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British Retail Consortium

BRC

To make a positive difference for our members and to advance the interests of UK retailers with policy makers and stakeholders.

Lobbying Activity

Meeting with Miguel Ceballos Baron (Cabinet of Vice-President Cecilia Malmström) and Ulster Farmers' Union and

3 Sept 2019 · Mercosur

Response to Commission Regulation setting maximum residue levels for chlorate in or on certain products

18 Feb 2019

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the proposals to set levels of chlorate in foods. The BRC is the UK trade association representing the retail industry. Our membership comprises over 5,000 business and accounts for £120bn of grocery sales and employs over 1 million people in food outlets and distribution. This is an important issue for our members, their suppliers and the wider industry and we are keen to see that future regulations that affect the continued use of chlorate and other disinfectants fully take account of hygiene implications. We are concerned about the introduction of MRLs for chlorate under Regulation (EC) No 396/2005. The status of chlorate as a former pesticide is acknowledged within the proposal and there are many non-pesticide routes through which chlorate may enter food. These include chlorinated water used for irrigation and processing of food and use as a disinfectant. We welcome an approach that regulates chlorate residue presence under an appropriate legal framework which fully takes account of its multiple routes of entry into food. Chlorate is an effective disinfectant with an established history. The principle use of chlorine is in wash water used for produce, specifically ready to eat and its use facilitates repeat use of potable water. Hypochlorite is one of the more effective disinfectants for this purpose. Alternatives are limited and are often alternative chlorine-based technologies. However, control and effectiveness can be variable and need to be fully validated, other challenges include: o the impact of alternative chemicals on processing equipment (corrosion) o potentially increased toxicity from the use of other chemicals; o incompatibility with other chemicals o possibility of taint We do not feel that the proposed limits necessarily provide the safest food for the consumer based on the toxicity of the chemicals used, and the effects on microbiological safety of the final product. Responsible use of disinfectants in line with Good Manufacturing Practice is advocated by our members and their suppliers and the food industry has worked diligently to minimise residue presence while maintaining microbiological safety. We hope you find the above comments helpful, please contact us if any further clarification is required.
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Response to Establishing a legal limit for the industrial trans fats content in foods

1 Nov 2018

Please find attached our response to the consultation on trans fats
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Meeting with Nele Eichhorn (Cabinet of Vice-President Cecilia Malmström)

21 Feb 2018 · UK retail industry’s interests in the EU’s current and future bilateral agreements with third countries

Response to Implementing act under Article 15(11) of the Tobacco Products Directive 2014/40/EU

27 Sept 2017

Please find attached a short response from the British Retail Consortium, the UK retail trade association. We agree in principle with a system to control and prevent the illicit sale of tobacco. Our members are responsible retailers who have been at the forefront of initiatives to prevent the illegal sale of tobacco, particularly to underage consumers and support measures that remove illicit products from the market. Our comments are simply intended to ensure the final system is both effective and pragmatic, reducing unnecessary burdens for retailers.
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Meeting with Robert Madelin (Director-General Communications Networks, Content and Technology)

12 Mar 2015 · Better Regulation