Navigating a complex operating environment
Understanding a complex operating environment is vital for FSS to deliver on behalf of the people of Scotland. We will monitor and review external factors that may influence the delivery of this strategy.
Annual delivery plans will give us the flexibility required to move with changing times and external influencing factors as they emerge.
Here is a visual only chart of: A diagram of a food supply chain. List of external influencing factors include: climate change, public service reform, misinformation, new technologies, local authority resourcing challenges, wider food strategies, a dynamic political and trade environment and complex global food supply chains. The FSS vision is displayed with two strands of science and evidence and food and feed regulatory system feeding directly into this vision. Communications and engagement go across all work.
Please find more information provided in the detailed description and/or table below.
A diagram of a food supply chain.
List of external influencing factors include: climate change, public service reform, misinformation, new technologies, local authority resourcing challenges, wider food strategies, a dynamic political and trade environment and complex global food supply chains.
The FSS vision is displayed with two strands of science and evidence and food and feed regulatory system feeding directly into this vision. Communications and engagement go across all work.
Science and Evidence
Our food and health research programme provides the framework for commissioning research and surveillance. This:
- underpins policy on food safety and public health nutrition
- supports the effective delivery of our regulatory functions,
- develops the evidence base needed to keep pace with a dynamic food system and emerging technologies.
We collaborate and engage across sectors to:
- optimise the impact of research and data
- ensure the evidence base aligns with public health priorities
- drives accountability
- support wider food policies and climate goals.
Food and feed regulatory system
A robust food and feed regulatory system in Scotland protects public health, and consumer interests. It also ensures both domestic and international markets have the assurance of a broad regulatory framework to support trade. We will:
- identify and develop Scottish policy and programme priorities in relation to food and animal feed, advising Scottish Ministers on relevant legislative and non-legislative mechanisms for enacting that change to ensure the continued protection of public health in Scotland
- review and redefine performance standards for LA food law delivery in Scotland where required
- carry out systematic and independent internal and external audits which seek to verify and validate the effectiveness and suitability of the food and feed regulatory framework in Scotland
- continue to support inward and outward missions to support exporting businesses and provide robust evidence of an effective regulatory assurance system.