Food Regulations apply to all stages of food production, processing and distribution. The regulations set out by The Food Standards Agency are not limited to mainstream ‘food business operators’, they include anyone who supplies food, including individuals who supply charitable and similar events.
The legislation on these regulations is far reaching and can be complex so if you have a food production business, consider seeking advice to ensure you comply with them. For instance:
Labelling, advertising and presentation of food must not mislead consumers
There are strict regulations in relation to food labelling. Anyone who describes, labels or photographs food in a way that’s misleading in its nature, substance or quality, is guilty of an offence.
Identification of the supply chain must be clear, from beginning to end
Certain records must be kept and be available to the authorities on demand so it’s important they’re kept correctly. For instance, traceability records should include, as a minimum, details of the customer or supplier, nature and quantity of products and the date of transaction and delivery.
Withdrawal, recall and notification of food
If you find you’re in breach of any of the relevant guidelines, you will need to withdraw your product from the marketplace and advise the relevant authorities to reduce the risk posed to the public. This can be a costly process so it’s vital to get it right from the start.
Enforcement and Penalties
The Food Standards Agency enforces strict food law and its penalties in the UK, even if the offence is unintentional. Penalties can include detaining and seizing food, serving notices and even prosecution but having robust procedures in place could aid a due diligence defence and avoid a loss of money, time, stress and damage to your brand.
SEEK ADVICE
AMD Solicitors have a team of experienced commercial solicitors who can advise on putting all this relevant procedure in place, to ensure your business meets with compliance. For an initial discussion please contact Liz on 0117 923 5562 or by email at lizhighams@amdsolicitors.com