17th Special Report - Brand Britain: Promoting and Marketing British food and drink: Government Response to the Committee’s Fifteenth Report

This is the government's response, published 9 September 2019.

Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.

The Government welcomes the report and responds to each recommendation, agreeing with some (including that a "one size fits all" approach does not work and that a focus on SMEs is essential), while making few firm commitments and giving no timetable on several.

• On origin labelling, the Government has "committed to review food labelling when the UK has left the EU". On primary ingredients, it will decide "as soon as is practical following consultation" how the EU rules might be enacted in the UK.
• On the International Action Plan, the Government has begun discussions with industry with the intention of replacing the current plan when it ends in 2020. It says it is "too early to pre-empt" what new targets would look like.
• On Food and Agriculture Counsellors, it says "We agree with the Committee's recommendation" on co-funding and will look to encourage other parts of the industry to help fund overseas posts via the Food and Drink Sector Deal.
• On the Food and Drink Sector Deal, it says the deal is in formal negotiations, but pace has slowed because of EU exit. It gives no date, saying it will progress proposals "as quickly as possible" when that changes.

Read the government's response ↗ Report an error