December 2005
NEWS
BBC Radio 4 Food and Farming awards 2005
A catering manager from HM Prison High Down in Surrey, Jamie Oliver and Sustain were among the winners of the Food and Farming Awards 2005. Details can be found on: http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2005/11_november/24/food.shtml
Soil Association School Food Awards 2005
Hurlford Primary School in East Ayrshire, Thomas Fairchild Community School in London, Landscove CE Primary School in Devon and Lethbridge Primary School in Swindon were the winners of this year’s Soil Association School Food Awards, all working towards the Food for Life targets for local, organic and unprocessed ingredients in their school meals. Details can be found on http://www.soilassociation.org/web/sa/saweb.nsf/GetInvolved/school_food_awards.html
Beef labelling consultation
A consultation paper was launched on 15th November by the Scottish Executive on whether the requirement, under EU Beef Labelling Regulations, to label the origin of beef should be extended from retail outlets to the food service sector. See http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2005/11/15104604 for more details.
Healthy Start scheme launched in Devon and Cornwall
Poorer families with pregnant women or children under five will receive vouchers worth £2.80 per week which can be exchanged for fruit, milk or powdered baby milk. The scheme is due to be extended to the whole country next year. See http://www.gnn.gov.uk/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=179339&NewsAreaID=2 for more details.
Launch of the Food for Life international campaign
The Soil Association’s Food for Life international campaign received backing from HRH The Prince of Wales at its launch in New York in the beginning of November. Source: just-food.com, 4 November 2005
EVENTS COMING UP
Feeding our Cities in the 21st Century, 6-7th January 2005
Climate Change, Oil Crisis, Trade Disruption – feeding our cities in the face of real and present challenges will be the theme of the Soil Association’s 60th Anniversary Conference taking place at the Brewery Conference Centre, London. Tickets are available from £220 + VAT (day rate) to £550 + VAT (full conference at standard rate including accommodation). To book or for more information contact 0117 987 4586 or visit www.soilassociation.org. The deadline for booking tickets is 16th December.
FEED: Food Environmental Efficiency Day 2006 – an appetite for cost savings, February 14th 2006
An event being held by Environwise. See http://www.envirowise.gov.uk/page.aspx?o=fd-Welcome for more details.
PSFPI Regional Suppliers’ Workshops
Defra and the Government Offices for the Regions are running a series of workshops for existing and potential suppliers of food to the public sector between now and the end of Spring 2006. Dates have been set for the North West – 16&17 February (rebecca.kitchingham@gonw.gsi.gov.uk), the South West – 2nd March (Andy.Berry@gosw.gsi.gov.uk) and the West Midlands – 1st March (Jamie.inglis@defra.gsi.gov.uk). For more details on all of the workshops see
http://www.defra.gov.uk/farm/sustain/procurement/pdf/workshops-free.pdf
RECENT PUBLICATIONS
Healthy Hospitals: Implementing sustainable food procurement – a summary of the conference main messages
A summary of the main messages that emerged from this King’s Fund conference, held in conjunction with the Department of Health, Sustain, Soil Association and the NHS National Patient Safety Agency on 10th November, can be downloaded from http://www.kingsfund.org/resources/events/past_events/healthy.html .
Soil Association Organic Market Report, 14th November 2005
Consumers are becoming increasingly concerned about food miles, packaging and provenance. While organic sales continue to rise more shoppers are going to box schemes, farm shops and farmers’ markets for their fresh produce as opposed to supermarkets. See www.soilassociation.org for more details.
Food in Schools: A short guide for parents and carers
A Government report that aims to give a greater understanding of what children should be eating and drinking, and learning about at school can be downloaded from http://www.info4local.gov.uk/searchreport.asp?id=25424&heading=e-mail+alert
Q&A with Elliot Morley MP, Minister of State, Climate Change and Environment on sustainable procurement
Elliot Marley MP spoke to eGov monitor about how sustainable procurement can help UK public sector achieve efficiency, provide competitiveness and at the same time protect the environment. The questions and answers are published on http://www.egovmonitor.com/node/3480
A Case for a Sustainable Food Logistics Centre – a Food Hub, London Development Agency
A London Development Agency publication, by Sustain, that explores the potential for a new centre in London to facilitate a more sustainable food supply for London. The report is available to download on www.sustainweb.org
Sustainable Food for London’s Schools, London Development Agency
A London Development Agency publication, by Sustain, launched at the ‘School Food in London’ conference on 25th November. This conference, attended by over 140 participants, was part of the London Food Strategy consultation. To download the publication and find out more about the consultation visit www.sustainweb.org and www.lda.gov.uk/londonfood
Producing the Goods 1, Common Ground
A 16 page pamphlet and website providing examples and reasons to buy locally produced foods. Available from Common Ground free with a SAE (A5 envelope + 35p stamp). Contact 01747 850820, info@commonground.org.uk or visit www.england-in-particular.info .
Double dividend? Promoting nutrition and sustainable consumption through school meals, Sustainable Consumption Roundtable (SCR)
A report, by the Soil Association and Cardiff University, commissioned by the SCR, that explores the agreements and contradictions in recommendations for improving nutritional quality and sustainability of school meals. Soon to be available to download from www.sd-commission.org.uk/pages/work_streams/SCR.html.
