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FSS recommended legislation to restrict promotions in advice to Scottish Government in 2016.

More specifically, the role of FSS is to provide evidence and advice to Scottish Government (SG) to inform Government decisions on improving Scottish dietary intake.

FSS also support the Healthy Living Programme managed by the Scottish Grocers Federation which facilitates Scottish independent retailers increase healthy options promoted to consumers. Their role within this has included development of the technical nutrition criteria underpinning the programme and advising on the external evaluation that took place in 2023. There are numerous FSS publications that make the case for change and which retailers have access to. The FSS Board agreed its Public Health Nutrition Strategy in March 2023 clearly articulates their views on the need to change the food environment.

FSS routinely develops guidance to help support businesses and enforcement authorities with implementation and compliance. An extensive suite of guidance is provided on the FSS website in relation to new food business requirements as well as more technical aspects of food law. A recent example is guidance for food businesses on new legislative requirements on labelling of food sold prepacked for direct sale: .

The following table represents the total budget allocated to FSS for each financial year since 2015.

FSS collects and monitors Local Authority sampling data and commissions its own national food sampling programmes, which provide assurance on the safety and standards of food sold in Scotland. These include targeted sampling programmes informed by FSS horizon scanning activities, and commodity specific surveys to generate data on the prevalence and levels of contaminants in different foods for the safety assessments that are used to underpin the FSS . The sampling programmes data is published in FSS’ Our Food ; the annual report on food standards in the UK, which is produced jointly with the Food Standards Agency, and DEFRA’s biennial . Further information on FSS’s Food Surveillance System can be found on the FSS website: .

In March 2024 the FSS Board agreed the organisational position on processed and ultra-processed foods, based on the published in July 2023 . Subsequently, they published a position paper outlining the evidence in relation to processed and ultra-processed foods and reiterating the advice for healthy and sustainable diets. This was accompanied by consumer advice on the FSS website, summarising ‘’ on the topic, alongside social media posts to further raise awareness.

Food Standards Scotland have undertaken three types of inspections as detailed in the following table and only hold information from 2021 onwards.

Cases of alleged food fraud reported to Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) by FSS:

2019: 1

2020: 1

2021: 1

FSS have a primary responsibility to monitor the performance of, and promote best practice by, enforcement authorities enforcing food legislation in Scotland.

The overarching aim is to provide assurance that the delivery of official controls for food and feed is compliant with Scottish and UK legal requirements and official guidance.

The audit programme is risk-based, and all reports are published: .

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-34203 on 27 February 2025. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at /chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-34203 on 27 February 2025. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at /chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers