THE NA has saved craft bakers at least £45million over the last year, said chairman Noel Grout. It has saved the craft industry an estimated £10m a year and £10m in set up costs by gaining a concession from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on EU Animal By Products Regulations.
Originally this stated that all waste from shops containing raw or cooked meat or fish, such as leftover sandwiches and meat pies, would have to be incinerated or rendered. But the EU has agreed that such waste can continue to be put in landfills and that manufacturing waste containing raw meat or fish can be baked off and also sent to landfill.
The NA also believes it saved members £15m through the Craft Bakery Climate Change Levy scheme. Under this scheme members with large carbon surpluses cancel out those who do not, avoiding a sector tax on energy use.
The NA is also celebrating a concession from the Food Standards Agency (FSA). It had proposed to remove five of the eight criteria that local authorities should consider before bringing a prosecution. It has now agreed to keep all eight and also make it mandatory to consider them.
The FSA has also relented on guidance on flour confectionery wrapped in wholly transparent film. This is currently exempt from labelling legislation, except for allergens. Following lobbying, the FSA has abandoned plans to abolish the exemption.
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