FSA News Items, 31 January 2006
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For a copy of the draft plan on this site, go to: FSA Draft Simplification Plan
The Food Standards Agency has today published its first draft simplification plan, in a bid to streamline food regulations and so make them easier to comply with.
The plan identifies a number of ways the Agency can enhance consumer protection by reducing unnecessary paperwork and the administrative burdens of food regulation.
As well as improving efficiency and compliance, the plan could save industry more than £200m in the first year. The Agency now wants to identify further areas where it could simplify regulation.
It would like to hear from businesses, and the charity and voluntary sectors about which regulations they believe could be improved and simplified. Any ideas that are submitted will be considered and feasible solutions included in the plan.
Steve Wearne, Head of the FSA's Better Regulation Division, said: ‘The FSA is firmly committed to the better regulation agenda. Simpler regulation makes compliance easier; it can lead to better public protection and make it easier for business.
'Those affected by regulation are best placed to make suggestions about how it could be made more effective. This is an ideal opportunity for stakeholders to get their ideas heard.'
In drawing up the plan the FSA has already received some useful suggestions that have led to improvements. The Agency worked with the Port Health Authorities to develop the electronic GRAIL database system, which has cut the need for paperwork.
Another suggestion led to the consolidation of existing UK legislation on bottled water. Enforcement authorities and bottled water companies complained that the legislation was too complicated, so the FSA streamlined it to simplify interpretation and make compliance easier.
The Food Standards Agency has published its first draft simplification plan in a bid to streamline food regulations and make compliance easier.
The plan identifies a number of ways the Agency can enhance consumer protection by reducing unnecessary paperwork and administrative burdens of food regulation.
As well as improving efficiency and compliance, the plan could save industry more than £200m in the first year. The Agency now wants to identify further areas where it could simplify regulation.
It would like to hear from business, consumer groups and the voluntary sector about which regulations they believe could be improved and simplified. Any ideas that are submitted will be considered and feasible solutions included in the plan.
In drawing up the plan the FSA has already received some useful suggestions that have led to improvements. The Agency worked with the Port Health Authorities to develop the electronic GRAIL database system, which has cut the need for paperwork.
Another suggestion led to the consolidation of existing UK legislation on bottled water. Enforcement authorities and bottled water companies complained that the legislation was too complicated, so the FSA streamlined it to simplify interpretation and make compliance easier.
Steve Wearne, Head of the FSA's Better Regulation Division, said: 'The FSA is firmly committed to the better regulation agenda. Simpler regulation makes compliance easier; it can lead to better public protection and make it easier for business.
'Those affected by regulation are best placed to make suggestions about how it could be made more effective. This is an ideal opportunity for stakeholders to get their ideas heard.'
The FSA would welcome immediate comments on this plan before it is finalised in April. We would welcome further suggestions for simplification at any time. All comments and suggestions for action should be sent according to the instructions in the Draft Simplification Plan (see the link below). Call 0207 276 8394 for further information.
The FSA will respond to all suggestions for simplification within 90 working days of receipt.
Additional Notes to editors
The FSA has developed this plan in full consultation with its stakeholders, both within the UK and the European Union.
This plan has been developed as part of a cross-Government project to simplify regulations and reduce administrative burdens. More information can be found on the Cabinet Office website .
The FSA's policy on better regulation is set out in its strategic plan 2005–2010 which can be found at the link below.
Case studies
GRAIL database system
The FSA worked with the Port Health Authorities (PHAs) to develop the electronic GRAIL database system. PHAs need an efficient way of searching for legislation and guidance about food import controls. Until now, each had to install their own individual reference systems and many had to rely on hard copies of legislation in a number of cases.
The PHAs asked the FSA to reduce the level of paperwork needed to keep local information systems up to date. The Guidance and Regulatory Advice on Import Legislation (GRAIL) database will improve the efficiency of procedures and has cut the need for paperwork.
UK bottled water legislation
In another initiative, the FSA has consolidated bottled water legislation. Enforcement agencies and bottled water companies complained that the legislation was too complicated, resulting in differing levels of compliance. The FSA therefore decided to consolidate the legislation to simplify interpretation. The FSA will also be developing guidance in this area for the industry and enforcement authorities to help them understand the consolidated legislation.
The Agency's first draft simplification plan puts forward nine main simplification proposals. It includes a major deregulation exercise associated with replacing the over thirty month rule (OTM) for cattle entering the human food chain with BSE testing.
It also contains a number of legislation consolidation exercises, such as the consolidation of existing UK bottled water legislation to improve comprehension and interpretation. In line with the recommendations of the Hampton Review, details of how the Wine Standards Board (WSB) will be merged into the FSA are also included.
Finally, there are areas in which electronic systems are being developed to replace existing paperwork-based systems (Information and Communication Technology initiatives), such as the development of a central database (GRAIL) to store legislative information and guidance on food imports, initially for Port Health Authorities.
The plan also provides a number of examples of where the FSA has taken steps to reduce private sector burdens being introduced by the new EU food hygiene legislation. The FSA's flagship Safer Food Better Business initiative is a good example of where the Agency has sought to minimise the burden imposed on business while still achieving the same outcomes.
But the Agency still needs your help:
The FSA would welcome immediate comments on this plan before it is finalised in April, although we would welcome further suggestions for simplification at any time, which will be considered for the updated plan next year. Even if ideas don't immediately spring to mind, do take this opportunity to consider all the ways in which you are affected by regulation and where the major impacts lie.
Do the regulations for which the Food Standards Agency is responsible, and which impact on you and your business, comply with the five principles of good regulation? Are they proportionate, accountable, consistent, transparent and targeted?
The Principles of Good Regulation provide a good benchmark against which to judge whether the regulatory regime under which your organisation operates is effective.
How to submit your proposal
If you have a simplification proposal then please complete the attached form and send it to
simplification@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk. Please include as much information as you can as this will help us avoid delays.
Alternatively, you can print the form and sent it to:
Andy Spencer, Food Standards Agency, Room 315B, Aviation House, 125 Kingsway, London WC2B 6NH
If you wish to discuss a proposal with the FSA, please contact Andy Spencer on tel: 020 7276 8394; fax: 020 7276 837; or email: andrew.spencer@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk.
Meetings can be arranged to discuss potential or existing simplification proposals.
You can also make proposals through your existing FSA contacts if you prefer. They will pass your proposals onto colleagues in the FSA's Regulation and Consultation Branch who deal with simplification and other better regulation issues.
What happens next?