The Food Information Regulation.
There has been further discussion on this Regulation since I mentioned it on 6th November last year. Foods such as cheese which contain several ingredients will not be exempted from labelling. The Swedish Presidency of the EU published a progress report which can be seen at: http://register.consilium.europa.eu/pdf/en/09/st16/16594.en09.pdf 
Progress has been very slow since this draft regulation was published two years ago. It has still not been decided whether information should be given on the front or back of the back, nor how to give the information - with our "traffic lights" system for instance? It has been agreed that the print size will be 1.2mm high.Ease of reading such small print will depend on such things as print and background colours. There may be exceptions for very small packets. Whatever is decided will not come into force till 2011 ot 2012. Food producers should keep an eye on progress and try to influence a workable outcome.
 Still on labelling, there has been discussion by FSA Scotland on Country of Origin labelling with consumer research on how important this is. To read the findings look at http://www.food.gov.uk/news/newsarchive/2012/jan/coolresearch

EU Questionnaire for business operators regarding costs related to animal health legislation
The EU commission has placed on its website a questionnaire for business operators, in order to collect data on administrative burden and compliance costs relating to Animal Health legislation and new possible elements of the Animal Health law. The consultation closes on 15th March. (Make sure you choose the correct consultation as there others  including one for Veterinary Competent Authorities on the website.)
See: http://ec.europa.eu/foof/animal/diseases/strategy/pillars/consultation_process_en.htm
Further information from DEFRA from Bill Lyons, e-mail: Bill.Lyons@defra.gsi.gov.uk , tel: 0207-238-6723

The IDF Dairy Innovation Awards 2010
There are 15 categories of awards, ranging from new products and ingredients to breakthroughs in packaging and sustainability as well as initiatives in health education and marketing.  Entry forms and information from: www.idfdairyinnovationawards.com Entries close on 19th March. The winners will be announced at the 4th Global Dairy Congress in Salzburg on 28th April.

Update to Health and Nutrition claims
Kathleen Guinee wrote on 26th January regarding several aspects of making these claims. To find out, ring her on 01234-285113, at the FSA Scotland in Aberdeen.
There is a new publication available entitled "New guide for small and medium enterprises on how to achieve EU health claim approval” . Details of how to obtain this are being sought and will be made availble a.s.a.p.

For meat producers
The removal of the spinal cord in older sheep and goats ( specified risk material) can be removed only after the carcase is split, in the UK, but this is not so in some other Member States Other methods are used in France and the Netherlands. A discussion paper is available from FSA, Chris Walding, who asks for a reply by 8th March, and he will then call a meeting at the end of March to discuss options.
Contact: chris.walding@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk tel: 0207-276-8334

International Dairy Federation (IDF) Bulletin 430/2009
There are new international standards for the determination of the fat content in cow, sheep and goat milk. - ISO 1211/IDF 1. This will be available about now. The gravimetric method for the determination of fat in milk was subject to new international interlaboratory studies to establish its precision characteristics (repeatability r and reproducibility R) 34 pages, price 30 euros.

Bulletin 440/2009.
Collaborative interlaboratory studies have been carried out to determine by the Kjeldahl reference method the nitrogen content of sheep and goat milk.(International Standard ISO 8968-1/2|IDF 20-1/2). The nitrogen content of milk is used to determine the protein content which is an important factor and used to determine the price paid to the producers for the milk. The characteristics r and R are again being studied. This standard is currently under revision. 24 pages, price 25 euros. Copies of the new standards can be ordered online: www.fil-idf.org  .

Nutrition and health claims.
Comments on this subject continue, but producers may be interested in a Consultation by the FSA on the revision of FSA guidance to compliance with the regulation EC 1924/2006 on nutrition and health claims made on food. The consultation closes on 23rd. March. Contact Sarah Hicks at the FSA in London on 0207-278-8149, or e-mail
nutritionandhealthclaims@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk
A similar consultation in Scotland closes on 26th March. Contact Kasthy Guinee on 01224-285113

The new Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies Regulations.
The England Regulations came into force in 2009, as mentioned on this website last September, but the Scotland version is evidently going to appear in 2010 and there is a consultation available now - of interest as it concerns milk and meat producers. Contact Ian Murdoch on 0131-244-6129, or e-mail scottishTSEregs@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

The EFSA Health Claims approval system.
We used to claim that "Goats' milk is good for you" - now it would be illegal to do so - unless anyone out there put in a scientifically based claim to EFSA at the appropriate time and has got it approved? EFSA's opinions on these claims, when made, pass into EU law, and products given a negative opinion (that's about 70% of products so far) can no longer retain their claims after six months.
Criticisms of the way the system is being operated have now reached fever pitch .A legal challenge is likely to be mounted. NutraIngedients are holding a Health Claims Conference in Brussels on December 10th. where this will be discussed. It is said that health claims now require the same level of proof as that needed for prescription medicines, which is not possible for small and medium companies. The only bright side, if there is one, is that sometimes one part of a claim is supported, while as a whole it is turned down.  Most people agree that innovation in the food industry is being stifled, and that spending on research, development and marketing is being reduced, as is consumer spending.
A damning article in Dairy Industries international, November issue, says  "Far from protecting the consumer against false claims, the European health claims system eliminates scientifically well-founded information that helps people to a healthier diet". It is "Time to overthrow Europe's self-destructuve health claims system".

Consultation for Scottish Meat Producers.
This consists of Proposals for reducing the administrative burden of Regulation 5 of the Meat Products (Scotland) Regulations 2004 (as amended). Reply by 3rd March 2010. Contact: Russell Napier at FSA Scotland, tel: 01224-285155, e-mail Russell.Napier@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk

Beware fraudsters!
FSA News for October warns food business operators that people are visiting food businesses, claiming that they are from the Food Standards Agency.  They carry out inspections, then extract substantial amounts of money as a fixed penalty fee for allegedly unhygienic premises. Note: the FSA does not carry out food inspections and there are no fixed penalties for food safety breaches, If this happens to you, contact the police or your local authority. Genuine inspections are carried out by local authority inspectors who carry identification.

Consultation for butter makers.
FSA England, Wales, Scotland & N. Ireland have all consulted on updated guidance notes on the labelling of spreadable fats, including butter. Replies by 9th December. See:in England:  food.gov.uk/consultations/consulteng/2009/labellingonspreads 
or similar in Wales, Scotland and N.Ireland,

The Future of our Farming.
A leaflet with this title was launched by Hilary Benn at the Royal Show this year, according to the October issue of Farming Link . To see the leaflet: www.defra.gov.uk/farminglink
Farming Link also carried a plea for more food producers to try to get Protected Name status for their products.