Food sponsorship: Food Industry Hub
The Food Industry Hub teams at Defra work together with the food sector including manufacturers, retailers, food service and wholesalers, which account for a total estimated gross value added of £69.1 billion (2005), 19.2% of national part-time employment and 8.8% of national full-time employment.
The food and drink manufacturing sector is the single largest manufacturing industry in the UK, accounting for 17% of the total manufacturing sector, and is central to the food chain.
As one of the key contacts in Government for this sector, we want to work with all parts of the industry to foster competitive, vibrant, diverse and sustainable industry. One which produces food to high standards of quality, safety and animal welfare and which is responsive to consumer needs.
In addition, we work to ensure that the interests of industry and consumers are fully reflected in the development of UK agriculture policy and other policies that impinge on them.
Emergencies disrupting Food & Drink Manufacturing and Wholesale & Retail Distribution
The Hub is responsible for emergency planning in relation to food manufacturing and retail distribution in England. In the event of any significant disruption the team would participate in the emergency response. To this end, the team engages in dialogue with industry stakeholders over issues of concern to it. Also Defra’s Food Chain Emergency Liaison Group (FCELG) (chaired by the Deputy Director, Food Industry Hub) meets regularly to discuss emergency planning for dealing with disruptions to food supplies as well as food chain resilience issues.
Competition Issues
Competition matters are the responsibility of the DTI and the Office of Fair Trading (OFT). However the Hub acts as the link and advisory point between the OFT/DTI and Defra on competition issues that affect the Dept. In recent times this has involved company mergers within the dairy industry and the Competition Commission’s review of the grocery market.
Assured Food Standards
The Hub acts as the first point of contact and advisory point within Defra on assured food standards.
Assured Food Standards (AFS) is the independent organisation set up to manage the Red Tractor mark. Owned by the food chain, AFS represents the interests from each of the key links, including the National Farmers' Union, the Ulster farmers' Union, the Meat & Livestock Commission, Dairy UK and the British Retail Consortium. AFS sets the assurance standards that apply to various commodity sectors and to different links in the food chain, and manages the certification bodies that police those standards. At the point of packaging AFS defines the usage conditions for the Red Tractor logo; licences the processors and packers who display it on their packs, and ensures that the Red Tractor is only seen on food that is allowed to carry it.
International
We represent UK interests in EU and international food negotiations, other than those setting food standards which are a matter for the Food Standards Agency. The Food Hub is responsible for overseeing the UK’s interests in a number of international forums:
Research
We also fund research and development to stimulate increased technological awareness and innovation in the food and drink industry, and to spread best practice.
Better Regulation
As part of the development of the Food Industry Sustainability Strategy, Defra Ministers agreed to establish a forum for discussing regulatory issues affecting the food and drink supply chain. We coordinate the work of this forum, the Food Industry Better Regulation Group and staff the secretariat. The Group started work in July 2006 and meets quarterly.
See also
Food stakeholder engagement - contacts
- Food and soft drink Manufacturing - +44 (0) 20 7238 6569
- Food retail and catering, Emergency Planning, Assured Food, Competition Issues - +44 (0) 20 7238 3178
- Alcoholic drinks (not wine) - +44 (0) 20 7238 3191
- Research, Better Regulation, Non Annex I - +44 (0) 20 7238 6912
- Coffee, Cocoa, Tea - +44 (0) 207238 3185
Food and Farming Group,
Stakeholder engagement, behavioural change and better Regulation Core Function
Defra Area 4A Nobel House
17 Smith Square
London, SW1P 3JR
Page last modified:
5 February 2008
Page creared: 3 March 2003