Dear All,
Detailed below is the Weekly News for 27th September.
Have a good week.
Gordon Polson – Chief Executive
FOB Chief Executive’s Weekly News for 27th September 2021
Economic Update: The Bank of England today published its Q3 Agents’ Summary of Business Conditions, the link to which is below.
https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/agents-summary/2021/2021-q3
UK Flash Composite Output Index Decreases to 54.1 in Sep’21
According to data published by IHS Markit⁄CIPS, the UK flash composite output index decreased to 54.1 in sep’21 from 54.8 in aug’21, indicating a seven-month low. The downturn was due to slow rates of expansion in both output and new orders and an increase in input costs and charges.
The seasonally adjusted UK flash manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) decreased to 56.3 in sep’21 from 60.3 in aug’21, indicating a seven-month low. The manufacturing output index decreased to 51.8 in sep’21 from 54.1 in aug’21. The manufacturing sector faced challenges mainly associated with material shortages.
The seasonally adjusted flash UK services business activity index decreased to 54.6 in sep’21 from 55.0 in aug’21. New orders increased at a reduced pace during sep’21, while new business from abroad increased marginally. However, staycations amid restrictions on international travel boosted domestic service providers.
Oral evidence session on the National Food Strategy
On 21 September, the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee held an oral evidence session (recording available here) on the National Food Strategy with Henry Dimbleby. The session covered: the background of the report and its key tenets; land use; food education; disadvantaged families; Brexit; the junk food cycle outlined in the report; fiscal measures and funding; the issue of dietary inequality; changing cultures towards dietary options; the possibility of a right to food; the UK-Australia trade deal; accountability; existing government buying standards; a border carbon tax; meat consumption; and a future White Paper.
NDNS: Diet and physical activity
Public Health England (PHE) has published the results from a follow-up study of the National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) participants for food consumption, nutrient intakes and physical activity. The report presents the findings from a study which aimed to describe, and assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on, the diet and physical activity of people in the UK in 2020. They study found that:
- Consumption of fruit and vegetables was below the 5 A Day recommendation in all age groups
- Red and processed meat consumption met the maximum recommendation for adults but oily fish consumption was well below the recommendation
- Mean intakes of saturated fat and free sugars exceeded maximum recommendations in all age groups while mean fibre intake was below recommendations in all age and sex groups
- For micronutrients, mean intakes of folate, iron and calcium met Reference Nutrient Intakes in all age and sex groups.
PHE also published an evaluation report on the first stage in the evaluation of the dietary method change in the NDNS rolling programme.
WRAP Webinar: How can a Net Zero food system be delivered to the benefit of people and planet?
6th October, 1200-1800 BST
In this virtual conference with partners the United Nations Environment Programme and the World Resources Institute, you’ll be among the first to hear about new research from WRAP setting out the pathway for the UK food and drink sector to deliver a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. Speakers from United Nations Environment Programme, World Bank, Consumer Goods Forum, Unilever, EAT Foundation, Nestle, World Resources Institute, EIT Food, Sodexo and Morrisons will contribute to the discussion.
Find out more and book your place here.
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Public Health England: Health Profile for England (2021)
Public Health England (PHE) has published its fourth annual profile combining data and knowledge with information from other sources to give a broad picture of the health of people in England in 2021. The report found that:
- During the pandemic there was a shift towards cooking more from scratch, eating together with the family and eating healthy meals, but also a marked increase in snacking, especially in April and May 2020
- The long-term trend in adult obesity is estimated to have increased from 24.8% in 2011 to 28.0% in 2019, although there has been some fluctuation from year to year.
- The proportion of the population meeting the recommended ‘5-a-day’ on a ‘usual day’ was 55.4% in 2019 to 2020 and this has declined slightly from 56.8% in 2015 to 2016.
- In the academic year 2019 to 2020, data from the National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) showed that, 9.9% of children aged 4 to 5 (Reception year) were obese and this had seen little change since 2009 to 2010. However, 21% of children aged 10 to 11 years (Year 6) were obese, up from 18.7% in 2009 to 2010
- Alcohol-specific mortality increased by around 20% in 2020, which was an acceleration of the increasing trend before then and was driven mainly by increases in liver disease mortality.
Government launches plans for post-Brexit regulation
The Cabinet Office has published a list of individual regulatory reforms that the Government wish to pursue post-EU membership. The policy paper includes:
- Reviewing restrictions on selling in pounds and ounces
- Reviewing diabetes management for lorry and bus drivers
- Reconsider regulations to allow the spraying of plant-protection chemicals from drones
- Reviewing environmental Licencing and Permitting
- Digitalisation of Export Health Certificates, Imports, and Trade
- Proposals for a market-based approach to delivery of biodiversity offset units.
Assessment Report on the active substance Glyphosate
The European Food Standards Agency (EFSA) and the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) have started parallel consultations – closing 22 November – on the initial scientific evaluations of glyphosate. EFSA’s consultation will gather feedback on the Renewal Assessment Report on glyphosate, whilst ECHA’s consultation is on the Harmonised Classification and Labelling report. Following the consultations and review of feedback, the European Commission will decide whether to renew the approval of glyphosate for use in the EU.
Pesticides and health
The Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology has published a briefing on the evidence on routes of human exposure to pesticides and potential impacts on human health. It outlines the regulations and surveillance programmes in place to track exposures and minimise risk. Finally, it comments on how regulatory changes after EU withdrawal could affect trade, industry and consumers.
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