UK to Create Food Crime Unit in Response to Final Report Analyzing Food Supply Networks

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and Food
Standards Agency on September 4, 2014, issued a final report evaluating
U.K. food supply networks and containing recommendations for government
action to address any weaknesses. The government commissioned the report
from University of Belfast Professor Chris Elliott following a 2013 incident
known as “Horsegate” in which various beef products were found to be
adulterated with undeclared horse meat.

In response to the report’s eight major recommendations, the government
has vowed to establish a Food Crime Unit by the end of 2014. Supported by
a number of state, local, federal, and international law enforcement agencies,
the Unit will reportedly focus its initial efforts on gathering intelligence about
the nature and risks of food fraud. Other actions the government reportedly
plans to implement go from setting up a network of food analytical laboratories
to using standardized testing methodologies and creating a Group on
Food Integrity and Food Crime to improve coordination across government
departments. See DEFRA News Release, September 4, 2014.

Issue 537