Introduction
In April 2015, Food Standards Scotland (FSS) was established under the Food (Scotland) Act 2015 as the new public sector food body for Scotland. FSS is a non-ministerial office of the Scottish Administration, independent from Scottish Government Ministers, and accountable to the Scottish Parliament, currently reporting to the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee.
On 25 September 2024, at the evidence session on food crime, attended by Ron McNaughton, Head of the Scottish Food Crime and Incidents Unit (SFCIU), and Ian McWatt, Deputy Chief Executive of Food Standards Scotland (FSS), the Criminal Justice Committee agreed that it would welcome an annual report from the SFCIU on its work in tackling food crime; Scottish Parliament, Criminal Justice Committee, Official Report, 25 September 2024, Col.23. This Annual Report covers the period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025.
The report aims to outline the following:
- Current SFCIU food crime control strategy priorities
- Investigations undertaken
- Case studies
- Food crime prevention
- Multi-agency and partnership work
- Future activities
Food crime is described as serious fraud and related criminality in food supply chains and has an estimated cost to the UK of around £1.96 billion per year1 . Crime targeting the food chain causes serious harm to consumers, damages confidence in food supply and adversely affects business and UK food security.
Although the majority of food and drink on sale in Scotland and the UK is safe and authentic, the food industry remains an attractive target for criminals as economic pressures, changing consumer demands, environmental impacts and geopolitical events create new opportunities to commit crime.