The impact of new EU food hygiene proposals on the industry
The UK food sector could see some significant changes in the coming years, thanks to new EU food hygiene proposals. The European Commission (EC) is currently considering changes to EU law that would require food manufacturers in all European member states to adhere to stricter traceability (tracking products back to their origin or source) regulations.
However, many trade groups are worried that amending food law and implementing these changes could have a considerable cost for the food industry. Whilst costs were originally estimated at an extra £5 million a year, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) has put this figure at a staggering £294 million.
The costs involved would cover training new staff to fill hygiene, standards and analysis food jobs, purchasing new software to collect and store information, and setting up systems to monitor traceability.
A number of food sector organisations such as the Food Standards Agency (FSA) believe that such measures and costs are unnecessary, claiming that the current traceability system is reliable and sound enough to meet the food industry's needs.
The objective for the EC then is to weigh the potentially extortionate extra costs to the industry against benefits such as preventing fraud and the improved ability to monitor every step of the food production chain.
However, many trade groups are worried that amending food law and implementing these changes could have a considerable cost for the food industry. Whilst costs were originally estimated at an extra £5 million a year, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) has put this figure at a staggering £294 million.
The costs involved would cover training new staff to fill hygiene, standards and analysis food jobs, purchasing new software to collect and store information, and setting up systems to monitor traceability.
A number of food sector organisations such as the Food Standards Agency (FSA) believe that such measures and costs are unnecessary, claiming that the current traceability system is reliable and sound enough to meet the food industry's needs.
The objective for the EC then is to weigh the potentially extortionate extra costs to the industry against benefits such as preventing fraud and the improved ability to monitor every step of the food production chain.
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