Freedom of information | Food Standards Agency

<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en" dir="ltr" prefix="og: https://ogp.me/ns#"> <head> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"> <script type="text/javascript"> // Get all cookie_preferences cookie. var cookies = document.cookie.split('; '); if (typeof cookies !== "undefined") { var cook = cookies.filter(function(row) { return row.match(/^cookie_preferences/) })[0]; if (typeof cook !== "undefined") { cook = cook.toString(); cook = unescape(cook.split("=")[1].toString()); cook = JSON.parse(cook); window.cook = cook; } } window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments)}; gtag('consent', 'default', { 'ad_storage': 'denied', 'analytics_storage': 'denied' }); // If cookies if (!cook || cook.analytics === 'no') { window['ga-disable-UA-54078849-3'] = true; window['ga-disable-UA-54078849-1'] = true; } else { gtag('consent', 'update', { analytics_storage: 'granted', }); } </script> <meta charset="utf-8" /> <meta name="description" content="Information on what a freedom of information request is and how to make a request." /> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.food.gov.uk/about-us/freedom-of-information" /> <meta property="og:site_name" content="Food Standards Agency" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://www.food.gov.uk/about-us/freedom-of-information" /> <meta property="og:title" content="Freedom of information" /> <meta property="og:description" content="Information on what a freedom of information request is and how to make a request." /> <meta property="og:image" content="https://www.food.gov.uk//themes/custom/fsa/share-default.png" /> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary" /> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Freedom of information" /> <meta name="twitter:site" content="@foodgov" /> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Information on what a freedom of information request is and how to make a request." /> <meta name="twitter:site:id" content="68686173" /> <meta name="twitter:url" content="https://www.food.gov.uk/about-us/freedom-of-information" /> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://www.food.gov.uk//themes/custom/fsa/share-default.png" /> <meta name="Generator" content="Drupal 10 (https://www.drupal.org)" /> <meta name="MobileOptimized" content="width" /> <meta name="HandheldFriendly" content="true" /> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0" /> <link href="/themes/custom/fsa_2021/dist/img/favicon/apple-touch-icon.png" rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="180x180" /> <link href="/themes/custom/fsa_2021/dist/img/favicon/favicon-16x16.png" rel="icon" sizes="16x16" /> <link href="/themes/custom/fsa_2021/dist/img/favicon/favicon-32x32.png" rel="icon" sizes="32x32" /> <link href="/themes/custom/fsa_2021/manifest.json" rel="manifest" /> <link href="/themes/custom/fsa_2021/safari-pinned-tab.svg" rel="mask-icon" color="#007ac9" /> <meta name="theme-color" content="#ffffff" /> <link rel="icon" href="/themes/custom/fsa_2021/favicon.ico" type="image/vnd.microsoft.icon" /> <link rel="alternate" hreflang="en" href="https://www.food.gov.uk/about-us/freedom-of-information" /> <link rel="alternate" hreflang="cy" href="https://www.food.gov.uk/cy/amdanom-ni/rhyddid-gwybodaeth" /> <script src="/sites/default/files/google_tag/primary/google_tag.script.js?snhkw4" defer></script> <title>Freedom of information | Food Standards Agency</title> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/sites/default/files/css/css_0Dc_VJVezW_cxPH4T7TDZwOdPmhHs27gV69aOfkPsIc.css?delta=0&language=en&theme=fsa_2021&include=eJyFUmtOhkAMvBCw6hm-mHgKUpYBqvvAbcGP27s8TAQ1_up2-pqd1sb4xrAxCIIagSqHXgp7gk9e6TkULSk5WpBMg4FmjkmKTqjeM00cNU5aUyC3KNtTbDf10a1wHN5YV1fXUWQtRLhhx7oUsojCm4YEW4unh6dH07vYkCtw17XWtGkayVWHu0-aRKM3A2eTlrohe8JH6lGPifP0b6iAkh3qjp3i6zd7ZH3m9kj5Oxe8lLm_5pYJPs64TaNjS4r25fYjZQC1Wehnvl8jH2i6mPwVVjiMQwwoO4Zrf4yk0EZfXhXYKgd4lBr73u0iCmYE4ymvcXU3NTqgXWUyJ684yJjDVhuzK5iZ-by6qoUSO6mEZvybdPC5ptEr3f-s9fkyMr18nAkmb29bSPX6PiEtv1Oz0Y9RWP_mky-V8yV-AvZNLbI" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/sites/default/files/css/css_nUmXRsaliExIdVOe8EtTUPnaxmbs7bNtE9Re8vf77tI.css?delta=1&language=en&theme=fsa_2021&include=eJyFUmtOhkAMvBCw6hm-mHgKUpYBqvvAbcGP27s8TAQ1_up2-pqd1sb4xrAxCIIagSqHXgp7gk9e6TkULSk5WpBMg4FmjkmKTqjeM00cNU5aUyC3KNtTbDf10a1wHN5YV1fXUWQtRLhhx7oUsojCm4YEW4unh6dH07vYkCtw17XWtGkayVWHu0-aRKM3A2eTlrohe8JH6lGPifP0b6iAkh3qjp3i6zd7ZH3m9kj5Oxe8lLm_5pYJPs64TaNjS4r25fYjZQC1Wehnvl8jH2i6mPwVVjiMQwwoO4Zrf4yk0EZfXhXYKgd4lBr73u0iCmYE4ymvcXU3NTqgXWUyJ684yJjDVhuzK5iZ-by6qoUSO6mEZvybdPC5ptEr3f-s9fkyMr18nAkmb29bSPX6PiEtv1Oz0Y9RWP_mky-V8yV-AvZNLbI" /> <script src="/themes/custom/fsa_2021/dist/app.js?v=0.1.x"></script> <script src="/themes/custom/fsa_2021/fsa-search-app/bundle.js?v=0.1.x"></script> <script src="/themes/custom/fsa_2021/fsa-frontend/main.js?v=0.1.x"></script> </head> <body class="new-theme"> <div class="skip-to-main-content"> <a href="#main-content" class="skip-to-main-content__link">Skip to main content</a> </div> <section class="cc_placeholder" aria-label="Banner for Cookie acceptance"></section> <noscript><iframe src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-TH697XV&gtm_auth=qiSnyllzn5flpcJTEzjYGA&gtm_preview=env-2&gtm_cookies_win=x" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript> <div class="dialog-off-canvas-main-canvas" data-off-canvas-main-canvas> <div class="language-switcher language-switcher--hidden"> <a href="/about-us/freedom-of-information?navref=quicklink" class="language-link is-active" hreflang="en" data-drupal-link-query="{"navref":"quicklink"}" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/336">English</a> <a href="/cy/amdanom-ni/rhyddid-gwybodaeth?navref=quicklink" class="language-link" hreflang="cy" data-drupal-link-query="{"navref":"quicklink"}" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/336">Cymraeg</a> </div> <header class="header header--main"> <div class="header__grid-container"> <div class="header__grid-row"> <div class="header__wrapper"> <div class="header__top"> <nav class="header__languages header__languages--desktop header__nav" aria-label="Language switcher" aria-hidden="false"> <ul class="header__languages-list"> <li class="header__language"> <a href="/about-us/freedom-of-information" class="header__language-link header__language-link--selected">English</a> </li> <li class="header__language"> <a href=/cy/amdanom-ni/rhyddid-gwybodaeth lang="cy" class="header__language-link header__language-link--"> Cymraeg </a> </li> </ul> </nav> </div> <div class="header__bottom"> <div class="header__logo-container"> <div class="header__logo-wrapper header__primary-logo-wrapper"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/" class="header__logo"> <span class="header__logo-label visually-hidden">Food Standards Agency - Frontpage</span> <div class="header__logo-svg header__logo-svg--english" aria-hidden="true"></div> </a> </div> </div> <nav class="header__links header__links--desktop header__links--english" aria-label="Secondary Menu"> <div class="header__links-wrapper"> <div class="header__links-item"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/contact/consumers/find-details" class="header__links-anchor header__links-anchor--contact">Contact</a> </div> <div class="header__links-item"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/contact/consumers/report-a-food-problem" class="header__links-anchor header__links-anchor--report">Report</a> </div> </div> <div class="header__links-item header__links-item--right"> <a href="https://ratings.food.gov.uk/" class="header__links-anchor header__links-anchor--ratings" target="_blank">Food hygiene ratings</a> </div> </nav> <div class="header__search-bar-wrapper"> <div class="header__search-bar header__search-bar--full"> <form class="search-bar" action="/search" autocomplete="off"> <label class="search-bar__label" for="search">Search Food Standards Agency</label> <input class="search-bar__box" value="" name="keywords" type="search" id="search" data-fsa-at="search-input"> <button class="search-bar__submit" aria-label="search" data-fsa-at="search-submit"> <span class="search-bar__span visually-hidden">Search Food Standards Agency</span> </button> </form> </div> <a class="header__search-bar header__search-bar--icon" href="/search"> <span class="visually-hidden header__search-bar-label">Search Food Standards Agency</span> <div aria-hidden="true" class="header__search-svg"></div> </a> </div> <button class="header__menu " aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="navigation"> <span class="visually-hidden">menu</span> <svg class="header__menu-symbol header__menu-toggle" aria-hidden="true" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" version="1.0" width="47" height="47" viewBox="0 0 258 186" preserveAspectRatio="xMidYMid meet"> <g class="svg-menu-toggle" transform="translate(0,186) scale(0.1,-0.1)" fill="#007c75" stroke="none"> <path class="line line-1" d="M837 1572 c-35 -36 -34 -71 1 -105 l28 -27 505 0 505 0 27 28 c34 36 34 68 0 104 l-27 28 -506 0 -506 0 -27 -28z"/> <path class="line line-2" d="M477 972 c-35 -36 -34 -71 1 -105 l28 -27 684 0 684 0 28 27 c36 35 36 71 0 106 l-28 27 -685 0 -685 0 -27 -28z"/> <path class="line line-3" d="M837 372 c-35 -36 -34 -71 1 -105 l28 -27 505 0 505 0 27 28 c34 36 34 68 0 104 l-27 28 -506 0 -506 0 -27 -28z"/> </g> </svg> </button> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="header__navigation"> <nav class="header__links header__links--mobile header__links--english" aria-label="Secondary Menu"> <div class="header__links-wrapper"> <div class="header__links-item"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/contact/consumers/find-details" class="header__links-anchor header__links-anchor--contact">Contact</a> </div> <div class="header__links-item"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/contact/consumers/report-a-food-problem" class="header__links-anchor header__links-anchor--report">Report</a> </div> </div> <div class="header__links-item header__links-item--right"> <a href="https://ratings.food.gov.uk/" class="header__links-anchor header__links-anchor--ratings" target="_blank">Food hygiene ratings</a> </div> </nav> <div class="header__navigation"> <nav id="navigation" class="navigation" aria-label="Main