Advertising Watchdog rules on conditions for comparative price advertising: The ASA has also rejected a complaint regarding claim ‘Rooms from £20 per person per night’ by Zedwell Hotels on the basis that the company was able to prove that sufficient rooms were available at the advertised price. View >
Bacterial toxin leads to infant formula recalls across Europe. The Food Standards Agency has highlighted product recalls of infant formula and follow on formula by Nestle due to presence of bacterial toxin cereulin produced by Bacillus cereus, something for which there was no set level set in law or guidance. As a result, the European Food Safety Authority has also published an emergency opinion on the toxicity of cereulin. EFSA concluded that cereulide concentrations in reconstituted (liquid) infant formula above: 0.054 μg/L for infant formula, and 0.1 μg/L for follow-on formula may lead to safe levels being exceeded. Food Standards Agency > EFSA News > EFSA Journal >
Plan launched to tackle ‘Forever chemicals’: DEFRA have published a detailed plan to better understand and tackle the presence of Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Under the Plan, and to protect public health, a consultation will be launched later this year on introducing a statutory limit for PFAS in England’s public supply regulations. The plan sets out a range of further measures and interventions, which includes:
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Developing new guidance for regulators and industries to address legacy PFAS pollution on contaminated land to ensure a consistent and practical approach.
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Consulting on the introduction of a statutory limit for PFAS in England’s public supply regulations to improve the condition of the water the nation drinks.
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Carrying out tests on food packaging, like microwave popcorn bags and pizza boxes, to trace the presence of PFAS and support future regulatory action.
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Publishing a new website to raise the public’s awareness and understanding of PFAS while also improving transparency of action being taken across government.
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Reducing emissions from industrial sites through new guidance for regulators and site operators on how to improve their handling, monitoring and disposal of PFAS.
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Improving the monitoring of PFAS in soils by supporting the British Geological Survey and initiating new sampling at five locations across England.
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Completing work to consider restrictions on the use of PFAS in firefighting foams.
Press release > Policy paper >
Government launches ‘Core Regulatory Skills’ framework to improve regulation making: The Department for Business and trade has launched a detailed voluntary framework for regulators setting out the competency skills they should have to regulate effectively. The aim is to help to build a shared understanding of good regulatory practice for those who work in regulation and bring consistency across the regulatory landscape for the benefit of regulated entities. The framework sets out four levels of regulatory competence awareness, working, practitioner, expert. Part 2 also outlines the 5 different core regulatory themes:
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regulation theory
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regulatory system design and casework
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data, evidence and technology
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regulatory tools and interventions
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regulatory communication, collaboration and engagement
Guidance > Collection >
