Food policy central to economic recovery - FDF

FDF’s 20-point plan

Deliver a coherent strategy

• Work with industry partners to turn the Food 2030 vision into action – putting a sustainable food sector at the heart of the UK economy
• Recognise the strategic importance of food manufacturing and ensure our sector is given greater prominence in Government efforts to rebalance the economy
• Underpin our competitiveness by ensuring there is clarity, consistency and coherence across all Government policy areas impacting the food sector
• Partner with industry to define a healthy, low impact diet based on sound evidence

Back us in going green

• Provide us with the stability and confidence we need to invest in the country’s low carbon future by developing clearer and more coherent policies on emissions reduction and energy supply
• Design future policy in a way that avoids damaging our international competitiveness
• Focus on incentivising good behaviour rather than simply trying to penalise the bad
• Invest in appropriate UK infrastructure to support resource efficiency, especially for waste, water, energy and transport

Cut the red tape

• Prioritise job creation and promote UK economic recovery by introducing a moratorium on further employment regulations
• Introduce regulatory budgets to minimise the impact of legislation, quasi-regulation and voluntary codes on our sector
• Ensure regulatory impact assessments take full account of compliance costs and apply to voluntary initiatives, codes of practice and other forms of quasi-regulation
• Don’t goldplate new EU regulations – especially in relation to the Temporary Agency Workers Directive
• Work better with the EU institutions to shape the regulations that have the biggest impact on our sector

Support manufacturers

• Prioritise food and drink exports and provide more tangible support for companies to boost our sectors’ overall performance and encourage growth
• Reverse the decision to increase National Insurance Contributions from 2011 as this will place an unnecessary burden on employers
• Establish an effective, low-cost ombudsman to monitor and enforce the Grocery Supply Code of Practice, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises
• Follow through on the long-term commitment for simplification, delivery and funding for skills programmes, particularly apprenticeships, modular training and basic skills – and ensure our sectors needs are recognised
• Deliver on the strategic plan to partner with manufacturers on joint strategies to make our sector a ‘career of choice’ for school leavers and graduates

Protect innovation

• Work with industry and universities to increase the availability of qualified food scientists to support the sector’s future growth and competitiveness
• Remove potential future barriers to innovation through better regulation and proportionate voluntary measures and show leadership in the debates about the use of new technologies such as GM and nanotechnologies