navigation"> <div class="navigation__background-blur"></div> <div class="navigation__container"> <div class="navigation__row"> <div class="navigation__wrapper"> <ul class="navigation__menu navigation__menu--level-1"> <li class="navigation__link navigation__link--home"> <a href="/" aria-label="Home"> <span>Home</span> <svg aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" width="36" height="38" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="-1.5 -1.5 40 40"> <g fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"> <path d="M36 19.013c0 9.941-8.059 18-18 18s-18-8.059-18-18 8.059-18 18-18 18 8.059 18 18" fill="#FFF" stroke="#ffffff" stroke-width="3"></path> <path d="m18 8.013-9 6.585v11.415h6.075v-4.61c0-1.58 1.304-2.853 2.925-2.853 1.62 0 2.925 1.272 2.925 2.853v4.61H27V14.598l-9-6.585z" fill="#2A0247" fill-rule="nonzero"></path> </g> </svg> </a> </li> <li class="navigation__link"> <button aria-expanded="false" id="nav-news-and-alerts" title="News and alerts"> <span class="navigation__link__label"> News and alerts </span> <span class="navigation__link__arrow"> <svg aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" width="18" height="11" viewBox="0 0 18 11" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"> <path d="m1 1 8 8 8-8" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"></path> </svg> </span> </button> <div class="navigation__submenu" role="region" aria-labelledby="news-and-alerts"> <div class="navigation__group"> <p class="navigation__group-title navigation__group-title--desktop">News and alerts</p> <button class="navigation__group-title navigation__group-title--mobile" aria-expanded="false" id="submenu--0-0-news-and-alerts" title="News and alerts"> <span class="navigation__link__label"> News and alerts </span> <span class="navigation__link__arrow"> <svg aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" width="18" height="11" viewBox="0 0 18 11" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"> <path d="m1 1 8 8 8-8" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"></path> </svg> </span> </button> <div class="navigation__menu-wrapper" aria-labelledby="submenu--0-0-news-and-alerts"> <ul class="navigation__menu navigation__menu--level-2"> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/search?keywords=&filter_type%5BNews%5D=News">News</a> </li> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/search?keywords=&filter_type%5BFood%20alert%5D=Food%20alert">Food alerts</a> </li> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/search?keywords=&filter_type%5BAllergy%20alert%5D=Allergy%20alert">Allergy alerts</a> </li> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/news-alerts/subscribe">Sign up to news and alerts</a> </li> <li class="navigation__link navigation__link--read-more"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/news-alerts"> <span class="navigation__link__read-more-arrow"></span>More in News and alerts </a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </li> <li class="navigation__link"> <button aria-expanded="false" id="nav-consumer-advice" title="Consumer advice"> <span class="navigation__link__label"> Consumer advice </span> <span class="navigation__link__arrow"> <svg aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" width="18" height="11" viewBox="0 0 18 11" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"> <path d="m1 1 8 8 8-8" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"></path> </svg> </span> </button> <div class="navigation__submenu" role="region" aria-labelledby="consumer-advice"> <div class="navigation__group"> <p class="navigation__group-title navigation__group-title--desktop">Food hygiene</p> <button class="navigation__group-title navigation__group-title--mobile" aria-expanded="false" id="submenu--1-0-food-hygiene" title="Food hygiene"> <span class="navigation__link__label"> Food hygiene </span> <span class="navigation__link__arrow"> <svg aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" width="18" height="11" viewBox="0 0 18 11" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"> <path d="m1 1 8 8 8-8" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"></path> </svg> </span> </button> <div class="navigation__menu-wrapper" aria-labelledby="submenu--1-0-food-hygiene"> <ul class="navigation__menu navigation__menu--level-2"> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/safety-hygiene/christmas-food-hygiene">Christmas food hygiene</a> </li> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/safety-hygiene/home-food-fact-checker">Home food fact checker</a> </li> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/safety-hygiene/how-to-chill-freeze-and-defrost-food-safely">Chilling</a> </li> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/safety-hygiene/cooking-your-food">Cooking</a> </li> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/safety-hygiene/why-is-cleaning-important">Cleaning</a> </li> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/safety-hygiene/why-avoiding-cross-contamination-is-important">Cross-contamination</a> </li> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/safety-hygiene/food-hygiene-rating-scheme">Food hygiene ratings explained </a> </li> <li class="navigation__link navigation__link--read-more"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/consumer-advice/food-hygiene"> <span class="navigation__link__read-more-arrow"></span>More in Food hygiene </a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="navigation__group"> <p class="navigation__group-title navigation__group-title--desktop">Food safety</p> <button class="navigation__group-title navigation__group-title--mobile" aria-expanded="false" id="submenu--1-1-food-safety" title="Food safety"> <span class="navigation__link__label"> Food safety </span> <span class="navigation__link__arrow"> <svg aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" width="18" height="11" viewBox="0 0 18 11" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"> <path d="m1 1 8 8 8-8" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"></path> </svg> </span> </button> <div class="navigation__menu-wrapper" aria-labelledby="submenu--1-1-food-safety"> <ul class="navigation__menu navigation__menu--level-2"> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/safety-hygiene/best-before-and-use-by-dates">Use-by and best before dates</a> </li> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/safety-hygiene/food-allergy-and-intolerance">Allergy and intolerance</a> </li> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/safety-hygiene/food-additives">Additives</a> </li> <li class="navigation__link navigation__link--read-more"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/food-safety-0"> <span class="navigation__link__read-more-arrow"></span>More in Food safety </a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="navigation__group"> <p class="navigation__group-title navigation__group-title--desktop">Food poisoning</p> <button class="navigation__group-title navigation__group-title--mobile" aria-expanded="false" id="submenu--1-2-food-poisoning" title="Food poisoning"> <span class="navigation__link__label"> Food poisoning </span> <span class="navigation__link__arrow"> <svg aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" width="18" height="11" viewBox="0 0 18 11" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"> <path d="m1 1 8 8 8-8" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"></path> </svg> </span> </button> <div class="navigation__menu-wrapper" aria-labelledby="submenu--1-2-food-poisoning"> <ul class="navigation__menu navigation__menu--level-2"> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/safety-hygiene/salmonella">Salmonella</a> </li> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/safety-hygiene/e-coli">E. coli</a> </li> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/listeria">Listeria</a> </li> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/contact/consumers/report-problem/report-a-food-safety-or-hygiene-issue">Report food poisoning</a> </li> <li class="navigation__link navigation__link--read-more"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/consumer-advice/food-poisoning"> <span class="navigation__link__read-more-arrow"></span>More in Food poisoning </a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="navigation__group"> <p class="navigation__group-title navigation__group-title--desktop">Nutrition in Northern Ireland</p> <button class="navigation__group-title navigation__group-title--mobile" aria-expanded="false" id="submenu--1-3-nutrition-in-northern-ireland" title="Nutrition in Northern Ireland"> <span class="navigation__link__label"> Nutrition in Northern Ireland </span> <span class="navigation__link__arrow"> <svg aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" width="18" height="11" viewBox="0 0 18 11" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"> <path d="m1 1 8 8 8-8" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"></path> </svg> </span> </button> <div class="navigation__menu-wrapper" aria-labelledby="submenu--1-3-nutrition-in-northern-ireland"> <ul class="navigation__menu navigation__menu--level-2"> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/the-eatwell-guide-and-resources">Eatwell Guide</a> </li> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/safety-hygiene/check-the-label">Check the label</a> </li> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/safety-hygiene/nutrients-what-you-need-to-know">Nutrients</a> </li> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/food-poverty">Food poverty</a> </li> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/safety-hygiene/healthy-recipes">Healthy Recipes</a> </li> <li class="navigation__link navigation__link--read-more"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/consumer-advice/nutrition-in-northern-ireland-for-consumers"> <span class="navigation__link__read-more-arrow"></span>More in Nutrition in Northern Ireland </a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </li> <li class="navigation__link"> <button aria-expanded="false" id="nav-business-guidance" title="Business guidance"> <span class="navigation__link__label"> Business guidance </span> <span class="navigation__link__arrow"> <svg aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" width="18" height="11" viewBox="0 