The consequences of leaving the EU continue to impact the food industry with the issue of certification red tape and its associated costs (CFA News 55, 56 & 57) impacting on viability of exports to the bloc. Industry efforts to propose and help test potential solutions, including the trialling of e-certification, continue in earnest and regular sessions of the Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Working Group chaired by Karin Goodburn are being held with the UK Government. Meanwhile the certification paperwork (estimated to be costing industry ~£60m in 2021) continues at a rate of about £4.5m a month to mount, even […]

The Food and Biocides Industry Group (FBIG) has written to the World Trade Organization, European Commission, the UK Government and European trade federations highlighting fundamental issues regarding the incorrect legal basis being used by the EU to regulate hygiene biocides, i.e. as plant protection products (PPPs). This follows the EU planning to halve the Maximim Residue Limits (MRLs) for the quaternary ammonium biocide didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC) in products of plant origin. The EU does however appear to continue to recognise the importance hygiene biocides play in assuring food safety and the necessary use of DDAC in production of products of […]

  In April, CFA Director General Karin Goodburn was awarded this year’s Honorary Fellowship of the IFST The highly prestigious award recognises an IFST Member or Fellow who has made extensive personal contributions to the working and progress of the Institute and to the food science and technology profession. On receiving the honour Karin said: “Food science is more than a single discipline, encompassing pure science, technology, nutrition, sustainability and food security. I maintain that any subject can be taught using food as the focus, and that food teaching should draw on food science in its broadest terms. No one […]