IPH responds to Consultation on Food Standards Agency Strategy 2010 to 2015

10 Jun 2009

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) recently consulted on their next five-year Strategic Plan for the period 2010 to 2015. IPH has responded specifically to the 'Healthy Eating for All' aspect of FSA's purpose with particular reference to local development in Northern Ireland. Access the FSA consultation.

Key points in the IPH response included

IPH applauds the rigorous approach the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has taken to its strategic planning and the delivery of its objectives. It welcomes the FSA’s plans to develop a diet-related illness approach and a Science and Evidence Strategy.
IPH supports the call for “Healthy Eating for All”. Given the disproportionate burden of diet-related illnesses experienced by people in the lower socio-economic groups, IPH urges the FSA to explicitly incorporate health inequalities in its strategy. Northern Ireland’s public health strategy “Investing for Health” has a strong emphasis on tackling health inequalities which is reflected in the prominence given by Northern Ireland’s regional Public Health Agency.
Many other agencies are working to “improve the balance of diet”. The FSA can maximise its impact on public health if it:
- Works from within a clear framework¹
- Identifies, within that framework, the actions which it can uniquely contribute
- Works with other agencies² which have responsibility for health improvement and tackling health inequalities
IPH supports greater North-South cooperation and encourages FSA to strengthen its collaboration with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland and safefood.

^{1 In Northern Ireland, the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) is currently developing an Obesity Prevention Strategic Framework}

^{2 such as the regional Public Health Agency in Northern Ireland}

Access the IPH response