How can the FSA continue to be an innovative and effective regulator when developing and implementing food regulations?
The FSA aims to be a modern and accountable regulator. We must be innovative and be able to develop and take advantage of new approaches to support the work we do. This includes adopting technological advances, digital tools and data analytics. It is also about using social research to gain a greater insight into the behaviour of consumers and the food businesses that supply them, to help ensure effective implementation.
The FSA has two key regulatory change programmes underway: Achieving Business Compliance (ABC) and Operations Transformation Programme (OTP). ABC focuses more on retailers and others selling directly to the public, whereas OTP focuses earlier in the food chain, on slaughterhouses, manufacturers and producers.
- the Achieving Business Compliance programme seeks to deliver a vision for a future regulatory system with clearly defined roles and responsibilities, that is fit for purpose and capable of managing future risks
- the Operations Transformation Programme is modernising the way we deliver Official Controls in the meat, dairy and wine sectors. We want to make it easier for businesses to do the right thing.
This Area of Research Interest (ARI) aims to look at how the FSA can remain at the cutting-edge when developing and implementing food regulations by providing the evidence to underpin these two key programmes.
Related to our desire to be a cutting-edge regulator, this ARI covers the exploration of technological innovations that will help achieve this. We support the evaluation and testing of new and emerging technologies – including novel detection and diagnostic methods, data analytics and digital innovations - where we see they have the potential to revolutionise how traditional surveillance and regulation is undertaken.
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