About the FSA
The Food Standards Agency is responsible for food safety and food hygiene across the UK. We work with local authorities to enforce food safety regulations and have staff who work in UK meat plants to check that the requirements of the regulations are being met. We also commission research related to food safety.
The Department of Health is responsible for nutrition policy, including nutrition labelling, in England. Defra (the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) is responsible for food labelling not related to food safety or nutrition in England. It is also responsible for animal welfare. The FSA retains responsibility for labelling policy in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and for nutrition policy in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Responsibility for nutrition policy in Wales lies with the Welsh Government.
You can get answers to several frequently asked questions about what we do at the links below.
- putting the consumer first
- openness and transparency
- science- and evidence-based
- acting independently
- enforcing food law fairly
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.
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. We are, however, accountable to Parliament through health ministers, and to the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland for our activities within their areas.
Our UK headquarters are in London, but the Agency also has offices in York, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
We base our decisions and advice on the best evidence available, including commissioning research and obtaining advice from independent advisory committees. We also 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 a decision or advice in a straightforward manner.
The six outcomes the FSA aims to deliver are:
- foods produced or sold in the UK are safe to eat
- imported food is safe to eat
- food producers and caterers give priority to consumer interests in relation to food
- consumers have the information and understanding they need to make informed choices about where and what they eat
- regulation is effective, risk-based and proportionate, is clear about the responsibilities of food business operators, and protects consumers and their interests from fraud and other risks
- enforcement is effective, consistent, risk-based and proportionate and is focused on improving public health
The full strategy can be found at the link below.