New food watchdog planned

Chief Scottish Political Correspondent

Wednesday 20 February 2013

SCOTTISH ministers are to step up work on establishing a stand-alone food standards watchdog north of the Border in the wake of the horsemeat scandal.

Custom byline text:

ROBBIE DINWOODIE CHIEF SCOTTISH POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT

Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead, giving an emergency statement to MSPs, announced the setting up of two expert groups.

One will advise on the creation of a new stand-alone body, and the other will build on the reputation of quality beef and look at extending the Scotch brand into the processing sector.

The minister also revealed no evidence of horsemeat had been found so far, with almost half of meat processing premises tested. Yesterday, he said: "This is very reassuring. However, we know we must not be complacent and we must remain vigilant as these inspections continue."Companies supplying meals to the public sector in Scotland – including schools, hospitals and prisons – have also been carrying out extensive checks to provide reassurance. To date there is no evidence of horsemeat in public sector catering in Scotland."Consultation is due to begin shortly on a stand-alone food body in Scotland and the Scottish Government is considering the implications of the horsemeat issue on this consultation."The Public Health Minister will be establishing an expert group to advise on any changes needed within the FSA in Scotland to allow this new body to be created."I continue to speak regularly to key stakeholders to ensure that Scotland – and in particular our premium Scotch beef brand – does not suffer unnecessary collateral damage."He admitted: "The horsemeat scandal has undermined consumer trust in some parts of the industry but it may be a watershed moment in how people think about food, and that could be a good thing."There's clear evidence that people are looking for provenance in the Scotch brand, which is associated with trace-ability and quality."Some butchers are reporting sales up by more than one-fifth since this crisis started and meat processing companies in Scotland are also reporting increased orders for Scotch beef."Labour MSP Hanzala Malik said attention should be given to religious needs following the discovery of pork in supposedly halal food. Islamic law forbids the consumption of pork.Conservative MSP Alex Fergusson, who has a background in farming, said: "Supermarkets relentlessly driving down prices they pay to suppliers inevitably leads to those suppliers trying almost anything to make a profit themselves."Liberal Democrat MSP Jim Hume said there should be more local food procurement, while Green MSP Alison Johnstone called for a shorter food chain.With Nestle the latest to find horsemeat in its beef products on the continent, the National Beef Association (NBA) attacked the bullying culture it said retail buyers had used for decades.NBA national director Chris Mallon said supermarkets and a disappointed British public were paying the price for the "short-sighted, price-led, purchasing tactics".l The House of Commons has withdrawn four beef products from its catering outlets while tests are carried out for horse DNA. A spokesman said it was a precautionary measure.

Contextual targeting label:

Food and drink

Commenting & Moderation

We moderate all comments on HeraldScotland on either a pre-moderated or post-moderated basis. If you're a relatively new user then your comments will be reviewed before publication and if we know you well then your comments will be subject to moderation only if other users or the moderators believe you've broken the rules, which are available here.

Moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours. Please be patient if your posts are not approved instantly.

New food watchdog planned

Commenting & Moderation

MOST READ

SPONSORED LINKS

MOST COMMENTED