Business

‘Absolute chaos’ in food security presents high risk to consumers

Published

2 years ago

June 26, 2024

THE NEXT government must prioritise food safety, says expert who investigated horse meat scandal

The UK is desperately in need of a food security policy to protect consumers and safeguard legitimate businesses, says a leading food expert.

According to Chris Elliott, Professor of Food Safety and Microbiology at Queen’s University Belfast and founder of the Institute for Global Food Security, a series of threats to food security are converging to create “absolute chaos”.

Professor Elliott – who authored the government-commissioned report into the 2013 horse meat scandal – told the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) Conference on 19 June that there is an urgent need for the UK’s next government to appoint a dedicated Food Minister and to implement a robust food security policy.

He also slammed “scandalous” cuts to Trading Standards resources as a major threat to food safety.

Regulatory divergence in the wake of Brexit, disruption to global supply chains caused by the war in Ukraine, the climate crisis and the rise of online food retail have created a challenging environment for businesses and an increasingly risky state of play for consumers.

Among Elliott’s concerns are the withdrawal of legitimate importers from the UK market – as a result of the increased costs and paperwork brought about Brexit – which is creating new opportunities for unscrupulous businesses and rogue traders to bring non-compliant and potentially unsafe foods into the country.

Elliott cited the disjointed approach to food regulation and monitoring as a key risk to consumers and legitimate businesses. He added that the government’s decision to scrap the LACoRS (Local Authorities Coordinators of Regulatory Services) system in 2010, combined with sweeping cuts to Trading Standards services, has dramatically undermined the UK’s ability to ensure that food entering the country, being sold in shops and online, and reaching consumers’ tables, is accurately described and safe to eat.

Professor Chris Elliott said: “I think the cutbacks in the Trading Standards workforce are the first problem; those people are really at the coalface and understand the problems that are going on. That, and the disjointed nature of food monitoring surveillance governance in the UK, is scandalous to be honest.

“For the last 14 years, the Conservative government has basically said, it’s a free market, don’t worry about it, because the food industry will take care of everything. Don’t worry if we import more, because imports are cheaper. So there has been no policy whatsoever. The UK currently imports nearly 50% of all the food that we eat, so everything that happens in other parts of the world will impact us.

“I know a company based in Spain who have taken the decision not to import anything into the UK anymore because it’s not a big enough market for them to deal with the amount of paperwork. If the good guys stop wanting to import stuff, the bad guys will step in, because the UK will be a much easier touch than Europe.

“People are realising it’s now much easier to get food that is not of the same quality and standards into the UK, because we don’t have the same checks and measures, or the same network of exchange of information. There are lots of reports about dodgy meat turning up in Felixstowe, for example – and that’s just one of the consequences of becoming very isolated.

“There are also massive challenges out there because of our changing climate. That’s really driving some bad behaviours, even with good businesses. The overuse of pesticides and illegal pesticides, for example, is on the rise because producers are trying to deal with climate crisis situations and crop failures.

“Ten years on from the horse meat scandal, the large mainstream food manufacturers and retailers are much better in terms of the monitoring processes and defence mechanisms they have in place. But in our food system, there are the large players, and then there are the small players, and then there’s online – which is the Wild West. We have found a huge amount of food fraud online. They can basically sell whatever they want. That’s what we’re up against.”

Jessica Merryfield, Head of Policy and Campaigns at CTSI, said: “Having safe food and a secure food supply chain is something we risk taking for granted but is fundamental to our health; we need safe food to survive as humans. The food supply chain and landscape has changed significantly, and will continue to do so, and those regulating the food chain need the resources to do so. This means having the legislative backing to allow officers to effectively deal with the challenges arising, but the rules are only as good as they are enforced; the decimation of qualified, skilled officers in this area needs to be reversed to allow this to happen.

“Without sufficient levels of officers working to ensure our food is produced and supplied to the highest levels of safety, effectively we are allowing decriminalisation by the back door. At CTSI, we are calling for the building back of Trading Standards services over the next four years, through funding of extra posts and apprenticeships. CTSI are also proud to announce that we are producing standalone module qualifications in feed and animal health, with a food one coming soon, to give local authorities and other stakeholders the opportunity to get staff trained quicker in these areas.”

Louise Hosking, Executive Director at the Chartered Institute for Environmental Health (CIEH), said: “Food security, standards and sustainability are interconnected. The vastly evolving UK landscape from Covid-19 to climate change has created new emerging risks that have created fragility within the food system.

“CIEH’s 2024 manifesto outlines the need for the UK government to strategically deliver the National Food Strategy, with a mandate to ensure all policies related to food work together to deliver health and environmental benefits. At each stage of the food supply system, from food handling, preparation and delivery, environmental health professionals work to ensure that the UK’s has a stable and safe supply of food.

“In the lead up to the next general we urge the next UK government to create a fairer, more sustainable food system.”

Business

Fishguard and Goodwick Bowls Club set to appeal council’s refusal of signage

Published

10 hours ago

June 24, 2026

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A Pembrokeshire sports club, which was recently refused permission by the council to keep advertising signs which support its activities, is looking to fight that decision.

Earlier this month, in an application refused by Pembrokeshire County Council on the grounds of visual impact, Fishguard & Goodwick Bowls Club sought retrospective permission for up to 36 signs on land close to the town’s Phoenix Centre.

The signs, which the applicants said provide “an important source of revenue for the Fishguard and Goodwick Bowls Club, supporting the ongoing operation and maintenance of local community sporting facilities,” had been in place for some 18 months, being removed ahead of the formal planning application.

