Hansard

09:15

The Convener SNP

The second item on our agenda is to take evidence from a panel of witnesses on the work of Food Standards Scotland and the first national good food nation pl...

David Torrance (Kirkcaldy) (SNP) SNP

Good morning. To what extent has Food Standards Scotland achieved its stated outcomes and statutory objectives over the life of its previous strategy?

Heather Kelman (Food Standards Scotland)

That is a good opening question. We have been incredibly busy over the period of our previous strategy. As people are aware, we went through a few changes wi...

Geoff Ogle (Food Standards Scotland)

Under the previous strategy, we made good advances in developing digital data capability. For example, we used to take about six months to produce a report o...

David Torrance SNP

You know where I am going now. Could you describe and explain the mission and outcomes of the new strategy? How was the new strategy developed, and how has y...

Heather Kelman

Everything that we do in the strategy is drawn from the Food (Scotland) Act 2015. This time, because of the tightness of our resources, we have gone back to ...

Geoff Ogle

The World Health Organization produced a strategy that set out the criteria for an effective food safety authority, and we did an assessment against that as ...

Heather Kelman

Our final principle is about public service reform and demonstrating that, over the next period, we will do everything that we can to make sure that the publ...

David Torrance SNP

This is my final question. What particular challenges does your organisation face over the next five years?

Heather Kelman

I will start with the immediate challenges. The SPS agreement that we are going into with Europe will give us a huge challenge, as the 1,300 pieces of legisl...

Geoff Ogle

Post-election, regardless of the result or the make-up of the Parliament, a serious question needs to be asked about public health—dietary health—and what ne...

David Torrance SNP

Thank you. I have no further questions.

Sandesh Gulhane (Glasgow) (Con) Con

Good morning. There is a sum of £4.4 million to support local authorities, health boards and the newly established Scottish Food Commission. What is the tota...

Heather Kelman

We are not the Food Commission. Mary Brennan may know.

Professor Mary Brennan (Living Good Food Nation Lab)

I am here primarily in my University of Edinburgh capacity. However, as I believe the committee is aware, I am one of the commissioners appointed to the Scot...

Sandesh Gulhane Con

It is not great that we do not have clear monetary figures. What modelling—

Professor Brennan

I can certainly come back to you on that. As I explained, I was invited primarily in my University of Edinburgh capacity rather than as a Scottish food commi...

Sandesh Gulhane Con

Thank you. I will just stay with you, Professor Brennan. What modelling has been done on the cumulative regulatory impact on small Scottish food producers?

Professor Brennan

By the Scottish Food Commission?

Sandesh Gulhane Con

By anyone.

Professor Brennan

Do you mean the cumulative effect of regulation?

Sandesh Gulhane Con

Yes.

Professor Brennan

I have not been involved in that through the living good food nation lab, and it is certainly not something that has been undertaken by the Scottish Food Com...

Sandesh Gulhane Con

Are you saying that we do not have safe, sustainable and fair conditions for businesses?

Professor Brennan

Of course we have. That is where regulation, legislation and policy play a role, as their use provides us with confidence and enforcement mechanisms to ensur...

Sandesh Gulhane Con

Are you saying that it is those things now?

Professor Brennan

Yes.

Sandesh Gulhane Con

What safeguards are in place for rural economies—in particular, for livestock farmers?

Professor Brennan

At the heart of the Good Food Nation (Scotland) Act 2022 and other legislation is a vision of better connection across the various outcome areas. Those outco...