Scotland must ease regulation on food industry, says Scottish MP

The Scottish Government in the UK has proposed to ease the burden of regulations on food and drink producers, in order to support industry growth.

While addressing the Symposium 2012 held in Glasgow, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment Richard Lochhead said that the success and reputation of the Scotland’s food and drink industry is supported and protected by a framework of regulations and standards.

"But it is important that we in Government balance the benefits and burdens of regulation and standards," Lochhead said.

The Scottish Cabinet Secretary also underlined the role played by the enforcement bodies in ensuring stricter implementation of the regulations that help not only to maintain a high quality of Scottish products but also safeguard them from counterfeit copies.

Lochhead urged the food and drink industry to cooperate and work with governmental bodies in improving the shared environment.

His appeal followed the start of a consultation between the Government and the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency in order to work on an improved environmental regulation.

Symposium 2012 is the tenth annual industry event jointly held by the Scottish Food and Drink Federation, the Institute of Food Science & Technology and the Royal Environment Health Institute of Scotland. The event included representatives from local and national government, industry, and health, education and regulatory bodies.

During the symposium, experts discussed challenges associated with regulation, audits, industry standards and international trade, especially the complexities of export certification and difficulties in comprehending global regulatory requirements in national, supra-national and global contexts.

Scotland saw a 19% rise in food and drink exports to £5.4bn in 2011 from the previous year, while sales crossed the £9bn mark. Buoyed by the all-time-high growth, the industry expects to meet its target of £12.5bn by the next five years much ahead of schedule.

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Image: Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment Richard Lochhead said that it is important to balance the benefits and burdens of regulation and standards in the food industry. Photo: The Scottish Government