Speaking after the refusal, Richard Brind, club captain of Fishguard & Goodwick Bowls Club, said the club had discussed challenging the decision, and had been taking advice from local county councillors about the best potential route, with options including a direct appeal through the Welsh Government’s PEDW (Planning and Environment Decisions Wales).

“We acted in good faith as we believed we had permission from a PCC department to install the signs.

“The irony in all of this is we actually paid PCC to have the signs made by their sign making department (who were the department that told us it would be OK to install the signs on our fence).

“The landlord of the grounds which is PCC have told us that they had no objection to us installing the signs, providing planning is granted.”

Mr Brind added: “I’m disappointed with the way the planning department have handled the process, not the decision, but I do think that was wrong; other sports clubs have signs up in the area, it doesn’t seem right.”

On the financial implication, he said: “Unfortunately, the costs of everything goes up, the costs to maintain the green are not covered by our membership, this year we’re probably going to spend £5,000. The money from the signs was certainly helping to keep the club viable, if we don’t get that money from somewhere, maybe through increased fees; membership would have to go up by a half, from £80 to £120.

“The funding we receive from the ads, it’s not vital but it’s a definite help, losing it would be ‘death from 1,000 cuts,’ money slowly trickling out.”

He finished: “I could understand it if it was an area of outstanding natural beauty rather than a car park, where we are we’ve got Jewsons and a petrol station.”

A spokesman for Pembrokeshire County Council said: “The Local Planning Authority has considered the application in accordance with the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations 1992 (as amended), which require due consideration of the impact signage would have on visual amenity and public safety.

“While comments regarding advice the applicant received from other council departments and landowner consent are noted, each application must be determined on its own merits with regard to relevant policy and legislation.

“The Authority recognises the club’s valuable role in the community; however, financial considerations are not material to the assessment of advertisement consent.

“Whilst there is a right of appeal to Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW), the Local Planning Authority remains willing to engage with the applicant regarding any revised proposals they may wish to present.”

Business

Government backs high street with crackdown on cheap imports

Published

15 hours ago

June 24, 2026

Tom Sinclair

MINISTERS have announced plans to speed up reforms aimed at helping high street businesses compete with online retailers and overseas sellers.

The Treasury said changes to low-value imports will now be brought forward by six months, with customs duty relief on goods worth £135 or less set to be scrapped from October 2028.

The move is designed to stop online retailers gaining an unfair advantage over shops, pubs, restaurants, hotels and other high street businesses.

At present, many cheaper imported goods can enter the UK without customs duty, a system which ministers say has left traditional retailers at a disadvantage.

The Government is also reviewing how VAT is collected from businesses trading through online marketplaces, amid concerns that some sellers are failing to pay the tax they owe.

The Treasury said revenue raised from tougher VAT enforcement would be used to help improve the business rates system for high street firms.

Dan Tomlinson, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, said: “This action tackles the unfair competition and dodgy businesses that are doing real damage to our high streets.

“And by making sure that tax is paid when it’s owed, we can raise revenue to put back into improvements to the business rates system for pubs, restaurants, hotels and other high street businesses.”

The package also includes a consultation on VAT reform for land used in new social housing developments.

Ministers say the change could help speed up the delivery of affordable homes by making the tax system better reflect how social housing schemes are developed.

The Treasury said the measures form part of wider plans to make the UK tax and customs system simpler, fairer and more focused on economic growth.

Business

Amended slurry lagoon plans approved after being moved due to mine workings

Published

21 hours ago

June 23, 2026

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

AMENDED plans for a rural mid Pembrokeshire slurry lagoon have been given the go-ahead after an initial scheme was altered due to the presence of mine workings.

In an application to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Owen Thomas, through agent Preseli Planning Ltd, sought permission for the excavation of an earth bank nutrient ‘slurry lagoon’ store of 60 by 48 metres near to New House Farm, some one kilometre from the village of Cresselly.

A supporting statement said: “The dairy farming operation at New House Farm covers approximately 290 hectares of mixed tenure land with the herd comprising of 250 milking cows, which have a yield of between 6-9 thousand litres per cow and associated youngstock.”

It added: “The current slurry storage arrangements at New House are insufficient based on the livestock numbers to accommodate a five-month slurry storage capacity. The purpose of the proposal is to increase the slurry and dirty water storage capacity for the farming enterprise to be compliant with the control of Agricultural Pollution (Wales) Regulations 2021 (CoAPR) requirements.

“It is not the applicant’s intention to increase stock levels at the holding. The existing slurry store on the farmstead following the deduction of rainfall and freeboard has a capacity of 1,178 cubic metres.”

It said the required capacity would be 5,481 cubic metres over a five-month period, leading to a current shortfall of 4,303 cubic metres, which the proposal would address.

It added: “A further environmental benefit bought by the development is the nutrient store would allow the spreading of nutrients during suitable weather conditions, rather than needing to be disposed of in unfavourable weather conditions.”

Local community council Jeffreyston raised no objections but noted concerns about its size, although recognising the development is required to meet legislation, requesting all appropriate mitigation measures would be explored and implemented.

The Coal Authority objected to the original proposed location, owing to the presence of a recorded mine shaft and associated zone of influence, leading to an amended scheme moving the store some 150 metres.

An officer report recommending approval for the amended scheme said: “The principle of the development is considered acceptable, given its direct functional relationship with the agricultural enterprise and the demonstrated operational need for additional storage capacity.

“The proposal would remain closely associated with the existing farm holding and would not result in the introduction of an unrelated use within the countryside.”

It added: “The proposal would improve slurry management arrangements at the holding and assist in reducing the risk of pollution incidents associated with insufficient storage capacity.”