Brown to set Food Standards Agency agenda

25 November 1998

Brown to set Food Standards Agency agenda

AGRICULTURE Minister Nick Brown is to set out a timetable for the planned Food Standards Agency, following its omission from the Queens Speech yesterday

The Queens Speech, which sets out the Governments plans for the coming year, omitted any reference to the agency.

It now appears that the Government has shelved its plans – at least for the time being.

Many newspaper commentators appeared surprised. The agency was a firm commitment of the Labour Party in opposition.

Its setting-up was deemed essential to counter what was claimed to be the producer-bias of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

But it is now unlikely to be up and running before 2001.

• Food Standards Agency legislation put on hold, FWi, 28 August, 1998
• The Times 25/11/98 page 1, pages 9 – 12, page 22, page 23 (Leader), page 27, page 29 (Commentary)
  
• The Independent 25/11/98 page 1, page 6, page 7, page 8, page 9, page 3 (Review)
  
• Financial Times 25/11/98 page 1, pages 13 – 15, page 21 (Editorial)
  
• The Guardian 25/11/98 page 1, page 13, page 14, page 15, page 22, page 23 (Leader)
  
• The Daily Telegraph 254/11/98 page 1, page 9, page 10, page 11, page 24, page 25 (Editorial)
  
• The Scotsman 25/11/98 page 1, page 6, page 7, page 8