Regulation & Legislation

Running scared: Digby Jones warned that those suffering abuses of power may be too afraid to speak out

Witness protection needed for grocery code

By Rod Addy

Suppliers reporting abuses of power under the Groceries Supply Code of Practice (GSCOP) might need “a witness protection programme”, according to business guru Digby Jones.

The Comission should rethink its health claims proposals, a group of MEPs has urged

MEPs slam Commission’s health claims plans

By Mike Stones

Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have objected to the European Commission’s (EC's) proposal for an approved list of Article 13.1 claims, urging more consideration of what should be included in the list.

Determined to beat the bullies, the FSA could withdraw its inspectors

FSA threatens abattoir bullies

By Rick Pendrous

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is threatening to withdraw inspectors from abattoirs and primary cutting plants that fail to deal with a culture of bullying, which is said to be "endemic" across the industry.

MEPs have been urged to vote in favour of the revised nutrition claims list

MEPs urged to vote for revised nutrition claims

By Mike Stones

UK and European food industry representatives have urged Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) to vote in favour of the revised nutrition claims list, which aims to make food reformulation easier, during their plenary vote tomorrow (February 2).

Firms lament country of origin label burden

Firms lament country of origin label burden

By Rick Pendrous

Country of origin labelling (COOL) looks set to cause manufacturers serious headaches and extra cost burdens when the new rules start coming into force in 2014.

David Cameron has been urged to ban illegal egg imports

David Cameron urged to ban illegal egg imports

By Freddie Dawson

Prime Minister David Cameron has received a letter from the British Egg Industry Council (BEIC) urging him to ban imports of illegally-produced battery cage eggs.

DEFRA minister Richard Benyon hit out at the previous government for failing to introduce an adjudicator

Food firms welcome Groceries Code Adjudicator calls

By Dan Colombini

Food manufacturers have reaffirmed their support for the introduction of a Groceries Code Adjudicator following yesterday’s (January 24) Opposition Day debate on rising food prices and poverty.

The European parliament is hoping to cut food waste by 50% before 2025

EU food waste plan backed by food firms

By Dan Colombini

Food manufacturers have backed new “urgent” measures introduced by the European Parliament aimed at halving food waste by 2025 and improving access to food for EU citizens.

Gold-plating EU regulations can make the difference between profit and loss

Gold-plating EU laws costs food firms dear

By Mike Stones

The British government’s apparent eagerness to gold-plate EU regulations can make the difference between profit and loss, delegates heard at Food Manufacture’s Business Leaders’ Summit this week.

Firms have six months to comply to a 'yes'

Break health claims law 'at your peril'

By Freddie Dawson

Manufacturers must review any health claims they make – on TV, in products, print advertising, and online – over the coming eight months or risk falling foul of new EU legislation, experts have warned.

Enough is enough! This legislation can't go on

Enough is enough! This legislation can't go on

By Clare Cheney

With the new year upon us, I can't remember a time when there was so much uncertainty in the world economy, business as a whole and the food trade in particular.

Government should do more to encourage debate about nanotechnology

Government must kick off nano debate

By Rod Addy

The government is failing to do enough to encourage an open debate on the use of nanotechnology and bodies such as the Food Standards Agency (FSA) should step into the breach.

Berryman: EFSA is short of probiotic experts

Probiotics set to win health claims approval

By Rick Pendrous

New research on the efficacy of probiotics means it is inevitable they will win health claims approval, according to Paul Berryman, chief executive of Leatherhead Food Research.

Police do more than investigate: they prevent crime

Call for adjudicator to ensure a deal's a deal

By Rick Pendrous

An adjudicator with teeth is needed to police the Groceries Supply Code of Practice to prevent overly powerful retailers reneging on deals with their suppliers, according to leading processors.

Popular in the United States, sensory claims, made for products such as Coors Light, are beginning to appear in the UK

Food firms look to sensory claims

By Freddie Dawson and Mike Stones

Frustrated food and drink manufacturers are considering sensory claims in preference to health claims; few of which have been approved by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

Watery argument: Highland is determined to challenge EFSA's ruling

Highland Spring challenges EFSA water ruling

By Freddie Dawson

Water supplier Highland Spring Group is determined to challenge the EU’s recent ruling on health claims for water, despite further clarification from Brussels.

