Brexit and food regulation: opportunities for change in the UK?

Andy Burman

Chief Executive

British Dietetic Association

Who are we…..?

• British Dietetic Association

• British Nutrition Foundation

• Nutrition Society

• Institute of Food Science and Technology

• Association for Nutrition

Who are we…..?

• Five organisations representing: • professions of nutrition, dietetics, food science and technology

• independent bodies involved in nutrition or food science research and development of evidence based practice

• regulation of the nutrition profession

• Common interest in human nutrition, the health of the nation, food policy, food regulation and what a ‘post Brexit’ world may look like

Brexit… when, what, how..

• 11pm 29 March 2019

• The ‘Great Repeal Bill’ - transfer of EU legislation into UK law

• Post 29/3/19?

• Remember that most EU Directives and legislation re: food came from UK

• Timings for discussions/planning/ action start now

Who is interested?

• Healthcare professions, researchers, academics, etc.

• Campaigners and charities, lobby groups, etc.

• Lawyers, journalists, commentators, etc.

• Four UK governments

• DEFRA, FSA x4, DH x4, PHE, etc.

• Food manufacturers, supermarkets, etc.

• The public/consumer

Three themes

• Risk

• Opportunity

• Innovation and engagement strategy

Risks

• UK devolution presents current problems. Could worsen post Brexit if four UK countries diverge further

• SACN and other bodies are too slow to respond

• Supply chain (agriculture, manufacturer and outlet) needs to improve, supermarkets currently place burdens on farmers and manufacturers

• Political narrative is not supporting a common UK standpoint on food and nutrition

• Not all arms length bodies agree on policy (FSA,FSS) which impacts on common agreements

• Seasonal changes to food supply

• Changes we need to implement will take more than one generation

• Do we have the resources or expertise?

• Do we have links remaining with EU, e.g. EFSA?

Opportunities

• Current regulations hamper small steps in reformulation. Changing this encourages smaller and more frequent steps

• Channel Brexit ‘savings’ into investment in agriculture and horticulture innovation (e.g. selective harvesting technology)

• If pricing affects meat products, can we long term move to a more plant based diet?

• Changes in labelling: use by dates; front of pack (traffic lights legislation), etc.

• Clarification on health claims legislation (less confusing for consumer)

• Seasonal changes to food supply

• UK science and research is valued

• Move to a whole systems approach to policy and regulation, avoid piecemeal strategies

Strategy

• Challenges for Parliamentary time

• Need to create political will/desire/interest

Strategy

• Combine voices on key issues (manufacturers, distributors, retail, health professionals, etc.) = greater impact

• Find common ground across industry, professions, academia, etc.

• Promote: • Less red tape/bureaucracy

• Improve health of the nation

• Food security

• Create/preserve jobs

• Reduce costs

Strategy

• Keep it simple, for example: • Propose combining or removing regulations which duplicate?

• Choose a quick political win which has support (e.g. front of pack labelling)?

• Health claims regulations?

Strategy should be positive (e.g. it’s not about what we want Government to do, it’s what we can offer to help with)

Where now..?

• Further refine our strategy for engagement

• Agree what key proposals will be

• Collaborate in future with other nutrition bodies interested in supporting food policy change post-Brexit

Thank you

Andy Burman

Chief Executive

British Dietetic Association