Source · Select Committees · Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Recommendation 22
22
Paragraph: 114
The COVID-19 pandemic was unanticipated, and yet the Government had been preparing for an influenza...
Conclusion
The COVID-19 pandemic was unanticipated, and yet the Government had been preparing for an influenza pandemic for many years; this too could have resulted in lockdowns, self-isolation and closures of businesses, with knock-on effects on food. We consider that Defra mounted an excellent and commendable response to the food system disruptions caused by COVID-19, but we are surprised that the Government appeared to be so unprepared in the first place. It is particularly surprising because some other countries were ahead of the UK in terms of lockdowns and school and business closures, and therefore provided a clear indication that extraordinary measures were likely to be required.
Paragraph Reference:
114
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
Food is one of the 13 Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) sectors in the UK. Defra and the Food Standards Agency (FSA) have joint responsibility for food as a CNI sector, where Defra lead on security of food supply in England and the FSA on food safety and food crime in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The risks posed to the security of the food sector are well recognised by Defra. Our work to prepare for a range of scenarios through preparations for leaving the EU has been underway for three years. This work has provided an enhanced understanding of the UK food supply chain which we have sought to incorporate within all areas of our work. Every two years, lead Government departments review the National Security Risk Assessment (NSRA), a cross-government and scientifically rigorous product that assesses the impact and likelihood of the most serious non-malicious risks to the UK. The NSRA is not a prediction of the future and does not make recommendations on how to prepare for civil emergencies. Its primary function is to inform local and national contingency plans for a range of potential emergencies by providing the latest data on the risk landscape. At the time of the COVID-19 outbreak the NSRA reflected the latest and most robust scientific evidence available. Our contingency plans to date for the risk of Pandemic Influenza did allow us to be more prepared for absenteeism within the sector however in many respects the COVID-19 impacts were unprecedented. Any future assessments will incorporate improved knowledge of the food supply chain gained through the COVID-19 response. The Government was monitoring the situation through the Civil Contingencies Secretariat (CCS) from the end of January and we were in contact with representatives of the Food Chain Emergency Liaison Group (FCELG) from early February. COVID-19 presented an unprecedented set of circumstances, including a significant spike in consumer demand in early March, and the closure of much of the food and drink hospitality industry; these events have required exceptional responses. The food industry sectors, with the support of the Government have demonstrated their resilience by responding rapidly to these very significant changes in demand through their flexibility and diversity, and the commitment and hard work of those in the industry. The Government has well-established ways of working with the food industry, which enabled a coordinated response to the challenges of the COVID-19 outbreak. Government introduced a range of measures which have helped to ease supply chain disruption and support an industry-led response. As has already been highlighted in this response, Government worked closely with industry to support their response and made a number of timely and proportionate interventions, and will continue to do so.