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New food standards body for Scotland debated | New food standards body for Scotland debated |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Legislation which would see a new food standards body established in Scotland is to be debated by MSPs. | Legislation which would see a new food standards body established in Scotland is to be debated by MSPs. |
The Scottish government wants to set up Food Standards Scotland (FSS) to replace the current Food Standards Agency in Scotland. | The Scottish government wants to set up Food Standards Scotland (FSS) to replace the current Food Standards Agency in Scotland. |
Provisions to create the body are contained in the Food (Scotland) Bill, which has already been backed by the parliament's health committee. | Provisions to create the body are contained in the Food (Scotland) Bill, which has already been backed by the parliament's health committee. |
It will be debated at its first stage in the Holyrood chamber later. | It will be debated at its first stage in the Holyrood chamber later. |
The new body would have a wider scope, including greater powers to tackle diet and nutritional health in addition to regulating food safety. | The new body would have a wider scope, including greater powers to tackle diet and nutritional health in addition to regulating food safety. |
Extra measures to ensure food safety were also included in the legislation in the wake of the horsemeat scandal. | Extra measures to ensure food safety were also included in the legislation in the wake of the horsemeat scandal. |
The new body would be given specific powers to seize food that does not meet labelling rules. | The new body would be given specific powers to seize food that does not meet labelling rules. |
'Enforcement powers' | 'Enforcement powers' |
Publishing the legislation in March, public health minister Michael Matheson said such measures would help reassure consumers. | Publishing the legislation in March, public health minister Michael Matheson said such measures would help reassure consumers. |
He added: "The body will be given specific enforcement powers to seize food that does not meet food standards or labelling rules and it will also be compulsory to report non-compliance with food standards regulations, which cover food fraud." | He added: "The body will be given specific enforcement powers to seize food that does not meet food standards or labelling rules and it will also be compulsory to report non-compliance with food standards regulations, which cover food fraud." |
Dave Watson, head of bargaining and campaigns at trade union Unison, which represents meat hygiene inspectors and environmental health officers, said that simply creating a Scottish body to regulate food safety was not enough. | Dave Watson, head of bargaining and campaigns at trade union Unison, which represents meat hygiene inspectors and environmental health officers, said that simply creating a Scottish body to regulate food safety was not enough. |
He added: "They must legislate for higher standards to ensure the objectives set out in the Bill are achieved." | He added: "They must legislate for higher standards to ensure the objectives set out in the Bill are achieved." |
You can watch the debate live at BBC Scotland's Democracy Live. |
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