Steering Groups
FDF's strategic steering groups have been created to direct FDF's work around
the three key priority areas. For a full overview of how FDF is structured,
download FDF's Organisational Chart (pdf, 11kb).
Food Safety and Scientific Steering Group
The safety of our products remains paramount for industry and continues to be
the top priority for FDF. The inherent perishability of food from the time of
harvest or slaughter requires food manufacturers to be continually vigilant in
maintaining product safety – whether from the threat of chemical contamination
or microbiological infection.
FDF ensures that members stay abreast of the advances in science that change
our understanding of food safety issues and we promote the need for appropriate
risk assessment and reduction strategies by regulators. We help our members by
trying to ensure that food safety incidents are handled in a proportionate way,
at national and EU level, and we co-ordinate an effective industry response.
Science also brings opportunities for product and process innovation and FDF
plays a key role in explaining to policy makers, regulators and opinion formers
how these developments can provide real benefits for consumers.
As the body of legislation bearing down on industry continues to grow, we work
closely with our European counterpart, CIAA, to ensure that the industry's
voice is heard in the right places and at the right time within the EU.
Our Food Safety and Scientific Steering Group represents, promotes and
safeguards the interests of the UK food industry in relation to scientific
issues and
regulatory developments.
There are seven issue-led committees to facilitate more detailed
discussion of
specific issues.
- Food Chain Issues (FCI)
- Food Contact Materials (FCM)
- Food Hygiene (HYG)
- Food Ingredients (FIG)
- Food Law and Labelling (FLL)
- Nutrition (NUT)
- Residues and Contaminants (RAC)
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Health and Wellbeing Steering Group
Industry continues to respond to society's concerns about the health of the
nation, particularly in relation to rising obesity levels, and we are
absolutely
committed to playing a positive role in this debate.
The aim of our Health and Wellbeing Steering Group is to work
constructively with Government, regulators and others to help find solutions to
the complex
issues at the heart of the diet and health challenge here in the UK. The Group
aims to drive forward the Food and Health Manifesto commitments unveiled by the
industry in 2004. Much progress has been made in delivering on these
commitments, particularly in areas such as front-of-pack nutrition labelling
and product
reformulation, where the UK is widely acknowledged to be leading the world.
Key areas of work already identified by the Steering Group include:
- front of pack labelling
- reformulation
- workplace wellbeing
- portion control and sensible eating
- responsible marketing
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Sustainability and Competitiveness Steering Group
A widely accepted definition of sustainability is 'achieving a better quality
of life for everyone, now and for future generations to come'. This entails
making economic, environmental and social progress all at the same time. FDF
has
long been a champion of sustainability. Indeed, we developed a sustainability
strategy for the food and drink manufacturing sector in 2002 – which Defra
subsequently built on and extended to all sectors beyond the farmgate.
FDF members reduced carbon emissions by 15.2% between 1990 and 2005 and are
continuing to do more under a voluntary Climate Change Agreement with
Government.
Members are also working proactively to minimise packaging, reduce waste and
increase recycling rates.
During the year ahead FDF will be working with members to re-evaluate the
sector's sustainability, with the aim of improving further our competitive,
environmental and social performance.
The Sustainability and Competitiveness Steering Group is supported by a number
of committees that focus on specific issues:
- Environment
- Utilities
- Trade Policy and CAP
- Employee Relations and Efficiency
- Occupational Health & Safety and Workforce Resilience
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Last reviewed: 29 Apr 2007