Eggsasperated by unfair competition, the government is considering banning imported eggs that do not meet new welfare standards

Government threatens EU egg ban

By Graham Holter

The government says it has not ruled out a ban on imported eggs that do not comply with new welfare standards.

 Illegal fishing threatens the viability of honest businesses that refuse to deal with criminals

Politicians ready to fillet fish cheats

By Graham Holter

Illegal fishing, which now accounts for 15% of world catches according to EU calculations, distorts the market for fish, and threatens the viability of honest businesses that refuse to deal with criminals, warned politicians.

Food minister pledges to fight for UK pig industry

Food minister pledges to fight for UK pig industry

By Rick Pendrous

Food and agriculture minister Jim Paice has reassured Britain’s pig producers that the government will fight their corner in Europe. He aims to prevent them being disadvantaged by continental competitors who fail to stop using sow stalls when a partial...

If nudging people towards healthier lifestyles fails, it should be replaced by legislaton, warns a cross-party group of MPs

Public Health Responsibility Deal ‘no silver bullet’

By Mike Stones

The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) has welcomed comments from the Health Select Committee about the government’s Public Health Responsibility Deal describing the plan as “no silver bullet” to tackle obesity.

Switch on to the latest advice about complying with the new agency worker regulations, and a host of other business topics, by attending the SME Business Leaders' Round Table. This free-to-attend event will be held at legal specialist Eversheds’ Leeds office on November 29. For more details, telephone 01293 610231 or email foodmanevents@wrbm.com

New agency workers law highlights need for TLC

By Mike Stones

Food and beverage manufacturers risk claims of discrimination unless agency workers receive equal treatment to full-time employees, warns legal specialist Eversheds.

Bonus or basket case: opinions differ on the government's plans for a supermarket adjudicator

Supermarket adjudicator plans divide industry

By Mike Stones

The government’s plans for a supermarket adjudicator continue to divide industry opinion after the publication on October 15 of its response to a report from the Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) Select Committee.

Will traffic light labelling get the green light?

European Council opts to avoid COOL controversy

By Rick Pendrous

The European Council has kicked into the long grass a number of the more contentious parts of the Food Information Regulation (FIR), which covers the labelling of food and drink, according to a legal expert speaking on the day it was adopted last week.

New action to raise Olympic standards

New action to raise Olympic standards

By Rick Pendrous

Any food business that fails to rectify hygiene deficiencies in its operations will, from next April, risk being served with a Remedial Action Notice (RAN), potentially forcing it to stop working until improvements are made.

Making a mountain out of a muddle

Making a mountain out of a muddle

By Clare Cheney

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' (DEFRA's) press release on its Guidance on Date Marks spawned a welter of media stories that confused an already confused picture. But we can blame the press release. It did not clarify...

Denmark is getting to grips with fat tax legislation

Danish fat tax divides UK opinion

By Mike Stones

News that Denmark is to become the first country in the world to introduce a tax on foods with saturated fat, in a bid to foster healthy eating, has sharply divided British opinion.

Up to £24bn is tied up in late invoice payments

Late payment directive could cut business failures

By Freddie Dawson

A new EU directive to be implemented in the UK next year could free up more than an estimated £24bn held in outstanding late invoice payments, according to the Forum of Private Business (FPB)

EU adopts Food Information Regulation

EU adopts Food Information Regulation

By Anne Bruce

The long-awaited new EU Food Information Regulation (FIR) has moved one step closer to coming into force, after the European Council adopted it today.

Fish sustainability measures will lead to soaring prices

Fish prices may rise as EU imports fall

By Freddie Dawson

Fish prices are set to rise in the long-term as imports into Europe will be insufficient to ensure supplies, warned speakers at a conference held earlier this week to debate the future of UK fishing industry and the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).

Company name change needs EU hygiene approval

Company name change needs EU hygiene approval

By Freddie Dawson

Food manufacturers that change their name must reapply for a new EU food hygiene legislation approval number from the end of next January, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has warned.

Nutrition body rejects fat tax

Nutrition body rejects fat tax

By Graham Holter

The British Nutrition Foundation (BNF) has joined the opposition to calls for a fat tax to curb the UK’s growing obesity crisis.

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