How we work
The FSA provides advice and information to the public and Government on food safety from farm to fork, nutrition and diet. It also protects consumers through effective food enforcement and monitoring.
What we do:
As a Government department, independent regulator and consumer protection body, we use the best available evidence and work with:
- business from farm to fork to help them keep consumers safe
- local authorities and other food law enforcement bodies to help them take proportionate, timely and resolute action
- consumers to provide reliable and up to date information to help them make healthy choices about food
Our values:
Everything we do reflects our vision of Safe food and healthy eating for all:
- putting the consumer first
- openness and independence
- science and evidence-based
Our principles in practice:
As an organisation, employer and as individuals we value:
- honesty, objectivity and integrity
- striving for continuous improvement, efficiency and effectiveness
- diversity, cooperation and respect
How is the FSA independent?
Although the FSA is a Government agency, it works at 'arm's length' from Government because it doesn't report to a specific minister and is free to publish any advice it issues.
How is the FSA structured?
The Agency is led by a Board that has been appointed to act in the public interest and not to represent particular sectors. Board members have a wide range of relevant skills and experience.
Our UK headquarters are in London, but the Agency also has national offices in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Who is the FSA accountable to?
We're accountable to Parliament through Health Ministers, and to the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland for its activities within their areas.
How does the FSA make its decisions?
We base our decisions and advice on the best evidence available. And we aim to ensure that our decision-making process is as open and transparent in as possible.
Whenever possible, we seek the views of interested parties before reaching conclusions, and always explain the reasons for its decision and advice in a straightforward manner.
The Agency also obtains independent expert advice from its scientific advisory committees and commissions research to support its functions.
Strategy for 2010–2015
The five outcomes the Agency aims to deliver are:
- food produced or sold in the UK is safe to eat
- imported food is safe to eat
- consumers understand about safe food and healthy eating, and have the information they need to make informed choices
- food products and catering meals are healthier
- regulation is effective, risk-based and proportionate, is clear about the responsibilities of food business operators and others, and protects consumers and their interests from fraud and other risks
The full strategy can be found at the link below.
Related links
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The history of the Food Standards Agency
Under the Food Standards Act, the Food Standards Agency is charged with protecting consumer interests in relation to food safety and standards.
Openness
Openness is one of the core values of the Food Standards Agency.
Food Standards Agency's Strategy for 2010–2015
Consumers should expect to be eating safer food and be choosing healthier and more balanced meals by 2015, as a result of the Food Standards Agency’s Strategy for 2010–2015.
Risk
A great deal of our work depends on understanding and dealing with risk. In this statement we describe how the Agency proposes to approach risk issues, so that everybody who may be affected by our decisions can understand our way of working.
General Objectives and Practices
This page links to the final text of the Statement of General Objectives and Practices. The statement laid before Parliament and the devolved assemblies and approved by health ministers in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Chief Executive and director profiles
This section contains information about the Food Standards Agency’s Chief Executive and directors. A structure chart of the Agency is attached lower down the page.
Procurement
The Food Standards Agency buys in goods, services and works using a competitive process wherever possible, in line with public sector and European Union (EU) policy requirements. Its aim is to achieve value for money, which is viewed as the 'most economically advantageous tender', to meet the needs of the user.
Sustainable development
The Agency's remit is to protect the interests of consumers in relation to food, now and in the future. In doing so the Agency will take sustainable development into account in all of its activities and policy decisions.
Stakeholder forums
The aim of the Forums is to enable the main consumer organisations, pressure groups, industry and enforcement authorities to raise matters of broad concern with the Agency on an informal basis. They will be held twice a year.
Concordats
Concordats are agreed frameworks for co-operation between the Food Standards Agency and other Government departments and public bodies.
Welsh Language Policy
The Welsh Language Act 1993 states that every public body providing services to the public in Wales must prepare a Scheme setting out how it will provide those services in Welsh. The Food Standards Agency’s (FSA) first Welsh Language Scheme was operational between 2002 and 2007 and the FSA is now operating its second scheme for 2008 - 2012.
Regulatory approach
The Food Standards Agency has a statutory objective to protect public health and consumers' other interests in relation to food and drink. However, we are aware that excessive or unclear regulations can place a burden on business, the public and third sectors and so hinder effective delivery of the intended benefits.
Advisory Committee on Consumer Engagement
The ACCE will meet three times a year and report annually to the FSA Board. As well as reporting on the effectiveness of the FSA’s consumer engagement, it will make recommendations for the strengthening of its engagement processes.
Annual Public Appointment Report
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is currently solely responsible for seven public bodies, all of them advisory committees. In addition the FSA also share three public bodies with the Department of Health, and one with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The Annual Appointments Report includes our public appointments objectives for 2009/10.
Equality
Information about the Race Equality Scheme, Disability Equality Scheme and Gender Equality Scheme.
Finance management
This section explains financial management within the FSA.
International relations
With the diverse range of foods from around the globe available to people in the UK and with free trade and markets within the European Union, the Food Standards Agency aims to ensure that imported foods meet the required UK standards, in order to protect the safety and interests of the consumer.