Government chooses food manufacturing for first Focus on Enforcement review

The Government has chosen food manufacturing as the theme for its first Focus on Enforcement review, during which small businesses will be urged to provide feedback on their experiences of working with national regulators and local authorities.

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills said the subject was chosen because it had been raised as a priority during a consultation on enforcement in June 2011.

DBIS said the focus of the reviews would be “on the way regulation is delivered – whether through inspections, advice, enforcement – not about the regulations themselves”.

The Government’s separate Red Tape Challenge has instead looked at improving, simplifying or scrapping regulations.

The scope of the Focus on Enforcement food manufacturing review will cover regulatory activity by national regulators and local authorities “that affects or is perceived to affect the day-to-day running of businesses that manufacture food and drink for supply to the public through retail outlets including farm shops, markets and on-line, that employ less than 50 employees”.

But it will exclude: primary food production (e.g. farming, aquaculture); meat processing where the product is not for immediate sale to the public; and catering/food preparation (such as restaurants or take-away outlets).

DBIS said that for the purposes of this review, regulatory activity “includes action taken by national regulators or officers of local authorities, including but not limited to:

• provision of advice on compliance with the law;
• inspections of locations or equipment in order to satisfy regulatory authorities of compliance with the law;
• requirements to make formal applications, or provide information, in order to obtain necessary permits to engage in food manufacturing business;
• requirements to attend courses/obtain particular qualifications;
• enforcement proceedings taken against individuals or organisations in the event of failure to comply with regulations.” DBIS said it could not consider comments on specific cases unless all proceedings have finished. However, it will consider general evidence in relation to enforcement proceedings.

The Department said it also wanted to learn of examples of effective, tailored and easy to understand guidance and advice for businesses, and good regulatory delivery that was risk-based, focused on achieving compliance and supporting business growth.

Business and Enterprise Minister Mark Prisk said: “Focus on Enforcement gives small businesses in food manufacturing the chance to make a real difference to the way regulators visit, inspect and advise and enforce the law."

Melanie Leech, Director General of the Food and Drink Federation, said: “Effective regulation is vital for consumers to have confidence in our food and drink. But our smaller members consistently tell us that Government action to reduce the burden of regulation not only by making necessary regulation smarter but through a better enforcement and inspection regime could make a real difference to their ability to compete."

For more information on the food manufacturing review, click here.

Further reviews on chemicals manufacturing and volunteer events will be held in May.