FSA Stakeholder Meeting – 20 February 2013

Subject the Consultation on the draft Food Information (Scotland) Regulations 2013

FSA listed National Measures requiring to be retained. Need to set out flexibilities in the UK

Food Labelling Regulations 1996 to allow FBOs to use nutritional information that is set out in the EU Regs

EU compositional standards for Lean minced meat and minced pure looks like something that SFMTA needs to follow up on.
Mince regulation needs to allow option for status quo but would need “For UK Market” on the ticket. Butchers could go for status quo with the added requirement or the EU compositional standard where mince would less than 7% fat.

Labelling statement for Connective Tissue and fat in mince would be unpopular and potentially confusing since mince made from a cut high in lean e.g. made from shin, lower in fat but higher in connective tissue and flank would be low in connective tissue but higher in fat. Would use of the ct and fat levels for FSA QUID guidelines? Mince could be described by the daily averages. There is nothing to stop businesses working to the European compositional standards.

QUID for loose meat products – this is no different
Needs views from industry, would business continue to voluntarily supply this if no derogation existed in UK

Allergens

The true burden of food allergy is estimated to be significantly greater than the hospitalisation statistics suggest. At the end of 2014, new legislation (the EU Food Information for Consumers Regulation 1169/2011) will be introduced that will require food businesses to provide allergy information on food sold unpackaged, in for example catering outlets, deli counters, bakeries and sandwich bars. There will also be changes to existing legislation on labelling allergenic ingredients in prepacked foods.

The public consultation on the new legislation is being held and views are being sought from interested parties on how this will affect them.

Amount of allergen presence needs determined ie gluten free if less than 20 parts per million.

The current list of 14 allergens to cover loose foods and catering.
There is no change to the list of 14.

New regulations put more emphasis on labelling where not allergen presence is not clear in name of food.

Allergen boxes go out, need to be in the list of ingredients. Needs to be designed into the label. Must be emphasised in bold or underlined to stand out from other ingredients. fSA Board decided not to defend the loss of allergen boxes becauseofthe need to have across Europe consistency.
Article 14 requires distance selling provide information at time of ordering and at point of delivery.

Communication of allergen information “on request” is not good enough. Must say info available from or at. Trying to approach a dialogue on loose foods.

Consultation closes on Monday 11th March.