Chamber and committees

Under the Food Information to Consumers Regulation, food information must be accurate and not mislead the consumer. This applies to both mandatory information such as ingredients lists and nutrition declarations as well as any voluntary information for example a general claim about a food being a healthy option. Local Authority Environmental Health Departments have powers under the Food Information (Scotland) Regulations 2014 to enforce these requirements and Food Standards Scotland (FSS) encourages businesses to work with enforcement officers to ensure compliance with the law.

A joint UK wide public consultation on fairer food labelling ran for 8 weeks from 12 March 2024 to 7 May 2024. The purpose of this consultation was to seek opinion on specific options in respect of method of production labelling, but it also provided an opportunity to gather evidence and opinions in respect of country-of-origin labelling. Food Standards Scotland (FSS) are continuing to engage on this work alongside Scottish Government policy colleagues and on a four-country basis to determine next steps.

Food Standards Scotland has a statutory duty to improve the extent to which the Scottish population have diets conducive to good health. Their unique position, independent from government, allows them to report and publish evidence to inform policy across a wide range of actions in diet and nutrition.

In 2024 FSS published the Public Health Nutrition strategy which was developed to complement delivery of Scottish Government policy on diet as described in the Healthier Futures Delivery Plan and Out of Home Action Plan. This strategy outlines how improvements to diet in Scotland will be supported, including efforts to reduce levels of overweight and obesity.

As part of its competent authority role Food Standards Scotland monitors and enforces regulations in marine waters, slaughterhouses, standalone cutting plants, game handling establishments, feed, and wine business, throughout the length and breadth of Scotland, this includes on the Islands and all rural areas where a business is located.

The Food Standards Scotland (FSS) approach to recruitment is consistent with Civil Service rules on open and fair recruitment. A staff Engagement Survey is undertaken every year to understand staff views on working for FSS and that informs their approach to retention. FSS’ current staff engagement score is 72% which places them 5th across the UK civil service compared to organisations of a comparable size and 9th overall. FSS jobs that are advertised either internally or externally are open to Aberdeen residents to apply.

Food Standards Scotland has a range of enforcement actions detailed in food law it can use to address noncompliance. They also have enforcement polices for each sector they regulate promoting advice and best practice with a view to a graduated approach.

Local Authority Environmental Health Departments have powers under the Nutrition and Health Claims (Scotland) Regulations 2007 to enforce the requirements of Regulation 1924/2006 applying to businesses making claims about the nutrition content or health benefit of a particular food.

All information/intelligence relating to food crime is assessed and, where appropriate, is subject to further investigation or referred to relevant enforcement authorities, e.g. local authorities. Since 2018, Food Standards Scotland (FSS) investigators have undertaken forty-seven investigations of varying complexity into alleged food crime, many of which were conducted jointly with local authorities or with the collaboration of other law enforcement agencies (LEA), with FSS having a lead role.

Of these forty-seven investigations:

• 11 identified fraud
• 4 identified culpable and reckless conduct (serious food safety issues)
• 3 identified animal cruelty at FSS approved premises
• 1 identified breaches of hygiene regulations at approved premises
• 7 proved no crime had been committed

(Note: the above listing refers to the principal crime type as in a number of cases there were multiple crime counts, including statutory food safety offences).

As regards the remaining 21 investigations, these identified regulatory food crime or other related matters falling under the principal remit of local authorities or other law enforcement agencies (LEA including international LEA), which were referred for consideration of further action.

Food Standards Scotland (FSS) is a Competent Authority (CA) as defined in food law for the delivery of Official Controls (OCs) for all approved meat and poultry plants. FSS have a daily presence of Official Veterinarians (OVs) and Meat Hygiene Inspectors (MHIs) who operate in these plants to oversee animal health and welfare and protection of public health. They also undertake a series of audits, unannounced inspections, and where required enforcement actions to ensure compliance with food law.

Food Standards Scotland work in partnership with local authorities, other law enforcement agencies, industry and stakeholders at various strategic and tactical fora, including:

• Food Crime Strategic Assessment
• Tactical Tasking Coordinating Group (TTCG)
• Operational Tactical Assessment
• Horizon Scanning
• Engagement with Industry, local authorities and law enforcement partners
• Investigations
• Disruption activity
• Intelligence development and sharing
• Media awareness
• Food Crime Hotline
• Food Crime Risk Profiling Tool
• Inspections and regulatory controls
• Multi Agency Tasking and Delivery Board
• Scottish Multi Agency Strategic Threat Assessment
• Partners Intelligence Forum
• Food Crime Global Alliance
• European Food Fraud Network