"Food Assurance Schemes" under review

Food Assurance Schemes set out certain production standards in areas such as:

• Food safety and hygiene;
• Environmental protection; and
• Animal welfare and inspections.

The Assurance Schemes include regular checks on the producers that make up their membership. Members of schemes can then advertise these standards on the products that are sold in shops. Producers and retailers set up the schemes to highlight the production standards they are using. The schemes cover more than 85% of production in the milk, eggs, chicken, pork and combinable crop sectors and over 65% of beef, lamb and horticultural produce (such as fruit and vegetables.)

The Food Standards Authority [“FSA] has launched a consultation on these Schemes based on an independent review that was triggered by consumer research findings, which found there was little recognition amongst consumers of the logos used by farm assurance schemes and minimal awareness of what underlying standards they represented.

The FSA is inviting written comments on it’s draft Position Document which outlines concerns and recommendations. To access this document please click here. A stakeholder meeting is planned for September 2002 to discuss findings in details.

FSA Concerns:
1. Informing the consumer - Consumers are still not aware of what logos represent and material available to consumers on individual schemes is variable both in terms of content and accessibility. Logos do not convey a clear message to the consumer.
2. There is no clear definition between individual schemes of quality standards.
3. Tighter controls are needed to prevent mis-use of logos.
4. There should be a clear balance between consumer benefits and consumer costs.
5. Competition should not be restricted / consumer choice should be protected.
6. Schemes should be extended to the processed foods and catering sectors.

FSA Recommendations:
1. Schemes to co-operate together

• To develop and promote best practice guidelines and review core criteria,
• To provide objective consumer information and promote Scheme benefits to consumers,
• To extend into new areas (see above),

2. The introduction of a new independent body to oversee and govern Schemes. This body should be:

• Independently chaired and include members with expertise covering the whole food chain, including consumers; and
• Consult widely on its objectives and policies i.e. there is greater transparency.

3. Independent objective standards and core criteria for individual Schemes should be set. These should:

• Represent the interests of all stakeholders – consumers, retailers, producers, enforcement authorities and relevant experts
• The Boards which set standards should be independently chaired
• Schemes should be UKAS accredited and certifying bodies should be independent of the standard setting body
• There should be a minimum of annual inspections some of which would be random or unannounced and tighter controls on what claims can be made

Comment
It is widely accepted that the proper dissemination of information and the use of clear objective standards would both assist the consumer in choosing their product and the producers in being able to market their produce clearly as being of a higher quality or ethical standard.

The FSA maintain that it is vital that any independent umbrella body which oversees the Schemes be balanced between producers, processors and retailers on the one hand and consumers, welfare and environmental representatives, enforcers and academics on the other. This balance must not only be established but maintained lest the setting of voluntary standards at a higher level than that required by regulation not be made unviable by an extra layer of bureaucracy or unenforceable standards put forward by a too consumer orientated body.

For further information please contact Jessica Burt at [email protected] or on +44 (0)20 7367 3589.