0 18 11" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"> <path d="m1 1 8 8 8-8" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"></path> </svg> </span> </button> <div class="navigation__submenu" role="region" aria-labelledby="business-guidance"> <div class="navigation__group"> <p class="navigation__group-title navigation__group-title--desktop">Popular content</p> <button class="navigation__group-title navigation__group-title--mobile" aria-expanded="false" id="submenu--2-0-popular-content" title="Popular content"> <span class="navigation__link__label"> Popular content </span> <span class="navigation__link__arrow"> <svg aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" width="18" height="11" viewBox="0 0 18 11" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"> <path d="m1 1 8 8 8-8" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"></path> </svg> </span> </button> <div class="navigation__menu-wrapper" aria-labelledby="submenu--2-0-popular-content"> <ul class="navigation__menu navigation__menu--level-2"> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/safer-food-better-business-sfbb">Safer food better business (SFBB)</a> </li> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/allergen-guidance-for-food-businesses">Allergen guidance</a> </li> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/online-food-safety-training">Online training</a> </li> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/getting-ready-to-start-your-food-business">Starting a food business</a> </li> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/here-to-help">Running a food business</a> </li> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/how-food-hygiene-ratings-work">Food hygiene ratings</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="navigation__group"> <p class="navigation__group-title navigation__group-title--desktop">Business guidance</p> <button class="navigation__group-title navigation__group-title--mobile" aria-expanded="false" id="submenu--2-1-business-guidance" title="Business guidance"> <span class="navigation__link__label"> Business guidance </span> <span class="navigation__link__arrow"> <svg aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" width="18" height="11" viewBox="0 0 18 11" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"> <path d="m1 1 8 8 8-8" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"></path> </svg> </span> </button> <div class="navigation__menu-wrapper" aria-labelledby="submenu--2-1-business-guidance"> <ul class="navigation__menu navigation__menu--level-2"> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/business-guidance/packaging-and-labelling">Packaging and labelling</a> </li> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/food-hygiene">Food hygiene</a> </li> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/business-guidance/food-safety-management-for-businesses">Food safety management</a> </li> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/cannabidiol-cbd">CBD guidance</a> </li> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/operational-safety">Operational safety</a> </li> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/chemical-safety">Chemical safety</a> </li> <li class="navigation__link navigation__link--read-more"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/here-to-help"> <span class="navigation__link__read-more-arrow"></span>More in Business guidance </a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="navigation__group"> <p class="navigation__group-title navigation__group-title--desktop">Industry guidance</p> <button class="navigation__group-title navigation__group-title--mobile" aria-expanded="false" id="submenu--2-2-industry-guidance" title="Industry guidance"> <span class="navigation__link__label"> Industry guidance </span> <span class="navigation__link__arrow"> <svg aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" width="18" height="11" viewBox="0 0 18 11" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"> <path d="m1 1 8 8 8-8" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"></path> </svg> </span> </button> <div class="navigation__menu-wrapper" aria-labelledby="submenu--2-2-industry-guidance"> <ul class="navigation__menu navigation__menu--level-2"> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/animal-feed-0">Animal feed</a> </li> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/dairy-and-farming">Dairy and farming</a> </li> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/industry-guidance/fish-and-shellfish">Fish and shellfish</a> </li> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/imports-exports">Imports and exports</a> </li> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/meat-premises-and-slaughter">Meat and slaughter</a> </li> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/industry-guidance/regulated-products">Regulated products</a> </li> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/industry-guidance/wine">Wine</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="navigation__group"> <p class="navigation__group-title navigation__group-title--desktop">Nutrition in Northern Ireland</p> <button class="navigation__group-title navigation__group-title--mobile" aria-expanded="false" id="submenu--2-3-nutrition-in-northern-ireland" title="Nutrition in Northern Ireland"> <span class="navigation__link__label"> Nutrition in Northern Ireland </span> <span class="navigation__link__arrow"> <svg aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" width="18" height="11" viewBox="0 0 18 11" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"> <path d="m1 1 8 8 8-8" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"></path> </svg> </span> </button> <div class="navigation__menu-wrapper" aria-labelledby="submenu--2-3-nutrition-in-northern-ireland"> <ul class="navigation__menu navigation__menu--level-2"> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/calorie-wise">Calorie Wise</a> </li> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/healthier-catering-guidance-for-different-types-of-businesses">Healthier catering guides</a> </li> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/healthier-food-reformulation">Healthier food reformulation </a> </li> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/menucal-calorie-and-allergen-tool">MenuCal</a> </li> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/nutrition-labelling">Nutrition labelling</a> </li> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/safety-hygiene/nutrition-research">Nutrition research</a> </li> <li class="navigation__link navigation__link--read-more"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/nutrition-in-northern-ireland-for-businesses"> <span class="navigation__link__read-more-arrow"></span>More in Nutrition in Northern Ireland </a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="navigation__group"> <p class="navigation__group-title navigation__group-title--desktop">Business services</p> <button class="navigation__group-title navigation__group-title--mobile" aria-expanded="false" id="submenu--2-4-business-services" title="Business services"> <span class="navigation__link__label"> Business services </span> <span class="navigation__link__arrow"> <svg aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" width="18" height="11" viewBox="0 0 18 11" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"> <path d="m1 1 8 8 8-8" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"></path> </svg> </span> </button> <div class="navigation__menu-wrapper" aria-labelledby="submenu--2-4-business-services"> <ul class="navigation__menu navigation__menu--level-2"> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://fsa-services-eng-forms.food.gov.uk/regulated-products-application">Apply for a regulated product authorisation</a> </li> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/how-to-apply-for-approval-of-a-meat-or-food-establishment">Apply for approval of a meat or food establishment</a> </li> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://fsa-services-eng-forms.food.gov.uk/Wine-Registration-Service">Register a vineyard or winery</a> </li> <li class="navigation__link navigation__link--read-more"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/contact/businesses/services"> <span class="navigation__link__read-more-arrow"></span>More in Business services </a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </li> <li class="navigation__link"> <button aria-expanded="false" id="nav-our-work" title="Our work"> <span class="navigation__link__label"> Our work </span> <span class="navigation__link__arrow"> <svg aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" width="18" height="11" viewBox="0 0 18 11" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"> <path d="m1 1 8 8 8-8" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"></path> </svg> </span> </button> <div class="navigation__submenu" role="region" aria-labelledby="our-work"> <div class="navigation__group"> <p class="navigation__group-title navigation__group-title--desktop">Science and evidence</p> <button class="navigation__group-title navigation__group-title--mobile" aria-expanded="false" id="submenu--3-0-science-and-evidence" title="Science and evidence"> <span class="navigation__link__label"> Science and evidence </span> <span class="navigation__link__arrow"> <svg aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" width="18" height="11" viewBox="0 0 18 11" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"> <path d="m1 1 8 8 8-8" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"></path> </svg> </span> </button> <div class="navigation__menu-wrapper" aria-labelledby="submenu--3-0-science-and-evidence"> <ul class="navigation__menu navigation__menu--level-2"> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/about-us/areas-of-research-interest">Areas of research interest</a> </li> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/our-work/science-and-evidence/research-reports">Research reports</a> </li> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/about-us/scientific-advisory-committees">Science Committees</a> </li> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/about-us/applying-for-research-funding">Apply for research funding</a> </li> <li class="navigation__link