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Horsemeat scandal is a hot topic at Food Law conference


T


he crisis over horsemeat in the food chain, food hygiene and new labelling requirements were put under the spotlight at a major conference on Food Safety at the University of


Wales, Newport. At a time when the food industry is facing a major


scandal over contaminated food, more than 60 delegates from across the UK gathered together at the University’s City Campus to join the debate about how to improve standards in the industry. Expert speakers included Dr Lisa Ackerley, Kathryn


Gilbertson, Dominic Watkins and Ian Thomas. David Travers QC chaired the conference. The event was one of a series held by the Business Accountability and Responsibility Centre (BARC) at Newport University’s Business School. Ian Thomas, a specialist regulatory law solicitor in


the Republic of Ireland, looked at the legal and practical implications of the horsemeat crisis. He traced the development of the crisis and considered preventative strategies that organisation’s and companies can take. Ian said: “The onus is on the Food Business


Operators to make sure they are compliant with food laws and regulations. We’re seeing a very long and complex food chain, and the chain is only as good and strong as its weakest link. “Having crisis management plans and teams in place


is absolutely vital in situations such as these. We’re now faced with the question of whether consumers will ever trust value foods or economy products again.” The delegates who included academics, catering


professionals, business leaders and environmental health officers listened to a series of lectures on current issues surrounding food safety and the risks of non- compliance, before taking part in question and answer sessions with the speakers. Chair David Travers QC, who was recently


awarded an Honorary Fellowship by the Society of Food Hygiene Technology for his work in the Food Law sector, said: “The challenge for the food industry is to meet the consumers’ demand for good value food while ensuring its quality and integrity. The current crisis underlines the importance of all consumers paying attention to the origins of the food they eat and the way it has been processed.” Dr Lisa Ackerley, Food Safety Advisor to the


Royal Society of Public Health and Managing Director of Hygiene Audit Systems, an independent food and health and safety company told the audience about her experience of advising on food hygiene issues for radio and TV programmes. She went on to discuss her passion for spreading the message of food safety in easy practical terms. Kathryn Gilbertson, Director and head of the


business defence team at law firm Greenwoods LLP, used her experience of advising companies on food safety, product liability and environmental matters to consider the prosecution procedure and discuss some


of the myths and magic used by defence lawyers. Dominic Watkins, Senior Associate in the DWF


Regulatory team, specialises in assisting the food sector with regulatory issues in food law, trading standards and safety. He explored the role that Europe plays in influencing food laws, and some of the major changes on the horizon in the way that food is labelled. The Business Accountability and Responsibility


Centre has a wide remit with members currently researching across a number of areas, from criminal and civil liability to governance, accountability and ethics generally. Group members have strong research profiles with excellent track records, publishing regularly in well regarded journals and giving conference presentations both in the UK and internationally. BARC provides a platform for researchers to work on discrete projects but also to collaborate on shared interests. The Centre includes academics from within


the UK and international members, as well as legal professionals and experts on business accountability drawn from diverse backgrounds. Current international collaborative projects


include a comparative study of the law on corporate manslaughter in the UK and in India. Particular areas of interest for a number of


members include the potential accountability of SMEs in Wales in relation to liability for defective products and injuries and fatalities amongst the workforce. Liability for damage to the environment is also under discussion. BARC members have strong links with both the


business and legal community and this relationship is seen as central to the research capability of the Centre, both informing and stimulating research. The exchange of knowledge and ideas through a process of cross fertilisation is integral to BARC’s ethos. The Centre will host another free conference,


Emerging Themes in Business, on Friday April 19 from 9.30am to 4pm. Working in collaboration with other research centres across the University, such as The Centre for Leadership, Innovation and Management Behaviour; The Centre for Research in Entrepreneurship and Marketing and The Women in Society Research Centre, the conference seeks to promote research in business and management related disciplines. The keynote speakers are: Professor Andrew


Thomas (University of Glamorgan) who will deliver a presentation on ‘Emerging themes in UK manufacturing business’; Professor Jill Solomon (University of Reading) whose presentation is entitled ‘Current developments in corporate governance and accountability’, and Professor Chris Gale (Bradford University) who will discuss whether businesses have rights. To book your free place at the conference, go to www.eventbrite.com/event/5203231004#


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