Westminster Food & Nutrition Forum

This conference examined the next steps for food packaging and waste policy across the UK.

It took place in the context of the Resources and Waste Strategy which sets out the Government’s approach to reducing food and plastic waste - including setting a target of eliminating avoidable waste of all kinds by 2050.

It provided an opportunity for policymakers and stakeholders to discuss the impact and future balance of industry-led and government-mandated targets; how best to improve the coordination of local collections; and priorities for the new Food Surplus and Waste Champion.

Attendees considered what more can be done to develop and innovate food packaging.

It followed the launch of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee inquiry into plastic food and drink packaging - which seeks to assess the impact of government plastic reduction measures, barriers to innovation and whether more funding and support is needed.

The agenda included latest thinking on what is needed to increase the recyclability of packaging and on reducing packaging whilst maintaining the shelf-life of products.

Delegates also assessed the impact of strategies aimed at changing business practice and consumer behavior, looking at the role of producer responsibility, industry-led schemes and taxation policy going forward.

Discussion reflected key issues from the recent consultations on a plastic packaging tax, reforming UK packaging producer responsibility, the ongoing Courtauld Commitment 2025, and the UK Plastics Pact.

Delegates discussed the challenges associated with the proposed DRS - including design of collection points, potential increased costs and duplicated waste collections - as well as the impact on business and local authorities, with the consultation held on DRS in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Further sessions considered whether there should be more alignment on what is able to be recycled across the UK following the consultation on consistency in household and business recycling collections in England - and what more can be done to engage consumers, and support local authorities and environmental services organisations to improve the efficiency of their recycling services.

Delegates also discussed what more retail, the food and farming industries, and food redistribution organisations need to do to drive behaviour change and food waste reduction, as well as how to manage unavoidable food waste.

It came with the Food Surplus and Waste Champion putting increasing pressure on the food industry by asking them to sign up to a pledge committing to reducing food waste.

The conference was an opportunity for stakeholders in the UK food industry and policymakers to discuss the way forward for increasing competitiveness, and how legislation and regulation need to adapt.

It took place at a time of considerable change for farming in the UK, with Brexit potentially having an impact on market access, welfare standards and future subsidy arrangements.

Delegates discussed how best to promote and improve productivity on farm both through policy and through innovative technology and practice.

Attendees discussed how productivity fits into this mix and how best to design a payments system that promotes sustainability, stewardship and enables efficient and competitive farming.

Further sessions looked at what more can be done to ensure farmers are equipped with the knowledge and expertise to deliver effective sustainable land management, drawing on examples of best practice domestically and from international stakeholders.

Delegates also discussed the challenges and opportunities for driving wider technology use on farms, including how to improve the translation of research from industry and universities to the farmgate - including SMEs and small farms - and the opportunities for cross sector collaboration in both boosting research and improving take up.

Following government commitments to further investment in research and development and the rapidly developing role for technologies such as AI, drones, robotics and big data, the seminar also considered how UK agriculture can respond to innovative and disruptive technologies to deliver improved farm productivity and address the barriers to uptake and investment.

This seminar was held at a key time for decisions on the future direction of policy - including the Childhood obesity plan for action and consultation on advertising restrictions on products high in fat, sugar and salt - it brought policymakers together with stakeholders involved in public health and the food and drink industry to discuss the future direction for policy and the implications of reform.

Delegates considered the issues in the context of responses to consultations on the second chapter of the Government’s Childhood obesity plan for action - looking at in-store placement and promotion of HFSS products, the sale of energy drinks to children, and calorie labelling in the out-of-home sector.

Discussion covered practicality and implementation issues, as well as the expectations of businesses of different scales within the food sector, and of other stakeholders in public health, education, local authorities and families.

Following the consultation on advertising restrictions on products high in fat, sugar and salt, delegates considered how advertising policy and regulation might develop across the range of media and online platforms and the timelines for any changes, as well as assessing progress through the voluntary sugar reduction and calorie reduction programmes.

Discussion brought out latest thinking on making healthier choices easier, drawing on research findings, latest innovative approaches and insights on consumer habits and attitudes. 

The agenda examined the role of schools and other education settings in encouraging healthy lifestyles and behaviours, and how leadership and action in this area should be measured.

Discussion looked at investment of the Soft Drinks Industry Levy revenue so far, the priorities for the commitment within the Childhood obesity plan for an update to the School Food Standards, and the cross-government School Sport and Activity Action Plan.

The seminar was informed by the Whole Systems Approach to Obesity programme - which worked with 11 local authorities to help deliver coordinated actions on childhood obesity - and the Trailblazer programme which is supporting local authorities to develop plans to reduce child obesity.

Sessions examined the way forward for collaboration, looking at best practice in the development of local approaches to support children and families in achieving and maintaining a healthy weight, as well as how the public and private sectors can work together to improve prevention and delivery of support - drawing on experience from across local government, the NHS, schools, parent groups, the third sector and industry.

Further sessions included the role of the out-of-home sector in reducing child obesity and ways in which this can be achieved such as portion size, calorie labelling and recipe modification.

The seminar was informed by practical initiatives and new insights from local, national and international research, including latest thinking on the impact of product reformulation on consumer behaviour.

Delegates also considered how local authorities can develop a healthy local food environment - looking at the planning and locality of fast food outlets, making the most of green spaces and encouraging active travel.

This seminar examined key issues for the future of food regulation across the UK.

The agenda looked at the Food Standards Agency’s (FSA) modernised regulatory programme  - progress and lessons from its implementation so far and next steps; regulatory developments across Britain with contributions from Food Standards Scotland and the Welsh Government; and the future for global collaboration and regulation - focusing on trade, science and international standards.

Delegates assessed the implementation of the FSA’s Regulating Our Future (ROF) programme which aims to modernise the regulatory system for food to improve flexibility and the ability to respond to technological change, and cater for an evolving and increasingly diverse sector.

Sessions brought out discussion on local responsibilities; powers and resources; impact on environmental health professionals; issues for businesses; rapid response and consumer engagement.

Delegates also looked ahead to next steps for implementation in light of updated priorities outlined by the FSA including the scaling up of online food business registration; moving towards a risk-based approach to regulation with the segmenting of food businesses; changing the regulatory relationship between businesses and local authorities through the Primary Authority National Inspection Strategy; the future funding model for food regulation; and developing a framework for the statutory food hygiene scheme in England.

Further discussion focused on the future relationship with food regulation in Europe and beyond, looking at the potential impact of Brexit on food regulatory systems, and the supply chain, as well as the outlook for new markets - the impact of any future trade deals on food standards, and next steps for policy.