navigation__link--read-more"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/our-work/science-and-evidence"> <span class="navigation__link__read-more-arrow"></span>More in Science and evidence </a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="navigation__group"> <p class="navigation__group-title navigation__group-title--desktop">Risk analysis</p> <button class="navigation__group-title navigation__group-title--mobile" aria-expanded="false" id="submenu--3-1-risk-analysis" title="Risk analysis"> <span class="navigation__link__label"> Risk analysis </span> <span class="navigation__link__arrow"> <svg aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" width="18" height="11" viewBox="0 0 18 11" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"> <path d="m1 1 8 8 8-8" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"></path> </svg> </span> </button> <div class="navigation__menu-wrapper" aria-labelledby="submenu--3-1-risk-analysis"> <ul class="navigation__menu navigation__menu--level-2"> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/how-risk-analysis-keeps-food-and-feed-safe">Our risk analysis</a> </li> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/about-us/risk-analysis/register-of-risk-analysis-issues">Register of risk analysis issues</a> </li> <li class="navigation__link navigation__link--read-more"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/our-work/risk-analysis"> <span class="navigation__link__read-more-arrow"></span>More in Risk analysis </a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="navigation__group"> <p class="navigation__group-title navigation__group-title--desktop">National Food Crime Unit</p> <button class="navigation__group-title navigation__group-title--mobile" aria-expanded="false" id="submenu--3-2-national-food-crime-unit" title="National Food Crime Unit"> <span class="navigation__link__label"> National Food Crime Unit </span> <span class="navigation__link__arrow"> <svg aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" width="18" height="11" viewBox="0 0 18 11" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"> <path d="m1 1 8 8 8-8" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"></path> </svg> </span> </button> <div class="navigation__menu-wrapper" aria-labelledby="submenu--3-2-national-food-crime-unit"> <ul class="navigation__menu navigation__menu--level-2"> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/about-us/national-food-crime-unit">About the Food Crime Unit</a> </li> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/safety-hygiene/food-crime">Food crime</a> </li> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/contact/consumers/report-problem/report-a-product-labelling-issue/report-a-food-crime">Report a food crime</a> </li> <li class="navigation__link navigation__link--read-more"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/our-work/nfcu"> <span class="navigation__link__read-more-arrow"></span>More in National Food Crime Unit </a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="navigation__group"> <p class="navigation__group-title navigation__group-title--desktop">Consultations</p> <button class="navigation__group-title navigation__group-title--mobile" aria-expanded="false" id="submenu--3-3-consultations" title="Consultations"> <span class="navigation__link__label"> Consultations </span> <span class="navigation__link__arrow"> <svg aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" width="18" height="11" viewBox="0 0 18 11" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"> <path d="m1 1 8 8 8-8" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"></path> </svg> </span> </button> <div class="navigation__menu-wrapper" aria-labelledby="submenu--3-3-consultations"> <ul class="navigation__menu navigation__menu--level-2"> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/news-alerts/search/consultations">All consultations</a> </li> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/news-alerts/search/consultations?consultation_status%5BOpen%5D=Open">Open consultations</a> </li> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/news-alerts/search/consultations?consultation_type%5BRegulated%20products%20consultation%5D=Regulated%20products%20consultation">Regulated products consultations</a> </li> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/search?keywords=&filter_type%5BConsultation%5D=Consultation&consultation_type%5BCall%20for%20evidence%5D=Call%20for%20evidence">Calls for evidence</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </li> <li class="navigation__link"> <button aria-expanded="false" id="nav-about-us" title="About us"> <span class="navigation__link__label"> About us </span> <span class="navigation__link__arrow"> <svg aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" width="18" height="11" viewBox="0 0 18 11" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"> <path d="m1 1 8 8 8-8" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"></path> </svg> </span> </button> <div class="navigation__submenu" role="region" aria-labelledby="about-us"> <div class="navigation__group"> <p class="navigation__group-title navigation__group-title--desktop">Our organisation</p> <button class="navigation__group-title navigation__group-title--mobile" aria-expanded="false" id="submenu--4-0-our-organisation" title="Our organisation"> <span class="navigation__link__label"> Our organisation </span> <span class="navigation__link__arrow"> <svg aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" width="18" height="11" viewBox="0 0 18 11" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"> <path d="m1 1 8 8 8-8" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"></path> </svg> </span> </button> <div class="navigation__menu-wrapper" aria-labelledby="submenu--4-0-our-organisation"> <ul class="navigation__menu navigation__menu--level-2"> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/about-us/fsa-board-meetings">Board meetings</a> </li> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/about-us/leadership-team">Leadership team</a> </li> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/about-us/our-strategy">Our strategy</a> </li> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/about-us/nifac-northern-ireland-food-advisory-committee">Northern Ireland Food Advisory Committee</a> </li> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/about-us/wfac-welsh-food-advisory-committee">Welsh Food Advisory Committee</a> </li> <li class="navigation__link navigation__link--read-more"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/about-us/our-organisation"> <span class="navigation__link__read-more-arrow"></span>More in Our organisation </a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="navigation__group"> <p class="navigation__group-title navigation__group-title--desktop">How we work</p> <button class="navigation__group-title navigation__group-title--mobile" aria-expanded="false" id="submenu--4-1-how-we-work" title="How we work"> <span class="navigation__link__label"> How we work </span> <span class="navigation__link__arrow"> <svg aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" width="18" height="11" viewBox="0 0 18 11" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"> <path d="m1 1 8 8 8-8" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"></path> </svg> </span> </button> <div class="navigation__menu-wrapper" aria-labelledby="submenu--4-1-how-we-work"> <ul class="navigation__menu navigation__menu--level-2"> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/about-us/annual-reports-and-accounts-including-our-food">Annual reports and accounts, including Our Food</a> </li> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/about-us/who-we-are">Who we are</a> </li> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/about-us/four-country-working">Four-country working</a> </li> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/about-us/freedom-of-information">Freedom of information</a> </li> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/about-us/regulatory-approach">Regulatory approach</a> </li> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/local-authorities/local-authorities">Working with local authorities</a> </li> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/about-us/contracts-and-tenders">Contracts and tenders</a> </li> <li class="navigation__link navigation__link--read-more"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/about-us/how-we-work"> <span class="navigation__link__read-more-arrow"></span>More in How we work </a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="navigation__group"> <p class="navigation__group-title navigation__group-title--desktop">Contact us</p> <button class="navigation__group-title navigation__group-title--mobile" aria-expanded="false" id="submenu--4-2-contact-us" title="Contact us"> <span class="navigation__link__label"> Contact us </span> <span class="navigation__link__arrow"> <svg aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" width="18" height="11" viewBox="0 0 18 11" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"> <path d="m1 1 8 8 8-8" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"></path> </svg> </span> </button> <div class="navigation__menu-wrapper" aria-labelledby="submenu--4-2-contact-us"> <ul class="navigation__menu navigation__menu--level-2"> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/contact/businesses/services">Find business services</a> </li> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/contact/consumers/report-a-food-problem">Report a food problem</a> </li> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/contact/consumers/find-details">Find contact details</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="navigation__group"> <p class="navigation__group-title navigation__group-title--desktop">Working for us</p> <button class="navigation__group-title navigation__group-title--mobile" aria-expanded="false" id="submenu--4-3-working-for-us" title="Working for us"> <span class="navigation__link__label"> Working for us </span> <span class="navigation__link__arrow"> <svg aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" width="18" height="11" viewBox="0 0 18 11" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"> <path d="m1 1 8 8 