IFST submit response to House of Commons enquiry around Retained EU Law
Following the United Kingdom's exit from the European Union in January 2020, many questions have been raised over the extent to which EU laws will continue to be a part of UK law. This is particularly relevant to the food sector, as EU directives and regulations were previously applied as UK regulations to all stages of production, processing, and distribution of food.
The Retained EU Law Bill was brought to Parliament in 2022, receiving its first reading in the House of Commons in September 2022, and has been progressing over the months since. The bill will revoke certain retained EU law, decide how retained EU law will interact with other laws, and decide the powers to modify or update retained law. The current status of the bill is that it is receiving its second review in the House of Lords, before moving to the Lords Committee stage on 23 February. The bill is expected to receive Royal Assent in either May or June of this year, but all dates remain provisional.
IFST has been actively engaged in the political process surrounding the Retained EU Law Bill. In November 2022, we were invited to respond to the House of Commons enquiry and submitted a letter in response to the call for written evidence. The letter formally requested that IFST be notified as specific pieces of legislation relating to food and food standards are considered. IFST will be involved in each consultation as this legislation evolves over the coming months and years.
“As the UK’s leading professional body for those involved in all aspects of food science and technology, IFST believes it is critical that the UK maintains its high standards for food safety and quality throughout any review of regulatory standards. We are proud that the UK is a leader in global food standards and believe that these standards should be founded on transparent and independent scientific advice. We are pleased to have had the opportunity to provide written evidence to the Public Bill Committee on this crucial policy area” says IFST President Helen Munday.
If you have any questions about IFST involvement in Retained EU Law, contact us at info@ifst.org