Scotland’s farming leaders have welcomed the launch today of Food Standards Scotland (FSS) as a step which gives “greater focus” to food traceability, authenticity and labelling in Scotland.
Now the official public sector food body for Scotland, taking over the responsibilities previously carried out in the country by the Food Standards Agency, the new body was greeted by NFU Scotland (NFUS) as an “opportunity to build on the many positive messages that surround the nation’s food, drink and farming”.
“The best way to underpin the sustainable development of Scotland’s food and drink industry is to ensure that all consumers continue to feel reassured that the food and drink produced in this country is as safe, tasty and nutritious as it can possibly be,” said NFUS president, Allan Bowie.
He also said that when it comes to supporting tasty Scottish produce, consumers must be able to “clearly identify our goods at the counter or on the shop shelf”. It was in that context that the new body’s focus on labelling and traceability would be most valued.
FSS chief executive, Geoff Ogle, commented that the new body “will provide a regime responsive to Scotland’s needs”.
“Our focus will be on making decisions based on the food safety, labelling and nutrition issues that affect the Scottish public most directly,” he said, adding that he looked forward to working with “our partners, stakeholders and consumers themselves” to confront the sector’s most important issues.