LETTERS

It has been nine months since the introduction in the European Union of the General Food Law Regulation (178/2002), yet I can't help but wonder what real impact the legislation has had on the food manufacturing industry.

Billed as one of the most comprehensive pieces of legislation to affect the supply chain, it stated that companies involved in food supply must be able to identify and track on demand every ingredient and food that they handle.

However, the outbreak of the Sudan 1 case in February 2005 highlighted certain weaknesses of the legislation. In the aftermath of that scare, questions were raised over the time it took to trace the data of the contaminated products in the supply chain. As the first acid test of the legislation in the UK, it appeared that the new law had not provided a compelling reason for manufacturers and suppliers to act.

In particular, Sudan 1 highlighted the ambiguity of the 'on demand' element of the legislation. There was no pressure on the time suppliers had to trace contaminated products and the process appeared to take several weeks to complete.

Traceability requirements are largely driven by the major retailers, so although the legislation has been a contributory factor in raising awareness, improvements to traceability systems are largely to the credit of industry collaboration.

The industry therefore needs to build on this approach to food safety and make further steps to prevent another food scare. Although legislation is another step in the right direction, the industry must work collaboratively to ensure tighter guidelines are invoked in order to allay another Sudan 1.