FSA Publishes Science Priorities for 2013

The U.K. Food Standards Agency (FSA) has published its “Forward Evidence
Plan for 2013,” outlining its “priority science and evidence activities for the
coming year.” Although subject to budgetary confirmation, the plan seeks to
alert stakeholders to new and ongoing activities as well as identify additional
research areas and sources of funding in support of FSA’s Strategic Plan 2010-
2015, which the agency last updated in January 2013.

In particular, FSA has prioritized activities related to (i) “microbiological food
safety, including campylobacter, E. coli, listeria and norovirus”; (ii)”food and
feed hygiene policy”; (iii) “chemical safety of food, including metals and
organic contaminants”; (iv) “the next round of the FSA strategic challenge
cal”; and (v) “diet and health related work funded by the FSA in Scotland
and Northern Ireland.” The agency has requested feedback on the plan by
February 15, 2013. See FSA Press Release, January 31, 2013.