Food Standards Act 1999

General functions in relation to food

6 Development of food policy and provision of advice, etc. to public authorities

(1) The Agency has the function of—

(a) developing policies (or assisting in the development by any public authority of policies) relating to matters connected with food safety or other interests of consumers in relation to food; and

(b) providing advice, information or assistance in respect of such matters to any public authority.

(2) A Minister of the Crown or government department, the National Assembly for Wales, the Scottish Ministers or a Northern Ireland Department may request the Agency to exercise its powers under this section in relation to any matter.

(3) It is the duty of the Agency, so far as is reasonably practicable, to comply with any such request.

7 Provision of advice, information and assistance to other persons

(1) The Agency has the function of—

(a) providing advice and information to the general public (or any section of the public) in respect of matters connected with food safety or other interests of consumers in relation to food;

(b) providing advice, information or assistance in respect of such matters to any person who is not a public authority.

(2) The function under subsection (1)(a) shall be carried out (without prejudice to any other relevant objectives) with a view to ensuring that members of the public are kept adequately informed about and advised in respect of matters which the Agency considers significantly affect their capacity to make informed decisions about food.

8 Acquisition and review of information

(1) The Agency has the function of obtaining, compiling and keeping under review information about matters connected with food safety and other interests of consumers in relation to food.

(2) That function includes (among other things)—

(a) monitoring developments in science, technology and other fields of knowledge relating to the matters mentioned in subsection (1);

(b) carrying out, commissioning or co-ordinating research on those matters.

(3) That function shall (without prejudice to any other relevant objectives) be carried out with a view to ensuring that the Agency has sufficient information to enable it to take informed decisions and to carry out its other functions effectively.