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BRC ONLINE MEMBERS' AREA


FOOD POLICY ACTION GROUP

The BRC represents the interests of its members and ensures that it keeps the media, parliamentarians, consumers and many other opinion formers informed of issues in the food retail sector.

Membership of the Food Policy Action Group (Food PAG) is open to full members of the BRC and member trade associations. Meetings are attended by the Food Policy Team, and chairmanship of the Food PAG is in accordance with the BRC Articles of Association.

The Food PAG and the BRC Food Policy Team work:
· To inform food retail members of developments in UK, EU or global food policy affecting their operations, reputation or profitability;
· To represent the relevant interests of food retailers in order to ensure an economic and regulatory environment conducive to their business;
· On food crisis management and development of best practice standards.

The main functions of the Food PAG are:
· Approval of policies and positions relating to food issues; and
· Identification of emerging issues.

Documents of interest to the Food PAG may be found under 'Food PAG Issues' in the FOOD PAG SUBJECT MENU. Documents of interest to Working Group members may be found under 'Working Groups' in the FOOD PAG SUBJECT MENU area.

If you have any questions regarding the work of the Food PAG or are interested in attending forthcoming meetings, please contact Bridget LaMarca, 020 7854 8933, bridget.lamarca@brc.org.uk

ACTION STATUS

To enable members to keep track of the Food Policy Team communications, an Excel spreadsheet details the team's activities.

For issues that require action by BRC members, we have listed dates for response to the Food Policy team in a Word document.

Click on the link below to go through to the Downloads Area where you can find both documents in the 'FP - Action Status' folder.

AGENDAS, MEETINGS AND MINUTES

The Food PAG meet regulary to discuss Food policy issues.

EXTERNAL COMMITTEES AND REPS

The Food Policy Team and members of the BRC represent the Consortium on a number of external committees and reps.

FOOD CAMPAIGNS SUB-GROUP

The Food Campaigns Sub-Group works to ensure effective communication of policy and related issues.

The sub-group builds relationships with Government, Parliament and interested stakeholders across the wide range of food issues.

The sub-group is charged with the identification of emerging food issues thus ensuring matters are drawn to the attention of the Food Policy Advisory Group or referred to the relevant Working Group.

The main functions of the Food Campaigns Sub-Group are:
· Implementation of policies relating to BRC's Government, Parliamentary and food chain stakeholders.
· Identification of emerging issues
· Support of the Food Policy Team and BRC members on food related media work

FOOD CAMPAIGNS SUB-GROUP - DAIRY

FOOD HAZARD WARNINGS

The BRC is notified of product withdrawals and recalls ("Food Hazard Warnings") by Government Agencies. To ensure appropriate action is taken as soon as possible, the BRC will e-mail the information to its membership.

Where Food Hazard Warnings have been received by the BRC as faxed documents, such documents will be uploaded to the Members' Area of the BRC website (see link below).

Members wishing to notify the Food Standards Agency of a food incident (chemical, nuclear, and biological contamination) should call 020 7276 8448
(Out of Hours: 020 7276 8960). In the event of an environmental contamination incident (relating to food safety) call 020 7276 8737 (Out of Hours: 020 7276 8960).

WORKING GROUPS

Working Groups provide the Food PAG with support on technical and legislative matters in order to facilitate policy making by the Food PAG.

The role of each Working Group is to analyse, comment and make clear recommendations to the Food PAG on consultation papers or technical matters. Working Groups report via the BRC secretariat to the Food PAG.

The method of working is predominantly by the use of e-mail rather than formal pre-planned meetings.

 

WORKING GROUPS - ALLERGENS

The Allergens Working Group (AWG) areas of expertise are in relation to:
- all aspects of food allergies
- allergies associated with food production and distribution.

WORKING GROUPS - BEERS, WINES AND SPIRITS

The Beers, Wines and Spirits Working Group (BW&SWG) areas of expertise are in relation to:
- Beers
- Wines
- Spirits
- Alcopops

WORKING GROUPS - DAIRY

The Dairy Working Group (DWG) areas of expertise are in relation to:
- Dairy
- Eggs

WORKING GROUPS - FOOD ASSURANCE SCHEMES

The Food Assurance Schemes Working Group (FAWG) areas of expertise are in relation to:
- Food Assurance Schemes
- Farm Assurance Standards
- Animal Welfare Standards

WORKING GROUPS - FOOD SURVEILLANCE

The Food Surveillance Working Group (FSWG) areas of expertise are in relation to:
- Authenticity
- Chemistry
- Natural Contaminants
- Process Contaminants
- Inorganic Contaminants
- Organic Environmental Contaminants
- Chemical Contaminants from Food Contact Materials
- Materials and Articles in Contact with Food
- Radio Nucleides
- Pesticides
- Nutrients
- Surveillance Programmes

WORKING GROUPS - FOOD WASTE

The Food Waste Working Group (FWWG) area of expertise is in relation to:
- Food waste from production, retail and catering premises

WORKING GROUPS - HYGIENE

The Hygiene Working Group (HGWG) area of expertise is in relation to:
- Hygiene Standards

WORKING GROUPS - LABELLING AND LEGISLATION

The Labelling and Legislation Working Group (L&LWG) areas of expertise are in relation to:
- Additives
- Legislation General
- General Labelling
- Trade Decriptions
- Claims
- Codex Standards
- LACORS Advice

For Food PAG documents related to food labelling, please visit the Food Policy Advisory Group section.

WORKING GROUPS - LIQUOR LICENSING

The Liquor Licensing Working Group (LLWG) area of expertise is in relation to:
- Liquor Licensing

WORKING GROUPS - MICROBIOLOGY

The Microbiology Working Group (MWG) areas of expertise are in relation to:
- Microbiological Standards
- Surveillance Programmes

WORKING GROUPS - MEAT, POULTRY AND FISH

The Meat, Poultry and Fish Working Group (MP&FWG) areas of expertise are in relation to:
- Red Meat
- Fish
- Poultry
- Game
- Chilled Prepared Foods
- Meat Products
- Fish Products

WORKING GROUPS - NEW TECHNOLOGY

The New Technology Working Group (NTWG) areas of expertise are in relation to GM, animal cloning and nanotechnology

WORKING GROUPS - NUTRIITION AND HEALTH CLAIMS

The Nutrition and Health Claims Project Group are dealing with the EU proposal on Nutrition and Health Claims.

WORKING GROUPS - NUTRIITION

The Nutrition Working Group (NWG) areas of expertise are in relation to:
- Nutrition
- Nutrition Claims
- Health Claims
- Dietary Surveys

For Food PAG documents related to Health and Nutrition, please visit the Food Policy Advisory Group section.

WORKING GROUPS - ORGANIC

The Organic Working Group (OWG) area of expertise is in relation to:
- Organic Standards

WORKING GROUPS - ORGANIC WASTE

The Organic Waste Working Group area of expertise is in relation to:
- Organic Waste

WORKING GROUPS - PRODUCE

The Produce Working Group (PWG) areas of expertise are in relation to:
- Fruit
- Vegetables
- Horticulture

WORKING GROUPS - TRACEABILITY AND GENERAL FOOD LAW

The Traceability & General Food Law Working Group (T&GFLWG) areas of expertise are in relation to policy on recalls and general food law.