Agriculture Minister Jack Cunningham today made the consultation responses available to the public. Comments were received from consumer groups, the food and farming industries, enforcement interests and other individuals and organisations with an interest in food production and food safety.
Dr Cunningham said:
"There is clear support for setting up a new independent Food Standards Agency. The many detailed comments are proving very useful as we drive this important initiative forward. We are now working hard to prepare a draft Bill ready for publication this summer. People will have another chance to comment on the detailed draft legislation, before the Bill is fully debated in Parliament."
The consultation responses for which confidentiality was not requested by respondents have been placed in the MAFF library, and are available to the public.