Food law and guidance
The production, processing, distribution, retail, packaging and labelling of food stuffs are governed by a mass of laws, regulations, codes of practice and guidance.
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About food law enforcement
The enforcement of regulations on food standards is primarily the responsibility of local authorities.
Framework Agreement
The Framework Agreement on Local Authority Enforcement provides the Agency with a mechanism for implementing its powers under the Food Standards Act to influence and oversee local authority enforcement activity.
Food Law Code of Practice
The Food Law Code of Practice and associated practice guidance for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Feed Law Code of Practice
The code of practice sets out instructions and criteria to which local authorities – the feed authorities – should have regard when engaged in the enforcement of animal feed law. Feed authorities must follow and implement the provisions of the code that apply to them.
Food Law Guide
The Food Law Guide is in the process of being updated. The version on this site has been temporarily withdrawn as a number of the Statutory Instruments contained within the guide have been superseded by subsequent regulations or revoked.
Regulation and legislation
The production, processing, distribution, retail, packaging and labelling of food stuffs are governed by a mass of laws, regulations, codes of practice and guidance.
Guidance notes
The Agency regularly issues guidance to food industry representatives and other stakeholders on a range of topics, often as a result of new regulations coming into force.
Dairy hygiene inspections
Animal Health dairy hygiene inspectors act on behalf of the Food Standards Agency (FSA) in administering and enforcing parts of Regulations (EC) Nos 852/2004, 853/2004, 854/2004 and The Food Hygiene (England) Regulations 2006 and Food Hygiene (Wales) Regulations 2006 as amended.