The FSA hopes to head off concerns over a conflict between its twin roles as a consumer advocate and criminal investigator by publishing new guidance on how its National Food Crime Unit gathers evidence from the food sector.
In response to concerns - outlined in the NFCU’s first annual review in March - over the lack of intelligence sharing between industry and the authorities, and a continued reluctance by many to engage with the unit, FSA head of food crime Andy Morling said the guidelines would help build trust and illustrate what informants could expect when seeking to share food crime suspicions.
Commenting in an update paper on the unit’s progress, which is due to be presented to the FSA board next week, Morling said “multiple sources” in the food industry had indicated the perceived tension between the FSA’s responsibilities were a “significant barrier” to intelligence sharing.
“The main concern was that the agency’s culture of openness and transparency might lead to the release of commercially sensitive information shared by [industry informants] into the public domain,” he added. The guidance is expected to be published during the summer.
The plans were welcomed by Jessica Burt, a food law associate with law firm Mills & Reeve. “I’ve always thought the NFCU should be offering extra protection, and I don’t think the FSA has done enough to reassure potential whistleblowers so far,” she said.
Some potential informants were also concerned over the extent of freedom of information legislation and its use in the FSA, added TIFSIP policy and technical adviser Eoghan Daly, though he added “fraud is fraud” and there should already be effective whistleblowing arrangements in the food sector. “It’s welcome and this plan is about making people aware of existing rights.”
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