§ Mr. PaiceTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what powers will be available to the Food Standards Agency to enforce food labelling regulations. [70814]
§ Mr. RookerEnforcement of food labelling regulations will continue to be carried out by existing relevant authorities (in general, this is carried out at the local level). The Food Standards Agency will have powers under the Food Safety Act 1990 to issue Codes of Practice to local enforcement authorities, and to provide guidance on labelling and other enforcement matters. The Agency will also have powers to take over enforcement from local authorities, where appropriate.
§ Mr. PaiceTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what powers the Food Standards Agency will have to regulate the activities of local authorities with regard to enforcement of food hygiene and labelling regulations. [70815]
§ Mr. RookerThe provisions in the draft Food Standards Bill would enable the Food Standards Agency to set standards for the enforcement of food law, and audit local authority enforcement activity against those standards. The aim of these powers is to promote food law enforcement that is of a consistently high standard between local authorities.
It is also proposed that the Agency will have powers under the Food Safety Act 1990 to issue Codes of Practice to local authorities, and to provide other guidance on enforcement matters.
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