95: Food Standards Agency - UK risk analysis and authorisation of substances in food and feed - what businesses need to know for January 2021

In this episode of the Table Talk Podcast we’re joined by the Food Standards Agency to provide information to businesses on the changes that will come into play after the Transition Period ends on 1st January 2021 in relation to food safety risk advice. From January it will be the Food Standards Agency and Food Standards Scotland (FSS) that are responsible for carrying out risk assessments and making recommendations to Ministers on whether to authorise certain food and animal feed products, as well as any new products or processes for the UK market. We find out what this means for food and drink businesses who will need to adapt their processes accordingly. Joining our panel are Phil Flaherty, Head of Risk Analysis and Trade Policy Unit, Mark Willis, Head of Chemical Contaminants, and Dr Amie Adkin, Head of Risk Assessment, Food Standards Agency. They’ll explain how the landscape is changing, and what they’re doing to make the process simple for businesses, and how the agency works to assess food safety risks for consumers in the UK. Find out more about regulated products: https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/placing-a-regulated-product-on-the-market-from-1-january-2021 Find out more about the risk analysis process: https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/food-and-animal-feed-safety-risk-analysis-from-1-january-2021 About our panel Phil Flaherty, Head of Risk Analysis and Trade Policy Unit Philip Flaherty has worked as a Head of Unit within the Food Standards Agency’s (FSA) Policy Directorate since January 2019. He has been a British civil servant for over 20 years, starting at the Health and Safety Executive before joining the FSA in 2003 to work on the implementation of the General Food Law Regulation. After this he held a range of roles in the organisation, including Head of EU Regulatory Reform and Head of Meat Hygiene Policy. Between 2014 and 2019 he worked for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office as First Secretary for Food and Veterinary issues at the UK Representation to the EU. He is currently Head of Risk Analysis and Trade Policy Unit. Mark Willis, Head of Chemical Contaminants Mark Willis has headed up the Food Standards Agency’s Chemical Contaminants and Residues Branch since 2016. Prior to that he worked in and then lead the Food Additives, Flavourings and Food Contact Materials Branch. He has been a British civil servant for over 20 years, starting at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) in 2000 just prior to the formation of the Food Standards Agency in April that year. He has previously worked in a range of policy roles including on food additives, flavourings and nutrition and general labelling. Between 2005 and 2009 he undertook a secondment into the European Commission as desk officer on food additives and the development of the new food additives regulation. Dr Amie Adkin, Head of Risk Assessment, Food Standards Agency Dr Amie Adkin is Head of Risk Assessment at the Food Standards Agency where she has managed the Risk Assessment Unit since 2018. The Unit is comprised of around 50 scientific staff involved in assessing the risks to food and feed from chemical, microbiological, physical, allergen and radiological hazards as the competent authority, and supports three independent Scientific Advisory Committees in the areas of Novel Food and Processes (ACNFP), Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT), and Microbiological Safety of Food (ACMSF). Amie has a background in animal and public health risk assessment and particular interest in Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies.