Rural food firms asked about red tape

16 August 2000



Rural food firms asked about red tape

By FWi staff

THE Food Standards Agency (FSA) is writing to small food producers to ask them how red tape affects their business.

Tradional rural businesses butchers and cheesemakers have claimed inflexible regulations can have a damaging effect on their businesses.

Suzy Leather, deputy chair of the Food Standards Agency said the consultation exercise was designed to protect safety and choice.

Having viable small food businesses is part of ensuring consumer choice, she told the BBC Radio 4 Farming Today programme.

Abattoirs are not included as the FSA says they have already been involved in previous consultation, but farmers shops and farmers markets are involved.

Ms Leather said if any regulations were found to be unnecessary or disproportionate, the FSA would lobby for change in Europe.