8-8" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"></path> </svg> </span> </button> <div class="navigation__menu-wrapper" aria-labelledby="submenu--4-3-working-for-us"> <ul class="navigation__menu navigation__menu--level-2"> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/about-us/working-for-us">Current vacancies</a> </li> <li class="navigation__link"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/about-us/equality-and-diversity">Equality and diversity</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </nav> </div> <nav class="header__languages header__languages--mobile" aria-label="Language switcher" aria-hidden="true"> <ul class="header__languages-list"> <li class="header__language"> <a href="/about-us/freedom-of-information" class="header__language-link header__language-link--selected">English</a> </li> <li class="header__language"> <a href=/cy/amdanom-ni/rhyddid-gwybodaeth class="header__language-link header__language-link--"> Cymraeg </a> </li> </ul> </nav> </div> </header> <main id="main-content"> <div class="content-layout"> <div class="content-layout__full-width"> </div> <div class="content-layout__container"> <div class="content-layout__row"> <div class="content-layout__header"> <span id="return-to-top"></span> <div class="breadcrumb collapsed full"> <div class="breadcrumb__left"> <p class="breadcrumb__label visually-hidden">Breadcrumb</p> <div class="breadcrumb__items"> <div class="breadcrumb__item"> <a href="/?navref=breadcrumb" class="breadcrumb__link">Food Standards Agency</a> </div> <div class="breadcrumb__item"> <a href="/?navref=breadcrumb" class="breadcrumb__link">About us</a> </div> <div class="breadcrumb__item"> <a href="?navref=breadcrumb" class="breadcrumb__link">How we work</a> </div> <div class="breadcrumb__item"> <span lang="">Freedom of information</span> </div> </div> <a href="#" class="breadcrumb__mobile-overlay" aria-expanded="false"> <span class="visually-hidden">Expand breadcrumb navigation</span> </a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="content-layout__page"> <div class="content-layout__top"> <div class="article-hero"> <h1 class="article-hero__title" lang="en">Freedom of information </h1> <div class="article-hero__description"> <p lang="en">Information on what a freedom of information request is and how to make a request.</p> </div> </div> <div class="article-hero__toolbar"> <div class="article-hero__toolbar__last-updated-container"> <div class="article-hero__toolbar__last-updated"> Last updated: 13 February 2023 </div> <a class="article-hero__toolbar__revision-log" href="#revision-log">See all updates</a> </div> <div class="article-hero__toolbar__buttons"> <div class="pdf-and-print-buttons"> <div class="pdf-and-print-buttons__button pdf-and-print-buttons__button--pdf"> <a href="/print/pdf/node/336" target=”_blank”> <div class="pdf-and-print-buttons__text-wrapper"> View<span class="visually-hidden"> </span> as PDF<span class="visually-hidden">(Opens in a new window)</span> </div> </a> </div> <div class="pdf-and-print-buttons__button pdf-and-print-buttons__button--print"> <button> <div class="pdf-and-print-buttons__text-wrapper"> Print this page </div> </button> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="content-layout__left"> <div class="sticky-sidebar__wrapper"> <div class="sticky-sidebar"> <div class="sticky-sidebar__content-item"> <nav class="table-of-contents" aria-label="on-this-page"> <div class="table-of-contents__title"> <h2 class="table-of-contents__title--heading">ON THIS PAGE</h2> <button class="table-of-contents__title--button" aria-expanded="false"> ON THIS PAGE <span class="table-of-contents__arrow"></span> </button> <a href="#" class="table-of-contents__skip"> On this page </a> </div> <ol class="table-of-contents__list"> <li class="table-of-contents__list-item"> <a href="#the-freedom-of-information-act" class="table-of-contents__link">The Freedom of Information Act</a> </li> <li class="table-of-contents__list-item"> <a href="#who-can-make-a-request" class="table-of-contents__link">Who can make a request</a> </li> <li class="table-of-contents__list-item"> <a href="#before-you-make-an-foi-request" class="table-of-contents__link">Before you make an FOI request</a> </li> <li class="table-of-contents__list-item"> <a href="#making-an-foi-request" class="table-of-contents__link">Making an FOI request</a> </li> <li class="table-of-contents__list-item"> <a href="#exemptions" class="table-of-contents__link">Exemptions</a> </li> <li class="table-of-contents__list-item"> <a href="#appealing-an-foi-response" class="table-of-contents__link">Appealing an FOI response</a> </li> <li class="table-of-contents__list-item"> <a href="#how-we-use-your-personal-information" class="table-of-contents__link">How we use your personal information</a> </li> <li class="table-of-contents__list-item"> <a href="#publishing-responses" class="table-of-contents__link">Publishing responses</a> </li> </ol> </nav> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="content-layout__top-desktop"> <div class="article-hero__toolbar"> <div class="article-hero__toolbar__last-updated-container"> <div class="article-hero__toolbar__last-updated"> Last updated: 13 February 2023 </div> <a class="article-hero__toolbar__revision-log" href="#revision-log">See all updates</a> </div> <div class="article-hero__toolbar__buttons"> <div class="pdf-and-print-buttons"> <div class="pdf-and-print-buttons__button pdf-and-print-buttons__button--pdf"> <a href="/print/pdf/node/336" target=”_blank”> <div class="pdf-and-print-buttons__text-wrapper"> View<span class="visually-hidden"> </span> as PDF<span class="visually-hidden">(Opens in a new window)</span> </div> </a> </div> <div class="pdf-and-print-buttons__button pdf-and-print-buttons__button--print"> <button> <div class="pdf-and-print-buttons__text-wrapper"> Print this page </div> </button> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="content-layout__right"> <a id="toc-skip-to" tabindex="-1"></a> <div class="content-layout__right-content"> <div class="text-block" lang=en> <p>Under the <a data-doctype href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/36/contents">Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2000</a> and the <a data-doctype href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2004/3391/contents">Environmental Information Regulations (EIRs) 2004</a>, you can request any recorded information held by a public body. This includes information held on computers, in emails, datasets, printed or handwritten documents, images, videos and sound recordings.</p> <p>The FOI Act and EIRs provide the general right of access to information held by public authorities.</p> <p>Almost all of the requests received by the FSA are FOI rather than EIR requests.  For this reason, this guidance focuses on submitting FOI requests.</p> <h2 id="the-freedom-of-information-act">The Freedom of Information Act</h2> <p>The Freedom of Information Act 2000 requires us to: </p> <ul><li>provide information about the FSA through our publication scheme </li> <li>provide a guide to this information, and</li> <li>respond appropriately to requests for information within 20 working days.</li> </ul><h2 id="who-can-make-a-request">Who can make a request</h2> <p>Anyone can make a freedom of information request. You do not have to be a UK citizen, or resident in the UK to submit a request. Freedom of information requests can also be made by organisations, such as newspapers, campaign groups, or companies.</p> <h2 id="before-you-make-an-foi-request">Before you make an FOI request</h2> <p>Before you make an FOI request, you should check <a data-doctype href="https://www.food.gov.uk">our website</a> to see if the information you require is already available. We are committed to the transparent and open publication of information explaining what we do and how we ensure that food is safe. </p> <p>Our guidance on <a data-doctype data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="7247859f-6af9-43d0-9155-ccebf0839db6" href="/about-us/what-we-publish" title="What we publish">what we publish</a> outlines the range of information available online. The publication scheme details:</p> <ul><li>information available by class, such as our priorities, policies and procedures</li> <li>whether information is published on the internet or as a hard copy</li> <li>whether the material is available free of charge or on payment of a fee</li> </ul><p>You can <a data-doctype href="https://data.food.gov.uk/catalog/datasets?page=5">check previous published FOI requests via our datasets</a>. Some sensitive information is not available to the public. If this is the case, we will tell you why we cannot provide some, or all, of the requested information. </p> <p>This will be through using one or more of the <a data-doctype href="https://www.food.gov.uk/sites/default/files/media/document/Summary-table-of-exemptions-under-the-Freedom-of-Information-Act-2000.pdf">exemptions of the Freedom of Information Act</a>.</p> <h2 id="making-an-foi-request">Making an FOI request</h2> <p>You can make a freedom of information request by email to <a data-doctype href="mailto:information.governance@food.gov.uk">information.governance@food.gov.uk</a>. You can also write to us by post to:</p> <p><strong>Freedom of Information Team<br> Food Standards Agency<br> Foss House<br> 1-2 Peasholme Green<br> York<br> YO1 7PR</strong></p> <p>When making a request, you must provide:</p> <ul><li>your name</li> <li>an address where you would like the information sent to (this can be an email or postal address)</li> <li>a clear description of the information you want. You should be as specific as possible in your request and avoid general questions</li> </ul><p>If you need help forming your request you can visit the <a href="https://ico.org.uk/your-data-matters/official-information/">Information Commissioner's Office</a> for useful tips.</p> <p>Once we receive your request, we will write to you to provide an acknowledgement. We will provide our response to your request within the legal deadline of 20 working days. </p> <p>Our response will let you know whether we hold the information. If we do, we will either supply a copy of the requested information, or set out the reasons why we believe an exemption applies.