This week, the Department for Levelling Up announced funding for 55 projects across Great Britain, however it added that no money was being provided to Northern Ireland “at this time” because of the collapse of Stormont.

Michael Gove, the Levelling Up Secretary, said the money would “create new jobs and opportunities, power economic growth, and revitalise local areas”.

However, commenting on this decision, Retail NI Chief Executive, Glyn Roberts said this was a “deeply disappointing and disgraceful decision” by the UK Government.

“Much of this funding would have helped with much-needed efforts to regenerate our local high streets and town centres,” he said.

“While it is crucial we get Stormont restored, its absence should not be a reason for not proceeding with these projects. Yet again local small businesses and independent retailers are losing out compared to their counterparts elsewhere in the UK.”

There was cross-party criticism from the Northern Ireland political parties, with many saying the move was “economic blackmail”.

The Department for Levelling Up said that given the current absence of a working executive and assembly the government was “not proceeding with this round of the Levelling Up fund at this time”.

“We will continue to work closely with projects and places in Northern Ireland that were awarded a total of £120 million in the first two rounds of the fund,” it added.

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The Prime Minister has appointed Mr Gove to lead a cross-governmental committee responsible for dealing with the problems that have led to shortages in supermarkets and retail across the country.

Industry leaders have previously warned that people should prepare for permanent shortages in supermarkets if issues around supply chains persist, according to The Telegraph.

Archie Norman, Marks and Spencer’s chairman, told LBC this week that supermarkets were facing a “perfect storm”, adding it was going to be a “bumpy ride” before Christmas.

It was reported that the group will look at increasing the number of HGV drivers and work with food suppliers to solve the problem.

The National Economic Recovery Taskforce (Logistics), will co-ordinate across Government departments, and is thought to run along similar lines to the no-deal Brexit preparations.

The committee is expected to push for changes such as the licencing system for HGV drivers, which costs applicants more than £250.

One commentator on Twitter wrote ‘Barely a year since the EU-U.K. Trade and Cooperation agreement has been in place (with the tricky parts still to be enforced) and we have appointed a minister to ‘save Christmas’ Let that sink in …

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The legislation is intended to provide further protection for allergy sufferers, and give them confidence in the food they purchase. The new law requires more types of food to have potentially life-saving allergen information on the label.

The legislation is commonly referred to as ‘Natasha’s Law’ following the tragic death of Natasha Ednan-Laperouse. The young woman died after suffering an in-flight allergic reaction to sesame seeds contained in a filled baguette, which she bought at an airport. At the time, full ingredient labelling, including allergens, was not required by law.

Revised legislation

The revised legislation applies to products designated as ‘pre-packed for direct sale’ (PPDS) – food packaged at the same place it is offered for sale to consumers which includes pre-wrapped products kept behind a counter. From 1 October 2021 all PPDS food will need to have a label showing the name and quantity of the food and the full ingredient list. The label must have any of the 14 declarable allergens – celery, cereals containing gluten, crustaceans, eggs, fish, milk, lupin, molluscs, mustard, sesame, peanuts, soybeans, sulphur dioxide and sulphites, and nuts – clearly emphasised (for example in bold and underlined).

Pies, bakes and sausage rolls that have been baked and are then wrapped before being placed into a hot cabinet are classed as PPDS, along with sandwiches and wraps.

Natasha Ednan-Laperouse

Market stalls

PPDS includes food packaged by the same business and sold at a temporary or mobile site, such as a food truck or market stall, as well as food that is packaged in the same place and then offered at different units within one building, such as an airport, hospital, or shopping centre.

If a product is pre-packed and fully or partly enclosed by packaging, it cannot be altered without opening or changing the packaging, or is ready for final sale to the consumer, then again, it is classed as PPDS.

Information on the labels must be accurate, clear, not misleading in any way, and must be applied consistently across the product range to avoid any confusion. Any food that is not in packaging when it is ordered, or is loose and then packaged after being ordered, is NOT subject to Natasha’s Law.

Safe choices

As a result, consumers with a food allergy or intolerance will have all the information required to make a safe choice when buying PPDS food, particularly at checkouts, self-service order points or where there is no interaction with staff.

Compliance

The requirements of Natasha’s Law are undoubtedly going to present convenience food retailers and foodservice operators with a major challenge.

Responsible suppliers

Any business operating an in-store bakery and/or food to go operation must comply. Retailers must ensure that they are aware of what they are required to do. However, specially developed labels that facilitate the prominent display of any ingredients contained within products designated as PPDS will ensure compliance.

The harsh reality is that a severe allergic reaction can be fatal, or make a customer seriously ill. Retailers could also face financial and reputational damage for failing to comply with allergen information requirements. Local authorities enforce allergen information regulations and a retailer’s failure to comply could result in the authority taking action against them. A person convicted of an allergen offence will be liable to an unlimited fine decided by a Magistrate on a case-by case basis.

The amendments to the legislation – known now as Natasha’s Law – were introduced by Michael Gove, and to both England and Northern Ireland from 1^st October 2021.

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Responding to Michael Gove’s comments that the grace periods in Northern Ireland should be extended, Aodhán Connolly, Director of the Northern Ireland Retail Consortium, said:

“Michael Gove is absolutely right – we do need an extension to the grace period to ensure that hard-pressed NI families are not affected by further disruption in the availability of goods. In the longer term, we need a workable solution that allows NI retailers to continue to give households the choice and affordability they need. This requires pragmatic controls which satisfy the EU’s concerns, recognise the deeply integrated GB-NI supply chains, and can be introduced in a workable manner over a sensible time frame.”

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