There has been a rapid increase in the application and use of eco-labels and claims by businesses that they or their products are environmentally friendly. This has occurred because the environment is becoming increasingly important to the general public,...
Last week, we discussed what to look out for in terms of potential breaches of the allergen requirements and a case study to illustrate that. In this blog, we have condensed our advice into five top tips to help you prevent an allergen incident in your food...
One of the most common breaches of the Food Hygiene Regulations is in respect of incidents involving allergens. In this blog, our Food Regulatory Team discusses the law, what to look for in your business and what to do if you have an allergen incident. Food...
The 1 st of October 2023 marked two years since Natasha’s Law came into force. This legislation, officially known as the Food Information (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2019, made it mandatory for food which is pre-packed for direct sale to include...
Allergen labelling is a hot topic and continues to be one of the most common breaches of food law. It is a legal requirement for all food business operators (“FBOs”) to declare the presence of any of the 14 major allergens (celery, cereals...
This week, the Government announced it will open a £4million fund to support small abattoirs at the end of 2023. Here, Rebecca Ironmonger of our Regulatory Team discusses what we know so far about the fund and considers what else might be needed to...
On 29 June 2023, the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 completed its journey through Parliament and received Royal Assent. The content of the original bill, which was the subject of much controversy, has changed considerably, but still...
As the cost of living and running your business continue to rise, it can be tempting to try to challenge any enforcement action by local authorities, the Food Standards Agency, the Environment Agency and other regulators by yourself without the benefit of...
In April this year, we considered the proposed changes to the regulations surrounding animal welfare in transport contained in the government consultation. Last month, the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (“DEFRA”) published...
From 1 October 2021, the Food Information (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2019, more widely known as Natasha’s Law, will come into force. Natasha’s Law was introduced into Parliament as a result of tragic deaths due to allergy sufferers’...
A consultation by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (“DEFRA”) into proposed changes to the Regulations governing animal welfare in transport closed in February 2021 and has provoked much debate within industry. Rebecca...
The way food and drink producers, manufacturers, retailers and suppliers label food is changing as of January 1 2021, and you need to be ready. When the UK exited the European Union on 31 January 2020, the transition period was set in motion which ends on...
This brief article aims to answer some questions about the certification, labelling and trading of organic food products following the provisional coming into force of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) on 1 January 2021. Can organic products...
A medium-sized food processing factory which produces products such as donor kebabs for the national and international market was raided by Trading Standards and the National Food Crime Unit at the Food Standards Agency (“FSA”) and subsequently...
The robotics industry is one of rapid growth and innovation within the food sector. The benefits for productivity, health and safety and profit increase are definitely appealing, but it’s crucial that food businesses do not ‘run before they...
What protection is available? Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) - This is for products that are closely linked to a certain geographical area. If protected, at least one of the stages of production, processing or preparation will have to take place in...
So you have finally secured the deal with the large retailer to stock your food products. It will be plain sailing from now – massive orders, secure cash flow and national exposure for your brand. Right? Not necessarily, and in fact, for most...
The UK food industry is facing yet another supply chain scandal, and while not on the same scale as ‘horse gate’, Bart’s Ingredients and Genius product withdrawals and now the ‘oregano’ food fraud (see The Grocer article here...
What is a brand? A strong brand helps distinguish a business’ products from its competitors’. It adds value to the business by enhancing consumer awareness and improving customer loyalty. A brand can be made up of many elements, including: A...
Can you copyright a recipe? If your business has spent time and money developing a recipe or new product, you should be thinking about protecting it from competitors. But can you copyright a recipe and is this the best way to protect your work? In the food...
