Food Policy

The Scottish Government has launched a consultation on restrictions on the promotion and marketing of “discretionary foods” such as cakes, confectionery and savoury snacks. The consultation proposes that restrictions would be introduced for the location of products in-store, the promotion of value, shelf-edge displays and signage, upselling, and having branded chillers and floor display units. The consultation also proposes to restrict multi-buy price promotions, however, price marked packs would still be allowed.

The Department for Health and Social Care is seeking views on making places that serve food and drink outside of the home show calorie information (calorie labelling). For example, this could include on menus in restaurants, cafes, pubs, coffee shops and takeaways.

The Food Standards Agency has launched a consultation on amendments to the Food Law Code of Practice (Code) for England as part of its Regulating Our Future programme to change the process of food business registration, make changes to the application of the Food Establishment Intervention Rating Scheme, and recognise national inspection strategies.

The Mayor of London has launched on their draft Food Strategy. The strategy sets out the Mayor’s priorities and commitments on promoting good food at home, good food shopping and eating out, and good food for the environment.

The Scottish Government have launched a consultation on their proposals to integrate the system for Healthy Start Vouchers and the Sure Start Maternity Grant into a new combined system – the Best Start Grant.

If you would like more information on the submission, please contact julie.byers@acs.org.uk 

The Committee of Advertising Practice has launched a consultation on introducing new rules on the advertising to children of food and soft drink products in non-broadcast media, including online.

Their proposals include:

The Food Standards Agency is seeking views on the initial draft of an IA exploring the costs and benefits of introducing the legislation that would be necessary to make the display of ratings at food outlets in England mandatory.

The background sections of the IA outline the rationale for putting the FHRS on a statutory footing in England and summarise the evidence that they have collected so far to inform the case for the Government’s consideration.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) welcomes the opportunity to respond to the Food Standard Agency's call for views on the draft initial Impact Assessment for the mandatory display of food hygiene ratings in England.

The Welsh government have launched a consultation document asking for comments on proposed regulations which set out how certain food businesses should promote their food hygiene ratings under the statutory Food Hygiene Rating Scheme. These draft regulations have been revised following a consultation in 2014. The regulations apply to certain business types and publicity materials meeting specific criteria set out in the regulations.