The Food Standards Agency’s newly published strategic plan for 2015-20 is designed to “reinvigorate” the agency’s pledge to put consumers “first in everything we do” while recognising there are growing challenges around food safety, affordability, security and sustainability.
The Plan, released this week, also sets out how FSA plans to work with the food industry, local authorities and other parts of government, and with scientists, consumer and community groups and other stakeholders.
Key approaches include:
- using science, evidence and information both to tackle the challenges of today, and to identify and contribute to addressing emerging risks for the future,
- using legislative and non-legislative tools highly effectively to protect consumer interests and deliver consumer benefits – influencing business behaviour in the interests of consumers,
- being genuinely open and engaging, finding ways to empower consumers both in our policy making and delivery, and in their relationship with the food industry,
- making sure that all of us are highly capable, effectively supported and consistently choose to make outstanding contributions to protecting, information and empowering consumers.