FSA Board supports new plans to strengthen the food safety system
The UK Food Standards Agency Board has approved plans to modernise the food safety system, enhancing local regulation and introducing national scrutiny for major retailers to maintain high standards amid changing food production and consumption patterns.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) Board has endorsed proposals to reform the UK’s food safety system under the Future of Food Regulation programme. The plans aim to strengthen local delivery by equipping local authority food teams with improved tools and resources. A more consistent national approach will be introduced to scrutinise the largest food businesses, ensuring high standards are maintained as market dynamics evolve. The FSA emphasises the need to adapt to changes in how food is bought, sold, and produced to sustain public confidence in food safety.
Local authority food teams are described as the backbone of the UK’s food safety system, with their expertise and community knowledge deemed irreplaceable. The FSA has engaged over 1,200 stakeholders across the UK to identify challenges and inform the design of reforms. Feedback will guide the next phase of planning, with the Board expressing confidence that the proposals will strengthen food safety overall. The approach aligns with government priorities for local decision-making and growth, while ensuring robust public protection.
The reforms include improving food business registration to create a clearer picture of operators, supporting compliant businesses, and targeting those that do not meet standards. Different business types will face proportionate regulation, with local teams continuing to oversee most businesses while national oversight focuses on a small number of very large retailers. Enhanced data use from supply chains will help regulators identify risks and focus on areas of greatest concern, supported by more effective enforcement tools for local teams.
The FSA will collaborate with local authorities, businesses, and partners through a technical advisory committee to develop the proposals in detail. A public consultation is planned for 2027, following the Board’s review of developed proposals in March 2027. The reforms aim to balance local expertise with national scrutiny, particularly for major retailers, to ensure a fairer and more effective food safety system across the UK.