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Government shakes up pack labelling responsibilities

Packaging labelling legislation is set to be split between Defra and the Department of Health after the government decided to focus the Food Standards Agency (FSA) on food safety.

Last week, it was suggested that the government might abolish the FSA as part of its budget cutting.

However, the government has decided to maintain the body and some 2,000 staff, and instead move some of its competences to other government departments.

Health will be responsible for nutrition policy and, as such, front of pack nutrition labelling. Around 70 jobs will be transferred from the FSA.

Defra will look after country of origin labelling to ensure consumers know where their food comes from. The FSA will lose 25 related posts to Defra.

Environment secretary Caroline Spelman said: "It makes perfect sense to bring policy on food origin and associated labelling to Defra to sit with wider food policy.

"The government has made very clear its commitment to clear and honest labelling – particularly origin labelling."

"The changes will enable the FSA to focus on food safety and its right that this should stay in the hands of an independent body," said Spelman.