</p> <p>Requests for personal data and subject access request should be sent to the Knowledge, Information Management and Security Team (KIMS) at <a data-doctype href="mailto:information.governance@food.gov.uk">information.governance@food.gov.uk</a>.</p> <h2 id="exemptions">Exemptions</h2> <p>The FOI Act contains a number of <a data-doctype href="https://www.food.gov.uk/sites/default/files/media/document/Summary-table-of-exemptions-under-the-Freedom-of-Information-Act-2000.pdf">exemptions</a> which may apply to information held by the FSA.</p> <p>We are required to consider whether an exemption is absolute or qualified.</p> <p>An absolute exemption is where we are not required to consider the public interest in disclosing or withholding the information. Examples of absolute exemptions include:</p> <ul><li>information accessible to the applicant by other means</li> <li>information that is personal and would breach the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA) and UK General Data Protection Regulations (UK GDPR)</li> <li>information provided in confidence</li> </ul><p>A qualified exemption is where we are required to consider the public interest in disclosing or withholding the information. Examples of qualified exemptions include:</p> <ul><li>information intended for future publication</li> <li>information that is pre-published research data</li> <li>information that impacts the health and safety of an individual</li> <li>information covered by Legal Professional Privilege (LLP)</li> <li>information that impacts the commercial interests of any organisation</li> </ul><p>Once a qualified exemption is used, the FSA is legally able to extend the statutory deadline. This is only applicable if we require more time to consider the public interest arguments. This is the only time when the 20-working day statutory deadline can be extended without the response being treated as a late reply.</p> <p>If we need to extend the deadline, we will write to you before the original response date to inform you of this.</p> <h2 id="appealing-an-foi-response">Appealing an FOI response</h2> <p>If you are not satisfied with the way the FSA has handled your freedom of information request, you can request an internal review within two calendar months of the response letter. You should write to the Freedom of Information Team. </p> <p>The Complaints Coordinator can be contacted by email at <a data-doctype href="mailto:information.governance@food.gov.uk">information.governance@food.gov.uk</a> or by post at:</p> <p><strong>Freedom of Information Team<br> Food Standards Agency<br> Foss House<br> 1-2 Peasholme Green<br> York<br> YO1 7PR</strong></p> <p>If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you may then apply directly to the Information Commissioner (ICO) for a decision. The ICO will investigate the case and decide whether your request for information has been dealt with in accordance with the requirements of the FOI Act.</p> <p>Generally, the ICO will not investigate a case unless you have exhausted the internal review procedure provided by the FSA. </p> <p>The Information Commissioner can be contacted online at <a data-doctype href="https://ico.org.uk">www.ico.gov.uk</a> or by post at: </p> <p>Information Commissioner’s Office<br> Wycliffe House<br> Water Lane<br> Wilmslow<br> Cheshire<br> SK9 5AF </p> <h2 id="how-we-use-your-personal-information">How we use your personal information</h2> <p>The FOI team will use your personal information to log, consider and answer your FOI request to the FSA. We will liaise with colleagues internally (including those collating the information requested, and any other FSA offices with a valid interest in the response) as well as, on occasion, external third parties who may need to be consulted on any potential disclosure. We will not disclose personal details during any third-party consultations. </p> <p>If you refer your request to the ICO, and thereafter the relevant tribunal system, we will share your information as necessary in answering regulatory enquiries and making submissions.</p> <p>For more information about how we handle your personal information, and your rights under data protection legislation, please see our <a data-doctype href="https://www.food.gov.uk/about-us/privacy-policy">privacy notice</a>.</p> <h2 id="publishing-responses">Publishing responses</h2> <p>Our <a data-doctype href="https://data.food.gov.uk/catalog/datasets?page=5">datasets</a> list some of our responses to requests made under both the FOI Act and EIRs. We will publish information in this way where we consider that there is a wider public interest.</p> <p>This decision to publish is guided by the following criteria:</p> <ul><li>if there is a substantial public, rather than private, interest in the information</li> <li>if a number of requests have been made on the same or similar subject</li> <li>if publication would demonstrate how we spend money</li> <li>if publication would demonstrate how we exercise our regulatory functions and makes decisions</li> <li>if publication would inform public debate</li> </ul><p>When publishing responses, we will remove all references to personal information where necessary to comply with the Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR.<br>  </p> </div> <div class="revision-log revision-log--closed" id="revision-log" role="complementary"> <div class="revision-log__control"> <h3 class="revision-log__heading"> Revision log </h3> <div class="revision-log__toggle"> <button class="revision-log__toggle-button revision-log__toggle-button-hide" aria-hidden="false">Hide all updates</button> <button class="revision-log__toggle-button revision-log__toggle-button-show" aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1">Show all updates</button> </div> </div> <div class="revision-log__dates"> <p>Published: 22 January 2018</p> <p>Last updated: 19 April 2023</p> </div> <ul class="revision-log__link-list" aria-hidden="true"> <li class="revision-log__link-list__item" id="198796"> <strong class="revision-log__link-list__item-date">19 April 2023</strong> <span class="revision-log__link-list__item-text">Sorting formatting error with email addresses</span> </li> <li class="revision-log__link-list__item" id="184991"> <strong class="revision-log__link-list__item-date">13 February 2023</strong> <span class="revision-log__link-list__item-text">Change of mailbox contact from foi@food.gov.uk to information.governance@food.gov.uk Change of contact address from Clive House </span> </li> <li class="revision-log__link-list__item" id="184986"> <strong class="revision-log__link-list__item-date">13 February 2023</strong> <span class="revision-log__link-list__item-text">Change of mailbox contact from foi@food.gov.uk to information.governance@food.gov.uk Change of contact address from Clive House to Foss House Change of team name to Knowledge, Information Management and Security Team (KIMS). </span> </li> <li class="revision-log__link-list__item" id="107101"> <strong class="revision-log__link-list__item-date">17 January 2022</strong> <span class="revision-log__link-list__item-text">Updates to IPO links following in change in its site architecture</span> </li> <li class="revision-log__link-list__item" id="78036"> <strong class="revision-log__link-list__item-date">15 February 2021</strong> <span class="revision-log__link-list__item-text">Minot updates to contact email address and team name. </span> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="back-to-top"> <a href="#return-to-top" class="back-to-top__link" data-fsa-at="back-to-top">Back to top</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="content-layout__footer"> </div> </div> </div> </div> </main> <section class="feedback" aria-label="Feedback about the content on the page" aria-live="polite"> <div class="feedback__grid-container"> <div class="feedback__grid-row"> <div class="feedback__grid-wrapper"> <div class="feedback__texts"> <div class="feedback__questions"> <div class="feedback__wrapper"> <h2 class="feedback__heading">Is this page useful?</h2> <p class="feedback__options"> <a class="feedback__yes" role="button" href="/webform/page-feedback">Yes<span class="visually-hidden">this page is useful</span></a> <a class="feedback__no" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="feedback__form" role="button" href="/webform/page-feedback">No<span class="visually-hidden">this page is not useful</span></a> </p> </div> <button class="feedback__report-button" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="feedback__form"> Is there anything wrong with this page? </button> </div> <span class="feedback__thank" role="status">Thanks for your feedback</span> </div> <div class="feedback__form-wrapper"> <span id="webform-submission-page-feedback-node-336-form-ajax-content"></span><div id="webform-submission-page-feedback-node-336-form-ajax" class="webform-ajax-form-wrapper" data-effect="fade" data-progress-type="throbber"><form class="webform-submission-form webform-submission-add-form webform-submission-page-feedback-form webform-submission-page-feedback-add-form webform-submission-page-feedback-node-336-form webform-submission-page-feedback-node-336-add-form js-webform-details-toggle webform-details-toggle feedback__form" data-drupal-selector="webform-submission-page-feedback-node-336-add-form" novalidate="novalidate" action="/about-us/freedom-of-information?navref=footer" method="post" id="webform-submission-page-feedback-node-336-add-form" accept-charset="UTF-8"> <input class="hidden page_url" data-drupal-selector="edit-page-url" type="hidden" name="page_url" value="https://www.food.gov.uk/node/336" /> <fieldset class="radios is_useful radios--wrapper fieldgroup form-composite webform-composite-visible-title js-webform-type-radios webform-type-radios js-form-item form-item js-form-wrapper form-wrapper" data-drupal-selector="edit-is-useful" id="edit-is-useful"> <div class="fieldset-wrapper"> <fieldset class="radio " aria-describedby="descr-is_useful"> <div class=""> <legend class="radio__legend"> Is this page useful? <span class="radio__required"></span> </legend> </div> <div class="radio__fields"> <div class="radio__field"> <input class="radio__input" type="radio" name="is_useful" value="Yes" id="edit-is-useful-yes" > <label class="radio__label" for="edit-is-useful-yes">Yes</label> </div> <div class="radio__field"> <input class="radio__input" type="radio" name="is_useful" value="No" id="edit-is-useful-no" > <label class="radio__label" for="edit-is-useful-no">No</label> </div> </div> </fieldset> </div> </fieldset> <fieldset class="fieldset feedback_wrapper js-webform-type-fieldset webform-type-fieldset js-form-item form-item js-form-wrapper form-wrapper" data-drupal-selector="edit-feedback-wrapper" id="edit-feedback-wrapper"> <div class="fieldset-wrapper"> <div class="textarea"> <div class=""> <label class="textarea__label" for="edit-feedback"> <span class="textarea__label-content">Please give us your feedback on this page.