NEW food laws – designed to protect businesses and customers – have been approved by the Assembly.
Environment Minister Jonathan Renouf, in bringing the proposals, said that Islanders were ‘very fortunate to live in Jersey where we have access to such high-quality food’, but added the existing law – drafted in 1966 – had ‘started to show its age’.
The proposition stated: ‘The law introduces a suite of notices which allows a nuanced approach to regulation which will be less disruptive to, and more encouraging of, businesses while still protecting public health.
‘These notices will allow threats to public health to be dealt with proportionately, with minimal disruption of food businesses. Such notices may require minor physical improvements to reduce the risk of pathogenic contamination, a change to techniques to ensure there is no contamination of food stuffs or, in the most extreme circumstances, a business to close until issues are addressed.’
Deputy Renouf added that the move would allow the Island to comply with post-Brexit legislation and that the law was ‘designed to maximise opportunities for import and export of food while safeguarding high welfare standards’.
‘Safeguarding public safety remains the guiding principle,’ he added.
The need for changes to the law was brought into focus earlier this year, when the owners of a St Helier restaurant were fined £3,000 in the Magistrate’s Court, after a diner was taken to hospital upon suffering an allergic reaction from a dish containing nuts – despite assurances it did not contain them.
In the UK, restaurants and cafés must provide customers with allergen information in writing. This could be allergen information on menus or a prompt explaining how customers can obtain such information.
Under the so-called Natasha’s Law, which was introduced in the UK in 2021, all food retailers must display full ingredients and allergen information on every food item made on the premises and on pre-packed food for direct sale.
The Assembly approved the updated Food Law by 43 votes to nil.
