, Bryant Research

What is the potential impact of the UK-EU SPS agreement on the FSAs ongoing and upcoming regulatory plans and initiatives for novel foods?

Question 4

From: Andrea Martinez-Inchausti, BRC

Our members have noticed an increase number of approaches by companies trying to sell them new innovative ingredients, often not aware of the legal restrictions and at times blatantly mentioning ways of circumventing the law. E.g. for ashwagandha, a number of suppliers have contacted members claiming they are getting around the legal issues by classifying their ingredient as a supplement, when they are clearly not. Another area where this is happening is on ‘natural alternatives’ to additives being proposed. This is related to the UPF agenda. Many of these ingredients are functioning as an additive and therefore they are unapproved additives. Our members are responsible companies with regulatory resources and push back on these proposals, but there is a proliferation of products containing them on the market, which creates a two tier approach, which put our members at a commercial disadvantage. Is FSA prioritising clarity of messaging, clear guidance to enforcement authorities and focusing on an early understanding of what ingredients are going to be an issue?

Question 5

From: David Owen

In light of video evidence showing an FSA-approved Veterinary Officer (VO) at the Old Arley slaughterhouse witnessing clear incidents of animal abuse without intervening, will the FSA consider taking disciplinary action against the VO involved? Furthermore, will the FSA consider introducing measures to make such a failure to act in the face of animal cruelty a criminal offence, given the VO's legal and ethical responsibility to uphold animal welfare standards?

Question 6

From: Carolyn McKay

It has recently come to our attention that the abattoir located in our village, Old Arley, has become a member of the Association of Independent Meat Suppliers (AIMS) and may have engaged their support in reapplying for a slaughter licence. As you are aware, the Food Standards Agency previously revoked this facility’s licence due to serious animal welfare breaches and ongoing non-compliance with required improvements. We would be grateful if you could provide the following information: How many FSA slaughter licence revocations or rejections have AIMS successfully appealed on behalf of their members?

Question 7

From: Diana Tumova

The upcoming SPS agreement between the EU and the UK.

Could you please list EU regulations where full alignment will be expected, and which are within and outside the scope? Could you specify the time given to businesses to prepare for the upcoming changes and planned support?

What will be the estimated timescale of the published regulatory overview related to the EU-UK agreement?

Question 8

From: John Mettrick, Chair, Abattoir Sector Group

The limitations of the current delivery of the meat inspection system are well known. But despite significant technological and scientific advances there has been no significant reform in recents years. In its early years, the Agency was one of the global leaders pressing for change, but its voice is now non-existent. UK Devolution, leaving the EU and recent international trade changes appear to have been viewed more as a brake on change rather than as opportunities. Will the Board reignite the FSA's leadership in providing modern risk-based controls?

Question 9

From: John Mettrick, Chair, Abattoir Sector Group

Does the board agree that the abattoir network, comprising of all sizes across the UK, makes a vital contribution to national food security, and as such the FSA must be seen to address the challenges and opportunities that all abattoirs face?

Question 10

From: Elizabeth Lewis, Secretary General, AIC, BAFSAM, BETA and UK Pet Food (Joint Question)

AIC, BAFSAM, BETA and UK Pet Food are fully supportive of the FSA plans to have an accurate and transparent GB Register of Feed Additives which can be readily modified and amended. However, the update of the GB Feed Additive Register on 1st April 2025 resulted in the removal and revocation of a number of additives in use by the feed industry without prior notice, communication, consultation or (where applicable) transition periods. These actions are entirely without precedent in the industry’s long and collaborative engagement with FSA and caused significant market disruption. We are concerned that the process has not been consistent with the stated aim of the FSA to support business and help deliver growth and investment while maintaining high standards of food safety. The issue has also raised concerns within industry over the governance of decision-making by the executive, particularly over the need to consult with industry when changes to regulation severely impact the functioning of the market. Feed industry representatives would ask the Board to consider if there is a need to review governance procedures in light of this?