</span> <span class="textarea__required"></span> </label> </div> <p class="textarea__description" id="label-feedback"></p> <textarea class="textarea__field textarea__field--with-desc" name="feedback" id="edit-feedback" rows="5 " aria-describedby='label-feedback' ></textarea> </div> </div> </fieldset> <div class="webform_actions actions form-actions webform-actions js-form-wrapper form-wrapper" data-drupal-selector="edit-actions" id="edit-actions"> <div class="multistep-function"> <div class="multistep-function__container"> <input class="webform-button--submit button button--primary js-form-submit form-submit" data-drupal-selector="edit-actions-submit" data-disable-refocus="true" type="submit" id="edit-actions-submit" name="op" value="Submit" /> </div> </div> </div> <input autocomplete="off" data-drupal-selector="form-vih-fo5oxo0twixeehtr-upomvgckkrhdcthkjcbvu8" type="hidden" name="form_build_id" value="form-VIh_FO5OXO0tWixeeHTR-uPOMvgcKkrHDcthKjCBvU8" /> <input data-drupal-selector="edit-webform-submission-page-feedback-node-336-add-form" type="hidden" name="form_id" value="webform_submission_page_feedback_node_336_add_form" /> <div class="fax-textfield js-form-wrapper form-wrapper" style="display: none !important;"> <div class="js-form-item form-item js-form-type-textfield form-item-fax js-form-item-fax"> <label for="edit-fax">Leave this field blank</label> <input autocomplete="off" data-drupal-selector="edit-fax" type="text" id="edit-fax" name="fax" value="" size="20" maxlength="128" class="form-text" /> </div> </div> </form> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <footer class="footer"> <div class="footer__grid-container"> <div class="footer__grid-row"> <nav class="footer__nav"> <h2 class="visually-hidden">Footer links</h2> <ul class="footer__menu"> <li class="footer__menu-item"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/crown-copyright" class="footer__menu-link " target="_self">Copyright </a> </li> <li class="footer__menu-item"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/accessibility" class="footer__menu-link " target="_self">Accessibility </a> </li> <li class="footer__menu-item"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/about-us/freedom-of-information" class="footer__menu-link " target="_self">Freedom of information </a> </li> <li class="footer__menu-item"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/terms-and-conditions" class="footer__menu-link " target="_self">Terms and conditions </a> </li> <li class="footer__menu-item"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/about-us/privacy-policy" class="footer__menu-link " target="_self">Privacy </a> </li> <li class="footer__menu-item"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/about-us/personal-information-charter" class="footer__menu-link " target="_self">Personal information charter </a> </li> <li class="footer__menu-item"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/contact/consumers/feedback" class="footer__menu-link " target="_self">Feedback and complaints </a> </li> <li class="footer__menu-item"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/cookie-policy" class="footer__menu-link " target="_self">Cookies </a> </li> <li class="footer__menu-item"> <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/our-data" class="footer__menu-link " target="_self">Data </a> </li> <li class="footer__menu-item"> <a href="https://www.gov.uk/" class="footer__menu-link " target="_self">GOV.UK </a> </li> </ul> </nav> <div class="footer__social"> <p class="visually-hidden">Food Standards Agency on social media</p> <ul class="footer__social-list"> <li class="footer__social-item"> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FoodStandardsAgency" class="footer__social-link" title="Facebook" target="_blank"> <span class="visually-hidden">Facebook (Open in a new window)</span> <span class="footer__social-svg"> <svg aria-hidden="true" width="44px" height="44px" viewBox="0 0 44 44" version="1.1" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"> <g transform="translate(-1254.000000, -44.000000)" fill="#FFFFFF"> <g id="fsa-facebook" transform="translate(1254.000000, 44.000000)"> <path d="M0,22 C0,9.9 9.9,0 22,0 C34.1,0 44,9.9 44,22 C44,34.1 34.1,44 22,44 C9.9,44 0,34.1 0,22 Z M23.54,34.21 L23.54,22.22 L26.84,22.22 L27.28,18.04 L23.54,18.04 L23.54,15.95 C23.54,14.85 23.65,14.3 25.19,14.3 L27.28,14.3 L27.28,10.23 L23.98,10.23 C20.02,10.23 18.59,12.21 18.59,15.62 L18.59,18.15 L16.17,18.15 L16.17,22.33 L18.59,22.33 L18.59,34.32 C18.59,34.21 23.54,34.21 23.54,34.21 Z"></path> </g> </g> </g> </svg> </span> </a> </li> <li class="footer__social-item"> <a href="https://twitter.com/foodgov" class="footer__social-link" title="Twitter" target="_blank"> <span class="visually-hidden">Twitter (Open in a new window)</span> <span class="footer__social-svg"> <svg aria-hidden="true" width="44px" height="44px" viewBox="0 0 44 44" version="1.1" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"> <g transform="translate(-1316.000000, -44.000000)" fill="#FFFFFF"> <g id="fsa-twitter" transform="translate(1316.000000, 44.000000)"> <path d="M0,22 C0,9.9 9.9,0 22,0 C34.1,0 44,9.9 44,22 C44,34.1 34.1,44 22,44 C9.9,44 0,34.1 0,22 Z M21.34,17.93 L21.34,18.7 L20.57,18.59 C17.82,18.26 15.29,17.05 13.2,14.96 L12.21,13.97 L11.99,14.74 C11.44,16.39 11.77,18.15 12.98,19.36 C13.64,20.02 13.42,20.13 12.43,19.69 C12.1,19.58 11.77,19.47 11.66,19.47 C11.55,19.58 11.88,21.01 12.21,21.56 C12.65,22.33 13.42,23.1 14.3,23.54 L15.07,23.87 L14.19,23.87 C13.31,23.87 13.31,23.87 13.42,24.2 C13.75,25.19 14.96,26.29 16.28,26.73 L17.27,27.06 L16.39,27.61 C15.18,28.38 13.75,28.71 12.32,28.71 C11.66,28.71 11.11,28.82 11.11,28.82 C11.11,28.93 12.98,29.81 14.08,30.14 C17.38,31.13 21.23,30.69 24.2,29.04 C26.29,27.83 28.38,25.41 29.37,22.99 C29.92,21.78 30.47,19.47 30.47,18.37 C30.47,17.71 30.47,17.6 31.35,16.72 C31.9,16.17 32.34,15.73 32.45,15.51 C32.56,15.18 32.56,15.18 31.79,15.51 C30.47,15.95 30.25,15.95 30.91,15.18 C31.35,14.63 32.01,13.75 32.01,13.53 C32.01,13.53 31.79,13.53 31.57,13.75 C31.24,13.86 30.69,14.19 30.25,14.3 L29.37,14.52 L28.6,13.97 C28.16,13.64 27.61,13.42 27.28,13.31 C26.51,13.09 25.3,13.09 24.64,13.42 C22.44,14.08 21.23,15.95 21.34,17.93 Z"></path> </g> </g> </g> </svg> </span> </a> </li> <li class="footer__social-item"> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/food-standards-agency" class="footer__social-link" title="Linkedin" target="_blank"> <span class="visually-hidden">Linkedin (Open in a new window)</span> <span class="footer__social-svg"> <svg aria-hidden="true" width="44px" height="44px" viewBox="0 0 44 44" version="1.1" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"> <g transform="translate(-1378.000000, -44.000000)" fill="#FFFFFF"> <g id="fsa-linkedin" transform="translate(1378.000000, 44.000000)"> <path d="M0,22 C0,9.9 9.9,0 22,0 C34.1,0 44,9.9 44,22 C44,34.1 34.1,44 22,44 C9.9,44 0,34.1 0,22 Z M15.51,18.26 L10.56,18.26 L10.56,33.22 L15.51,33.22 L15.51,18.26 L15.51,18.26 Z M15.84,13.64 C15.84,12.21 14.74,11 13.09,11 C11.33,11 10.23,12.1 10.23,13.64 C10.23,15.07 11.33,16.28 12.98,16.28 L12.98,16.28 C14.74,16.17 15.84,15.07 15.84,13.64 Z M33.55,24.64 C33.55,20.02 31.13,17.93 27.83,17.93 C25.19,17.93 23.98,19.36 23.32,20.35 L23.32,18.26 L18.37,18.26 C18.48,19.69 18.37,33.22 18.37,33.22 L23.32,33.22 L23.32,24.86 C23.32,24.42 23.32,23.98 23.43,23.65 C23.76,22.77 24.64,21.78 25.96,21.78 C27.72,21.78 28.49,23.1 28.49,25.19 L28.49,33.22 L33.44,33.22 C33.55,33.22 33.55,24.64 33.55,24.64 Z"></path> </g> </g> </g> </svg> </span> </a> </li> <li class="footer__social-item"> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/FoodStandardsAgency" class="footer__social-link" title="Youtube" target="_blank"> <span class="visually-hidden">Youtube (Open in a new window)</span> <span class="footer__social-svg"> <svg aria-hidden="true" width="44px" height="44px" viewBox="0 0 44 44" version="1.1" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"> <g transform="translate(-1440.000000, -44.000000)" fill="#FFFFFF"> <g id="fsa-youtube" transform="translate(1440.000000, 44.000000)"> <path d="M0,22 C0,9.9 9.9,0 22,0 C34.1,0 44,9.9 44,22 C44,34.1 34.1,44 22,44 C9.9,44 0,34.1 0,22 Z M33.55,17.6 C33.55,17.6 33.33,15.95 32.67,15.18 C31.79,14.19 30.8,14.19 30.36,14.19 C27.06,13.97 22.11,13.97 22.11,13.97 L22.11,13.97 C22.11,13.97 17.16,13.97 13.86,14.19 C13.42,14.3 12.43,14.3 11.55,15.18 C10.78,15.95 10.45,17.6 10.45,17.6 C10.45,17.6 10.23,19.58 10.23,21.45 L10.23,23.32 C10.23,25.3 10.45,27.17 10.45,27.17 C10.45,27.17 10.67,28.82 11.33,29.59 C12.21,30.58 13.42,30.47 13.97,30.58 C15.95,30.69 22,30.8 22,30.8 C22,30.8 26.95,30.8 30.25,30.58 C30.69,30.58 31.68,30.47 32.56,29.59 C33.22,28.82 33.44,27.17 33.44,27.17 C33.44,27.17 33.66,25.19 33.66,23.32 L33.66,21.45 C33.77,19.47 33.55,17.6 33.55,17.6 Z"></path> <polygon id="Path" points="19.8 25.85 19.8 19.14 26.18 22.55"></polygon> </g> </g> </g> </svg> </span> </a> </li> <li class="footer__social-item"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/foodgov/" class="footer__social-link" title="Instagram" target="_blank"> <span class="visually-hidden">Instagram (Open in a new window)</span> <span class="footer__social-svg"> <svg aria-hidden="true" width="44px" height="44px" viewBox="0 0 44 44" version="1.1" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"> <g transform="translate(-1502.000000, -44.000000)" fill="#FFFFFF"> <g id="fsa-instagram" transform="translate(1502.000000, 44.000000)"> <path d="M22,0 C9.9,0 0,9.9 0,22 C0,34.1 9.9,44 22,44 C34.1,44 44,34.1 44,22 C44,9.9 34.1,0 22,0 Z M31.9,26.07 C31.9,26.84 31.68,27.72 31.46,28.49 C30.91,29.81 29.92,30.91 28.6,31.35 C27.83,31.68 27.06,31.79 26.18,31.79 C25.08,31.79 24.75,31.79 22.11,31.79 C19.47,31.79 19.03,31.79 18.04,31.79 