News & Updates

Tell us what you think of our new recalls and withdrawals guidance

We are asking food businesses, enforcement officers and consumers to provide us with feedback on our new ‘Guidance on Food Traceability, Withdrawals and Recalls within the UK Food Industry’.  

Our consultation is open from 7 January to 4 February 2019.   

This guidance sets out the roles and responsibilities of the key stakeholders involved in food safety withdrawals and recalls in the UK. It will provide advice on good practice and help food businesses to comply with food safety requirements. 

 The guidance includes advice on:  

  • Traceability systems 
  • Making a decision to withdraw or recall food 
  • The roles and responsibilities of those involved 
  • How to plan for and manage a food safety withdrawal or recall 
  • The key principles to effectively inform consumers of a food recall, including a template for a point of sale notice for use in retail stores 

Ron McNaughton, Head of the Scottish Food Crime and Incidents Unit, said:  

“This guidance has been created with food businesses in mind, to help them carry out food safety withdrawals and recalls with greater ease and effectiveness. It’s been developed in partnership with representatives from the food industry, enforcement authorities and consumer organisations and is a key outcome from our joint review with the Food Standards Agency of the UK’s current system. 

“We would welcome feedback. The responses we receive will help us to make sure the guidance is beneficial and helpful to businesses in the event of a food safety incident.”  

View the consultation page.

To provide feedback please email incidents@fss.scot.

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Consultations

We regularly consult with stakeholders and consumers to develop policy that will ensure food and feed in Scotland continues to be safe, and help consumers make informed decisions about the food they eat.