By unlocking the export potential China offers the pig industry, not to mention the red meat sector as a whole, we could gain entry into a marketplace which comprises a fifth of the world’s population.Food Standards Agency to be axed
THE Food Standards Agency (FSA) is to be axed, with Defra and the Department of Health set to take on various parts of its function, according to reports.
Health Secretary Andrew Lansley is due to make a statement today confirming the news, the Reuters news agency is reporting.
It has long been rumoured that agency’s nutritional remit would be transferred to DoH but it was thought the FSA could remain as an independent adviser to Ministers on food safety.
The agency, chaired by former Farming Minister Lord Rooker, looks set to be another victim of the coalition Government’s radical cost cutting exercise.
If confirmed, the move will be controversial. The rumour has already sparked claims the Government has ‘caved in to big business’, following the spat between the FSA and the food industry over ‘traffic light’ food labelling proposals.
Labour’s health spokesman Andy Burnham said: “Getting rid of the FSA is the latest in a number of worrying steps that show Andrew Lansley caving in to the food industry. It does raise the question whether the health secretary wants to protect the public health or promote food companies.”
The FSA was created in 2000, partly in response to the BSE crisis and accusations that MAFF’s close relations with the farming industry had compromised its ability to act independently on the potential risks.
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Readers' comments (2)
Edward Dix | 12 July 2010 12:30 pm
Is this not just another case of the current administration axing the previous administrations policies. As with the cancellation of BSF this will have a significant impact on large numbers of people. It is completely rediculous that politics is so petty with changes in government resulting in wholsale changes in depatments and schemes in this way. I accept that savings need to be made but there is so much already invested in the FSA, will the replacement organisations still be able to retain the necessary independence.
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Dave Gregory | 12 July 2010 1:28 pm
I find it strange that nutritional policy will go to DoH as I guess that means it will cover England only - the DoH has no presence in the devolved assemblies. As far as I can see that means the FSA will go but the costs to all devolved assemblies will go up -a case of one budget decreasing and 4 others increasing. It costs the same but is more disjointed then before - which if you want to be cynical is what the food industry wanted.
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