Controversial plans to strip local councils of control over supermarkets and other large food businesses’ food safety, in favour of a national system based on data from the big retailers, have been given a shock green light by the government.
The move, which would also see large food retailers given day-to-day control over the “scores on the doors” food hygiene ratings system, were published yesterday by HMRC.
The Treasury said it had asked the Food Standards Agency (FSA) to “streamline food standards and hygiene regulation for large and regulation-compliant supermarkets” in a move to make the system more efficient and remove red tape from businesses.
However, it will inevitably spark huge opposition from food safety campaigners and local authorities, who have warned of the dangers of supermarkets being able to “police themselves” .
In September last year, The Grocer revealed the FSA had set out plans to strip cash-strapped local authorities of control over food safety for large businesses, including supermarkets, manufacturers and major out-of-home chains.
The proposals would see a “fundamental shift” away from inspections by local enforcement officers in favour of a system of national-level recognition, with the FSA tapping into the vast amounts of data generated by companies like Aldi and Tesco, rather than depleted local authority inspection regimes.
The Grocer had earlier revealed the FSA was planning a major shake-up of its food hygiene rating scheme, which would see it use data from supermarket third-party audits and free up enforcement health officers to focus on smaller “rogue operators”.
Subsequently the FSA was forced to admit it had not been transparent enough about its plans, and that huge concern over the proposals had been expressed when it did finally consult with environmental health, trading standards and local government officers across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
However, whilst the FSA was forced to paused aspects of the work, the plans for so-called national-level regulation have continued and it claims supermarkets including Aldi, Asda, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose, which all took part in early trials of a potential new supermarket data-based system, are committed to the project.
The budget documents released yesterday said: “The government is asking the Food Standards Agency (FSA) to streamline food standards and hygiene regulation for large and regulation-compliant supermarkets. The FSA will develop a consistent, national approach in England for the regulation of large food businesses.
“Using centralised data and streamlined processes, this reform will ensure the sector and consumers can benefit from modern, efficient and effective regulation which supports growth, reduces unnecessary burdens, and keeps consumers safe.”
FSA chair Professor Susan Jebb welcomed the development. She said: “The government has asked us to develop a new national system of regulation for highly compliant large food businesses, and we welcome this opportunity.
“The FSA has already undertaken substantial work in the area, including a year-long trial with major retailers that demonstrated the effectiveness of a national approach to regulation. The FSA board considers that a national-level approach can strengthen consumer protection through more frequent oversight of the largest food businesses, meaning we can identify and address food safety risks across entire operations far more quickly, whilst reducing administrative burden on compliant businesses.
“We welcome the government’s support for this regulatory reform. We will keep working with partners across the system to develop proposals for the future of regulation at both national and local level, to protect public health and keep food safe for the future. We will discuss proposals publicly at our March 2026 board meeting.”
The development comes despite The Grocer’s investigation in the summer which found 85 supermarkets had failed their most recent food hygiene safety inspections, with six supermarkets receiving the lowest possible score of zero, meaning urgent improvement is required, including branches of Morrisons, Tesco and Iceland.
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