C17.27,31.79 16.39,31.57 15.62,31.35 C14.3,30.8 13.2,29.81 12.76,28.49 C12.43,27.72 12.32,26.95 12.32,26.07 C12.32,24.97 12.21,24.64 12.21,22 C12.21,19.36 12.21,18.92 12.32,17.93 C12.32,17.16 12.54,16.28 12.76,15.51 C13.31,14.19 14.3,13.09 15.62,12.65 C16.39,12.32 17.16,12.21 18.04,12.21 C19.14,12.21 19.47,12.1 22.11,12.1 C24.75,12.1 25.19,12.1 26.18,12.21 C26.95,12.21 27.83,12.43 28.6,12.65 C29.92,13.2 31.02,14.19 31.46,15.51 C31.79,16.28 31.9,17.05 31.9,17.93 C31.9,19.03 31.9,19.36 31.9,22 C31.9,24.64 31.9,25.08 31.9,26.07 Z M22,16.94 C19.14,16.94 16.94,19.25 16.94,22 C16.94,24.75 19.25,27.06 22,27.06 C24.75,27.06 27.06,24.75 27.06,22 C27.06,19.25 24.86,16.94 22,16.94 C22,16.94 22,16.94 22,16.94 Z M22,25.3 C20.13,25.3 18.7,23.87 18.7,22 C18.7,20.13 20.13,18.7 22,18.7 C23.87,18.7 25.3,20.13 25.3,22 C25.3,23.87 23.87,25.3 22,25.3 Z M28.49,16.72 C28.49,17.38 27.94,17.93 27.28,17.93 C26.62,17.93 26.07,17.38 26.07,16.72 C26.07,16.06 26.62,15.51 27.28,15.51 L27.28,15.51 C27.94,15.51 28.49,16.06 28.49,16.72 Z"></path> </g> </g> </g> </svg> </span> </a> </li> <li class="footer__social-item"> <a href="https://food.blog.gov.uk/" class="footer__social-link" title="FSA Blog" target="_blank"> <span class="visually-hidden">FSA Blog (Open in a new window)</span> <span class="footer__social-svg"> <svg aria-hidden="true" width="44px" height="44px" viewBox="0 0 44 44" version="1.1" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <defs> <polygon id="path-1" points="0 0 44 0 44 44.0000862 0 44.0000862"></polygon> </defs> <g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"> <g transform="translate(-1564.000000, -44.000000)"> <g id="Group-12" transform="translate(1564.000000, 44.000000)"> <path d="M14.2979027,25.3320157 L25.7721027,25.3320157 C26.6943238,25.3320157 27.4422104,26.0799022 27.4422104,27.0021234 C27.4422104,27.9243445 26.6943238,28.6722311 25.7721027,28.6722311 L14.2979027,28.6722311 C13.3753943,28.6722311 12.627795,27.9243445 12.627795,27.0021234 C12.627795,26.0799022 13.3753943,25.3320157 14.2979027,25.3320157 L14.2979027,25.3320157 Z M14.2979027,18.6860496 L30.1657928,18.6860496 C31.0883011,18.6860496 31.8359005,19.4339362 31.8359005,20.3561574 C31.8359005,21.2786657 31.0883011,22.0262651 30.1657928,22.0262651 L14.2979027,22.0262651 C13.3753943,22.0262651 12.627795,21.2786657 12.627795,20.3561574 C12.627795,19.4339362 13.3753943,18.6860496 14.2979027,18.6860496 L14.2979027,18.6860496 Z M9.78473457,31.5150043 C9.78473457,32.4708286 10.5624907,33.2482975 11.518315,33.2482975 L32.9539966,33.2482975 C33.909821,33.2482975 34.6872899,32.4708286 34.6872899,31.5150043 L34.6872899,26.996092 L30.3323727,28.4878443 C30.0848004,28.5728575 29.8478548,28.3356247 29.9331552,28.0880524 L31.557597,23.3721163 L34.6872899,20.2424235 L34.6872899,14.9032485 L9.78473457,14.9032485 L9.78473457,31.5150043 Z" id="Fill-1" fill="#FFFFFF"></path> <path d="M16.8285682,13.2765377 C17.5813373,13.2765377 18.191939,12.6662232 18.191939,11.9131669 C18.191939,11.1603978 17.5813373,10.5500833 16.8285682,10.5500833 C16.0755119,10.5500833 15.4651974,11.1603978 15.4651974,11.9131669 C15.4651974,12.6662232 16.0755119,13.2765377 16.8285682,13.2765377" id="Fill-3" fill="#FFFFFF"></path> <path d="M13.0335895,13.2765377 C13.7866458,13.2765377 14.3969603,12.6662232 14.3969603,11.9131669 C14.3969603,11.1603978 13.7866458,10.5500833 13.0335895,10.5500833 C12.2808204,10.5500833 11.6702187,11.1603978 11.6702187,11.9131669 C11.6702187,12.6662232 12.2808204,13.2765377 13.0335895,13.2765377" id="Fill-5" fill="#FFFFFF"></path> <g id="Group-9"> <mask id="mask-2" fill="white"> <use xlink:href="#path-1"></use> </mask> <g id="Clip-8"></g> <path d="M35.5983386,26.3273884 L35.5983386,31.5149181 C35.5983386,32.9753648 34.4144721,34.1592314 32.9540254,34.1592314 L11.5183437,34.1592314 C10.057897,34.1592314 8.87374323,32.9753648 8.87374323,31.5149181 L8.87374323,11.5678294 C8.87374323,10.1073827 10.057897,8.92322896 11.5183437,8.92322896 L11.7259942,8.92322896 L32.5157477,8.92322896 L32.9540254,8.92322896 C34.4144721,8.92322896 35.5983386,10.1073827 35.5983386,11.5678294 L35.5983386,19.3313172 L39.5069364,15.4227195 L43.0048283,18.9208987 L35.5983386,26.3273884 Z M40.4690792,14.4605766 L42.0288995,12.9007563 C38.5666212,5.29264744 30.903943,0 21.9999569,0 C9.84967203,0 -8.61620486e-05,9.84975819 -8.61620486e-05,22.0000431 C-8.61620486e-05,34.150328 9.84967203,44.0000862 21.9999569,44.0000862 C34.1502418,44.0000862 44,34.150328 44,22.0000431 C44,20.4712411 43.8434723,18.9789144 43.5465004,17.5379978 L40.4690792,14.4605766 Z" id="Fill-7" fill="#FFFFFF" mask="url(#mask-2)"></path> </g> <path d="M20.6235756,13.2765377 C21.3766319,13.2765377 21.9869464,12.6662232 21.9869464,11.9131669 C21.9869464,11.1603978 21.3766319,10.5500833 20.6235756,10.5500833 C19.8708065,10.5500833 19.2602048,11.1603978 19.2602048,11.9131669 C19.2602048,12.6662232 19.8708065,13.2765377 20.6235756,13.2765377" id="Fill-10" fill="#FFFFFF"></path> </g> </g> </g> </svg> </span> </a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </footer> </div> <script>window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; window.dataLayer.push({"drupalLanguage":"en","drupalCountry":"","siteName":"Food Standards Agency","entityCreated":"1516629898","entityLangcode":"en","entityStatus":"1","entityUid":"180","entityVid":"228436","entityType":"node","entityBundle":"page","entityId":"336","entityTitle":"Freedom of information","entityTaxonomy":{"audience":{"39":"Businesses","38":"Consumers"},"content_type":{"218":"About us"},"nation":{"31":"England","33":"Northern Ireland","32":"Wales"},"topic":{"144":"FSA activities"}},"userUid":0});</script> <script type="application/json" data-drupal-selector="drupal-settings-json">{"path":{"baseUrl":"\/","pathPrefix":"","currentPath":"node\/336","currentPathIsAdmin":false,"isFront":false,"currentLanguage":"en","currentQuery":{"navref":"footer"}},"pluralDelimiter":"\u0003","suppressDeprecationErrors":true,"ajaxPageState":{"libraries":"eJyFUltuhDAMvBCQds-wqtRTRCYx4N08aGzocvuGRytYtOpPEs9YnskkJsY7oYmBMYgy-6r0FIoDohhFKLSc4YSKgmAK4Krb14BpqpqYfGFBwMGESdXYwUgxcYEPcRTuyqahz-1bWTQM-vJ2eVetizW4pV71NiN6090zsZc4iIasOwkZXrmBJXqVj2WHYLPFD3o8MwmCjb78k95T6OOI16F3ZEDQfl5Pc3lsT5igw76LAcuG0NkT3aHHUmLbOnzmvrFe4jrCOkezRLrHO8pbmnQN5mC8hxZ1n-g3nxVlhGQ63ZDLk1bHS2ODaOcJ6lAtPOOIQXnIzz2HQzLnLvN7gzHITDU5kqngiQW9qoGx2Pyrba_gBo8TaKLvI5Oc23NwPgtUFgXIccUw_t-0JfmqzWer-W4v-fxzKP-nEz8vPxalLbI","theme":"fsa_2021","theme_token":null},"ajaxTrustedUrl":{"form_action_p_pvdeGsVG5zNF_XLGPTvYSKCf43t8qZYSwcfZl2uzM":true,"\/about-us\/freedom-of-information?ajax_form=1":true},"cookieconsent":{"message":"We use cookies to make food.gov.uk work, understand how you use the website and make improvements.\u003Cbr \/\u003EThey aren\u2019t used to identify you personally.","dismiss":"Accept cookies","learnMore":"Find out more about cookies","link":"\/cookie-policy","path":"\/","expiry":365,"target":"_self","domain":".www.food.gov.uk","markup":"\n\u003Cdiv class=\u0022cookie-banner\u0022 \u003E\n \u003Cp class=\u0022cookie-banner__message\u0022\u003EWe use cookies to make food.gov.uk work, understand how you use the website and make improvements.\u003Cbr \/\u003EThey aren\u2019t used to identify you personally. \u003Ca href=\u0022\/cookie-policy\u0022 class=\u0022cookie-banner__find-out-more\u0022\u003EFind out more about cookies\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n \u003Cdiv class=\u0022cookie-banner__actions\u0022\u003E\n \u003Ca href=\u0022\/cookie-consent?dest=\/about-us\/freedom-of-information\u0022 class=\u0022cookie-banner__manage\u0022\u003EManage cookies\u003C\/a\u003E\n \u003Cbutton class=\u0022cookie-banner__accept\u0022 data-cc-event=\u0022click:dismiss\u0022\u003EAccept cookies\u003C\/button\u003E\n \u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E","container":".cc_placeholder","theme":"\/modules\/custom\/fsa_custom\/css\/cookieconsent.css"},"dataLayer":{"defaultLang":"en","languages":{"en":{"id":"en","name":"English","direction":"ltr","weight":0},"cy":{"id":"cy","name":"Welsh","direction":"ltr","weight":1}}},"data":{"extlink":{"extTarget":true,"extTargetAppendNewWindowLabel":"(opens in a new window)","extTargetNoOverride":false,"extNofollow":false,"extNoreferrer":false,"extFollowNoOverride":false,"extClass":"ext","extLabel":"(link is external)","extImgClass":false,"extSubdomains":false,"extExclude":"","extInclude":"^.*\\.(pdf|PDF|xlsx|XLSX|doc|DOC|xls|XLS|ocx|OCX|PTX|ptx|txt|TXT)$","extCssExclude":".document-download__link, .header__links-anchor","extCssInclude":"","extCssExplicit":"","extAlert":false,"extAlertText":"This link will take you to an external web site. We are not responsible for their content.","extHideIcons":false,"mailtoClass":"mailto","telClass":"tel","mailtoLabel":"(link sends email)","telLabel":"(link is a phone number)","extUseFontAwesome":false,"extIconPlacement":"append","extFaLinkClasses":"fa fa-external-link","extFaMailtoClasses":"fa fa-envelope-o","extAdditionalLinkClasses":"","extAdditionalMailtoClasses":"","extAdditionalTelClasses":"","extFaTelClasses":"fa fa-phone","whitelistedDomains":[],"extExcludeNoreferrer":""}},"icon_select":{"icon_select_url":"\/sites\/default\/files\/icons\/icon_select_map.svg?hash=de3dec9a77b3acc17df7afb16b803a57"},"ajax":{"edit-actions-submit":{"callback":"::submitAjaxForm","event":"click","effect":"fade","speed":500,"progress":{"type":"throbber","message":""},"disable-refocus":true,"url":"\/about-us\/freedom-of-information?ajax_form=1","httpMethod":"POST","dialogType":"ajax","submit":{"_triggering_element_name":"op","_triggering_element_value":"Submit"}}},"user":{"uid":0,"permissionsHash":"fe6ea08cc1485ddc6fc53ce326ce52d18e6ad2935137225d595d1afbf49e9b9b"}}</script> <script src="/sites/default/files/js/js_Iq38ZPi24zwyriTCPuwYk0uF2d4jwetFe7McQGuZw9s.js?scope=footer&delta=0&language=en&theme=fsa_2021&include=eJyFUmtOhkAMvBCw6hm-mHgKUpYBqvvAbcGP27s8TAQ1_up2-pqd1sb4xrAxCIIagSqHXgp7gk9e6TkULSk5WpBMg4FmjkmKTqjeM00cNU5aUyC3KNtTbDf10a1wHN5YV1fXUWQtRLhhx7oUsojCm4YEW4unh6dH07vYkCtw17XWtGkayVWHu0-aRKM3A2eTlrohe8JH6lGPifP0b6iAkh3qjp3i6zd7ZH3m9kj5Oxe8lLm_5pYJPs64TaNjS4r25fYjZQC1Wehnvl8jH2i6mPwVVjiMQwwoO4Zrf4yk0EZfXhXYKgd4lBr73u0iCmYE4ymvcXU3NTqgXWUyJ684yJjDVhuzK5iZ-by6qoUSO6mEZvybdPC5ptEr3f-s9fkyMr18nAkmb29bSPX6PiEtv1Oz0Y9RWP_mky-V8yV-AvZNLbI"></script> </body> </html>

CINXE.COM

Freedom of information | Food Standards Agency