FSS Strategy – A safe, authentic and healthier food environment that Scotland can trust

Consumer and health focussed: We keep public health and consumer protection at the heart of what we do. We ensure our actions are targeted, recognising the diversity of people in Scotland and striving to reduce health inequalities.

Evidence based: We ensure our work is underpinned by robust science and data and an up to date understanding of the issues that matter most to consumers in Scotland.

Fair, proportionate and trusted: We promote compliance with food law by regulating fairly, firmly and proportionately; establishing trust by ensuring regulatory objectives are transparent and our actions are consistent and timely.

Independent: We preserve our independence, working at arm’s length from government and industry. We influence UK policy development through robust risk analysis, recommending decisions which are in the best interests of consumers in Scotland.

Inclusive, collaborative and open: We respect the rights of every individual, organisation and business to have a say in the matters that affect them and work collaboratively to achieve the greatest benefit for the people of Scotland. We ensure transparency in our decision making, advice and recommendations, by publishing our evidence base and enabling those impacted to understand the issues.

This strategy sets out our vision over the next five years and describes the priority work areas for the organisation. It takes account of the significant political, environmental, technological and societal changes that are affecting our food system. In this strategy we’ll ensure our work keeps pace with consumer interests and that food safety, standards and dietary health remain at the forefront of government policy.

A safe, authentic and healthier food environment that Scotland can trust.

We are committed to protecting public health and ensuring the integrity of the nation’s food system. We aim to achieve our vision through the delivery of a rigorous system of food and feed safety and standards regulations that ensure policy development, operational delivery, guidance and public communications are transparent and evidence based. 

Our vision for a healthier food environment recognises the critical role of diet in public health and the wider food system. By placing a stronger emphasis on monitoring the Scottish diet, and working more closely with government, food businesses, local authorities, and consumers, we will promote an environment where food safe to eat and supports the health and well-being of our population.

Our science-led approach builds confidence and trust in the food supply chain while addressing long-term health challenges linked to poor diet. We will continue to gather data and evidence on the food we eat and emerging risks. This will ensure that we remain a trusted voice which plays a vital role in shaping a food system in Scotland that supports wellbeing, fairness, and sustainability.

Over the next five years, we will continue to strengthen our role as Scotland’s public sector food body by:

• protecting consumers from potential risks associated with food and feed by taking the necessary action to prevent, and investigate, all food crime and related incidents.
• working with partners to implement a proportionate and effective delivery approach that supports the food and drink industry by applying evidence based and targeted controls, recognising good practice, applying robust sanctions where appropriate and providing guidance which promotes compliance
• maintaining a robust and effective regulatory assurance regime in Scotland, working across the UK and internationally to strengthen consumer confidence and support trade
• working with the FSA to provide an effective risk analysis process for the UK and ensuring our decisions and advice are underpinned by robust science and evidence relating to public health risks and the interests of consumers in Scotland
• strengthening our leadership role in public health nutrition; enabling accountability through the publication of a transparent evidence base on Scotland's diet
• providing the authoritative source of nutrition advice and promoting partnerships which will support a healthier food environment
• ensuring consumers have the necessary information about the nutritional content and provenance of their food and can trust the food they buy
• undertaking research, surveillance, monitoring and analysis to generate a robust evidence base which enables us to understand trends in foodborne illness, dietary behaviours assess risks, and target actions to where they are most likely to have an impact
• playing our part in supporting efforts to create a more sustainable and resilient food system for Scotland
• developing the skills of our staff and enhancing the capacity within our workforce to strengthen our use of data and digital technologies
• supporting our partners across government in ensuring policies on climate change adaptation and sustainability take full account of food and feed safety and public health nutrition.

• Public health and consumer protection
• Evolving and reforming the regulatory landscape
• Providing an effective public service for the people of Scotland 

We will use robust science and clear evidence, risk assessments and investigations to guide our decisions and recommendations. This will help us take the right actions to keep food safe and support healthier diets, protecting people in Scotland from foodborne illness and the impacts of poor diet.

Risk analysis remains at the heart of everything we do. Maintaining and developing expertise in food safety science and policy to identify, assess, and manage risks in our food chain is a key priority Ensuring we can deliver a robust risk analysis function is increasingly important in:

• understanding the potential risks that may be associated with emerging food technologies
• the impacts of climate change
• an evolving trading environment
• government food strategies. 

Another important aspect of our risk analysis work will be to strengthen our engagement with consumers and businesses in Scotland. This is so that we can take consider their views and challenges in the recommendations we provide to Ministers on future regulatory decisions and the advice we provide to the public.

In line with our commitment to science-led risk analysis, we will keep track of emerging evidence on the role of ultra-processed foods (UPF) in Scotland’s diet and their potential impact on public health. This approach will build on the existing evidence base working with the UK Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) and academic partners to ensure our advice to consumers, stakeholders and Ministers reflects the most up-to-date scientific developments.

Reducing the impacts of foodborne illness will continue to be a priority. Working with partners we will promote a One Health approach for controlling the transmission of pathogens in the food chain. Our work in this area will remain focussed on research to understand the sources and risk factors. We will work to ensure Scottish food businesses are aware of what they need to do to produce food safely, and we will provide evidence-based advice to people in Scotland who are most vulnerable to infection.

By strengthening our leadership role on diet and nutrition in Scotland we will strive to influence positive change to Scotland’s food environment and dietary health outcomes. We will do this by providing robust, evidence-based advice, shaping policy, and coordinating research. We will hold government and industry to account by publishing transparent data and reports on dietary intakes and purchasing behaviours - driving action and accountability to improve public health.

We will continue to develop our food and health research programme by commissioning research, food surveillance and dietary monitoring to strengthen our evidence base. As part of this, we will promote collaborations which enable us to influence government and the wider scientific community to build capacity and capability in food science. Collaboration will ensure research is targeted, impactful, and generates the insights needed to support our strategic aims, alongside wider food and environmental policy objectives.

We will lead, co-ordinate and support the response to food and feed safety incidents and food crime impacting on Scotland to mitigate the risks to consumers.

We will keep providing accessible and evidence-based communications that help consumers make informed choices and support businesses to understand and meet their obligations. Our guidance, tools and advice are developed to reflect regulatory requirements, public health priorities and the needs of different audiences — from industry to vulnerable consumers. This includes improving digital access to our materials, working with partners to amplify key messages, and ensuring that our communications help build confidence in Scotland’s food system.

We will work towards creating, developing and implementing a delivery system for food law, which is efficient and effective in strengthening compliance, assurance and public trust in Scotland’s food regulatory system.

FSS’s intention during this strategy period is, through the SAFER programme, to reform and modernise Scotland’s food law delivery system. This will mean:

• reviewing and reforming the food law delivery model for Scotland, benchmarked against leading international approaches to ensure ambition and best practice
• developing options to sustainably fund delivery of official controls and consider a transparent and proportionate cost recovery system
• exploring innovative regulatory strategies for reform, focused on risk, assurance, increased efficiency, and measurable public health outcomes
• utilising new technologies to support food safety professionals, incentivise business compliance, and enhance consumer protection.

Working towards a common Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) area

Further to announcements made at the UK-EU Summit on 19 May 2025, FSS will work alongside the Scottish Government, the FSA, and other UK Government departments to plan for, implement and subsequently operate an EU/UK SPS Agreement. This work will ensure Scottish interests in relation to food safety and other general consumer protection rules within scope of FSS’ policy responsibility are considered as part of any SPS Agreement negotiated with the EU.