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Food Standards Agency

Thursday 28 August 2008

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Sustainable development

The Agency's remit is to protect the interests of consumers in relation to food, now and in the future. In doing so the Agency will take sustainable development into account in all of its activities and policy decisions.

What is sustainable development?

Sustainable development is about enabling people throughout the world to satisfy their basic needs and enjoy a better quality of life, without compromising the quality of life of future generations and the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

The concept of sustainable development encompasses four key elements, often referred to as 'pillars':

Sustainable practices should offer benefits in all four of these areas.

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Sustainable development and the Food Standards Agency

The Agency's approach to sustainable development is linked to its remit of protecting the interests of consumers in relation to food.

In taking forward its remit the Agency will take sustainable development into account in all of its activities and policy decisions.

The Agency's Board adopted its policy on sustainable development at its meeting in Belfast in October 2004.

Further targets on sustainable development have been set in the Agency's 2005-2010 Strategic Plan.

The Agency's policy on sustainable development does not change its remit.

Protecting consumers in relation to food safety and standards, and helping them to make informed choices, including in relation to nutrition and healthy eating, will remain the Agency's key areas of concern.

Matters such as the promotion of sustainable food production, environmental protection and economic growth, remain for other departments, including in the devolved administrations, to take forward as part of their remits.

The Agency is currently developing and implementing a comprehensive programme of work to embed sustainable development considerations into all of its activities.

This programme of work is designed to ensure that the Agency takes account of sustainable development in the way it:

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Sustainable Development Action Plan: your views sought

The Agency has drafted its third Action Plan based on the UK Government’s Sustainable Development Strategy and the Agency’s Strategic Plan 2005-10. The draft Action Plan outlines our sustainable development priorities for 2008/9 and explains how we will achieve them. It also shows how we will report the progress that is made.

We welcome your views on the draft Action Plan, initially by 25 September 2008 - although the Action Plan is an evolving document and we encourage staff and stakeholder views at anytime.

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Contact us

To find out more about sustainable development in Agency policy making, contact Karen Dell on 020 7276 8481.
Email: karen.dell@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk

To find out more about sustainable development in Agency estates management, contact Aadil Bashir on 020 7276 8001.
Email: aadil.bashir@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk

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Related links

Draft Food Standards Agency Sustainable Development Action Plan 2007

Download pdf  (pdf 90KB) Food Standards Agency Sustainable Development Action Plan 2008/9

Download pdf  (pdf 173KB) FSA Strategic Plan 2005-2010

Download pdf  (pdf 138KB) Sustainable Development Action Plan Progress Report June 2007

Download pdf  (pdf 72KB)

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Sustainable development in Agency policy making

The most important and challenging aspect of the Agency's work taking forward its policy on sustainable development has been the development of guidance for its staff on sustainability assessment.

Sustainable development and the Agency's business

In running its business the Food Standards Agency is committed to pursuing sound environmental practices and is working towards the implementation of an Environmental Management System based on the ISO14001 standard.

Sustainable development and the UK Government

The UK Government is committed to integrating sustainable development principles into all of its activities and policies.

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