The Food Standards Agency ("FSA") has called for EU-wide powers for Local Authorities to seize fraudulent foods, in the wake of last year's horsemeat scandal.
This is presently a highly topical area, following a consultation by the FSA last year on their powers of entry (please click here to see the winter 2013 edition of our newsletter and a report by MEP Esther de Lange which called for stronger policing of the food industry and tougher penalties for food fraud (please click here to see the spring 2014 edition of our newsletter.
According to a new report considered by the Board on 5 March, the FSA believes the existing powers of inspection do not go far enough and the present rules limit searches on premises where there is deliberate concealment. The report considers the focus of the legislation is currently on food safety when it should be on ensuring that food is what it claims to be.
The FSA fears that food companies are likely to resist any attempt by Britain to go it alone on this issue and also predict industry opposition to wider searches for evidence of fraud. For this reason, it is looking to the EU to lead the way in the reforms.
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