ABSTRACT
We have seen in Chapters 4 and 5 that food safety crises and problems have led to major institutional changes across the EU and attempts were made to introduce policy-making processes that are more open and consultative. The premise is that, consumer involvement in policy making provides an opportunity to restore consumer trust and confi dence. The UK Government, for example, set up the Food Standards Agency (FSA) in 2000, and this was followed by the inception of Department of Environment, Fisheries and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) in 2001 (see Chapter 9). The Government believed that creation of the FSA would put an end to the climate of confusion and suspicion which resulted in the way food safety and standards issues have been handled in the past. This was thought to ensure that all future Government activity relating to food will be subject to public and scientifi c scrutiny, and that the public’s voice will be fully heard in the decision-taking process.
