Labour seeks regulation of food consultants

Food-safety consultants are not regulated and do not have to earn any qualifications to set themselves up in business, the Labour Party said today.

The party today called for the regulation and registration of food safety consultants.

There is no legal minimum training requirement for food-safety consultancy or body checking they are properly registered, properly trained and legally covered to work.

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) advises businesses thinking of contracting such consultants to check their references and compare different businesses. It said consultants "should have an appropriate level of technical knowledge" and relevant experience in the food industry.

However, there is no specific qualification food consultants must achieve to practice.

Dr Mary Upton, the party's spokeswoman on food, described this as "unacceptable in an age of heightened consumer demand" about food safety.

Ms Upton also argued there was a lack of clarity in the field of legal liability if a consultant provides incorrect advice and the food outlet or manufacturer is subsequently found to be in breach of food laws.