The British Retail Consortium has called for the diverse government departments responsible for UK food and retail policy to harmonise their efforts.
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“Food policy in government is spread across a number of different departments, which can make it hard for retailers to understand,” Richard Dodd of the BRC told just-food this morning (29 September).
According to the BRC, with a number of departments – including the Department of Food and Rural Affairs, the Department of Health and the Department of Transport – all touching on food policy, conflicting messages can often be sent out.
For example, the BRC said, the Department of Transport has said that retailers should reduce food miles by buying local foods, while the Department for International Development has said retailers should invest in African countries and give them access to high-value UK markets. “These two positions would appear to be in conflict,” Dodd said.
“With a wide range of different departments and ministers involved, sometimes government policy is in conflict with itself.”
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By GlobalDataDodd said that the solution to this problem was “greater coordination in government”.
“And I think they agree,” Dodd continued. “They have announced a cross-Whitehall task force to coordinate policy, which, if it works, would make it easier for retailers to understand government policy.”
