Food Policy Round Up 14.10.22

It has been a busy period in food, with discussions across a range of policy areas with both Ministers and officials so here is a round up of where these issues are and next steps.

• We have had calls with the Defra SoS and Ministers Mann and Spencer
• We have written to new Ministers at BEIS and DHSC raising our key issues and asking for meetings
• The message from Defra Ministers was all about growth, both for UK markets and exports. My response has been we need measures to mitigate the immediate pressure on food prices such as deprioritising policy and intervention. Looking forward we need clarity to encourage investment, clarity on key policy such as HFSS, packaging and energy, clarity on future labour and migration policy
• The F4 group of BRC, FDF, NFU and UKH will continue to meet giving us a good opportunity to raise key issues regularly with Ministers

• We continue to push for a review of the current proposals for EPR which we do not believe will deliver an efficient, effective recycling system
• Defra has paused work on EPR whilst it continues next steps
• We believe Defra is interested in the industry vision for EPR, the problem may be how it is implemented, As major changes to current recycling would require big changes and cost for local authorities for contracts into the future. We will continue to update on next steps, as data recording for EPR is scheduled to start in 2023
• On DRS in England the Government response on next steps has been delayed. Defra is reviewing again the cost and complexity of a DRS scheme and a decision wont be confirmed until the end of the year
• On DRS in Scotland, we continue to push against the costs, the treatment of online returns and communications to customers on the increased price due to deposits. We have written again to the Environment Minister and have a call with the Deputy First Minister and some Members next month where we have the opportunity to put the impact of the costs in perspective against the need to control food inflation

• We continue to lobby for interventions to protect supplies ahead of Christmas
• As well as calling for a national housing order (extending from the current East Anglia one) we have also responded to a Defra proposal to allow previously frozen poultry to be sold as fresh, we should hear whether that goes ahead shortly

• Government continues to remove next steps in terms of controls on volume promotions and advertising restrictions

• Work has not begun on the proposal which was a key part of the Food Strategy
• FDF has made clear concerns of burdens and cost at a time of rising food prices
• Defra is working with industry to try and focus the project in a way which delivers with minimum burden
• Likely to be discussed at the Food and Drink Sector Council meeting at the end of April

• We have spoken to Minister Mann and officials about next steps with the protocol and negotiations
• Negotiations with EU have resumed and Government are hopeful it will deliver necessary changes to protocol including simplified border controls and scope for dual regulation to overcome the problems of regulatory divergence
• Negotiations with EU are likely to go on for the next month at least and the hope is they will be constructive
• In parallel the NI Protocol Bill continues its passage through Parliament, it faces significant opposition in the House of Lords. The Government hopes a negotiated settlement will remove the need for the Bill