Food Standards inspectors to go on-farm

27 January 1999

Food Standards inspectors to go on-farm

By FWi staff

THE Food Standards Agency will grant government inspectors access to beyond the farm gate, agriculture minister Nick Brown announced today (Wednesday).

Officials will have the power of entry on to UK farms to investigate any food safety matter, said Mr Brown as he launched the draft bill for the agency.

The bill includes wide-ranging powers to protect food standards throughout the entire food chain from the farm gate to the consumer.

The agency, which will be based in London, will protect public health and raise safety standards across the industry, said Mr Brown.

The National Farmers Union believes that the agency will provide further transparency in the food chain and will benefit both producers and consumers.