FSA questions rule on GM food listing

Rules forcing restaurants to label genetically modified (GM) ingredients on their menus could be scrapped under a new initiative launched by the Food Standards Agency (FSA).

The FSA wrote to more than 500 trade associations last week in a move designed to assess the burden of food safety legislation on small businesses.

Suzi Leather, deputy chair of the FSA, said: "Food safety standards have to be maintained, but if small businesses are going to the wall because of unnecessary regulation, that has an adverse impact on consumer choice."

She added: "It is important that small businesses themselves tell us about any burdens and the costs of these burdens."

At a meeting in July, FSA members noted that the only piece of food safety regulation so far identified as a potential burden was that requiring the labelling of GM food on restaurant menus.

Last week's letter asks for the associations' views on how small firms are affected by regulations.

They are also invited to nominate up to five members who would be prepared to be visited and interviewed by the FSA about the regulatory burdens they face.

Trade bodies being consulted include the British Hospitality Association, the Restaurant Association and the HCIMA.

The closing date for comments to be submitted to the FSA is 7 November. They may be e-mailed to:

smallfoodbusinesses@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk

by David Shrimpton