Wednesday, 25 September 2024
Introduction
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland has a history of strong engagement with industry through its well-established Retail, Food Service, Artisan, and Molluscan Shellfish Safety Committee Fora, which provide platforms to build firm connections and enable timely information exchange to stay abreast of evolving regulatory affairs. Due to the rapid expansion of the food industry’s eCommerce landscape, the FSAI has recently established a new industry liaison group, the ‘eCommerce and Online Food Business Forum’. We are looking to receive expressions of interest from representatives in suitable organisations in this sector to participate in the newly formed Forum.
New eCommerce and Online Food Business Forum
The establishment of the new eCommerce and Online Food Business Forum is important to better understand and regulate the dynamic online food business sector which has been accelerated by the change in consumer behaviour experienced during the Covid pandemic, resulting in new legislative provisions. This proactive approach, involving stakeholder engagement, is intended to protect consumer health and ensure consistency in regulation and its application in the evolving eCommerce landscape.
The objective of the Forum is to provide a platform for open dialogue and interaction among relevant stakeholders to address regulatory opportunities and developments, and to promote responsible practices in the online food business sector. The Forum will comprise of representatives from the FSAI, industry stakeholders, and associations, to facilitate dialogue, exchange knowledge, and develop effective regulatory strategies that safeguard consumers and maintains the integrity of our food regulatory framework in the digital era. The Forum’s work will support efforts to protect consumers’ health and interests from the availability and sale of unsafe food, promote a consistent regulatory approach, and maintain public trust.
Expressions of interest
The first online meeting is tentatively scheduled for 23 October 2024. The FSAI is inviting expressions of interest from representatives in suitable organisations in this sector who wish to have a representative on the Forum. Please register your interest by 5pm on 11 October 2024 via https://forms.office.com/e/ym7ysnSh6R or the QR code below.
Data protection
All information submitted will be held securely and in strictest confidence. Access is confined to those who require it. In providing this information, you are giving consent for it to be used for the purposes specified. Further information about the FSAI and data protection may be found in our Data Protection Statement or you may contact our data protection officer at DPO@fsai.ie.