November 2005
SCHOOL FOOD NEWS
Government announcements
In advance of the School Meals Review Panel report (see below) Ruth Kelly, Education Secretary, announced at the Labour Party conference on 28th September that the Government would be banning junk food from school canteens and vending machines in England by September 2006. Poor quality burgers and sausages will also be banned from canteens and new nutritional standards will be in place by September 2006, to be monitored by Ofsted.
Turning the Tables: Transforming School Food
On 3rd October 2005, the School Meals Review Panel’s published a report with 35 key recommendations for school meals, including new nutrient and food-based standards and that school should provide “a hot meal, cooked on-site, from fresh and seasonal ingredients”. The panel concluded that ""Caterers should use local, seasonal and organic foods wherever possible to support the development of supply chains, and should ensure that the training for school catering staff includes information on seasonal, local and organic food”. There will now be a 13-week consultation period, ending on 31 December. See http://www.dfes.gov.uk/consultations/conDetails.cfm?consultationId=1319 for more details.
Food Standards Agency’s consultation on UK target nutrient specifications for manufactured products used in school meals
The deadline for submissions to this consultation was 18th October. For details visit www.food.gov.uk/foodindustry/Consultations/completed_consultations/completeduk/uknutrienttargetschool
Sustainable food and nutrition in schools
Sustain organised a seminar for the Sustainable Consumption Roundtable to discuss a report, Double dividend? Promoting nutrition and sustainable consumption through school meals. produced by the Soil Association and Cardiff University (also commissioned by the SCR) to explore the agreements and contradictions in recommendations for improving nutritional quality and sustainability of school meals. The report will be available on www.sd-commission.org.uk/pages/work_streams/SCR.html by mid November and hard copies will be available by the end of the month. For details contact Joanna Collins, joanna.collins@sd-commission.gsi.gov.uk .
Chefs join school meals debate
Chefs and food writers, including Sophie Grigson, Gary Rhodes, Nigel Slater and Raymond Blanc signed an open letter to the prime minister, urging him to support the Children’s Food Bill. The bill calls for the government to ban advertising of junk food to children and to improve food education. For more information visit www.sustainweb.org
New training kitchen for school caterers opens
On 24th October Jamie Oliver opened a fully equipped training kitchen at Ashlyn’s Organic Farm, near Harrow, to train dinner ladies in the preparation of fresh, organic food. They will learn how to design menus that meet nutritional guidelines, use high quality fresh ingredients and stay within budget. The kitchen was the brainchild of Jeanette Orrey and is funded partly through a Rural Enterprise Scheme grant from the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). For more information see http://www.ashlynsorganics.co.uk/
School food in Scotland
The Scottish Executive, in September, set legislative plans for school food, including the introduction of a Health Promotion, Nutrition and Schools (Scotland) Bill. The bill build on the progress made through Hungry for Success in improving the quality, attractiveness and nutritional values of school meals, putting a duty on local authorities to promote uptake of school meals, ensuring that the school meal environment is health promoting and putting the Hungry for Success nutritional standards on a statutory footing. Give a weblink here
Jamie in the US
Jamie Oliver is taking his school dinner crusade to the US in a bid to tackle the country's obesity problem. The TV chef has said he will spend up to two years educating Americans about healthy eating and has been in meetings with US TV networks for an American version of his Channel 4 show Jamie's School Dinners. For more details see: http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=2008382005
DEFRA NEWS
Defra has added more material to the Public Sector Food Procurement Initiative (PSFPI) web site at http://www.defra.gov.uk/farm/sustain/procurement/index.htm including:
Sausage, mash and sustainability - a different kind of food supplement. This Green Futures' supplement, commissioned by Defra, explains the key issues facing all those responsible for food and catering services in the public sector - including elected representatives, finance directors and other senior officers. It shows how money spent on food budgets now can achieve longer term savings in other budgets and help create a better environment and healthier and more prosperous communities. See http://www.defra.gov.uk/farm/sustain/procurement/pdf/GF%20Sausage%20mash%20and%20sustainability%2014.10.05.pdf .
Unlocking opportunities: lifting the lid on public sector food procurement. This leaflet is designed to help public sector buyers (and suppliers) understand and implement the PSFPI with several short case studies showing how others have done it and the benefits achieved. See: http://www.defra.gov.uk/farm/sustain/procurement/pdf/GF%20Leaflet.pdf
PSFPI contacts and activities in the English regions can be found on http://www.defra.gov.uk/farm/sustain/procurement/pdf/psfpi-contacts.pdf
Defra is providing £2 million to Food from Britain, the non-departmental body responsible for promoting regional food and drink in England and overseas. This is on top of the £3million Defra has already provided over the last three years to support the sector through the Regional Food Strategy. See http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2005/051006g.htm for more details.
On 19th October Environment Minister Elliot Morley, speaking at the first national conference since the launch of the government-appointed Sustainable Procurement Task Force, told hundreds of public sector and procurement professionals that ""There is no better way for government and the public sector to set a good example than through the way we spend taxpayers' money on buildings, goods and services. Every penny we spend on the public's behalf should deliver long-term benefits - economic, environmental and social”. See http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2005/051019a.htm.
OTHER PUBLIC PROCUREMENT NEWS
National Opportunities Portal
This new website will provide information about smaller public sector contracts that are open to bids, and is due for launch by the end of 2005. You can register with the National Opportunities Portal to be kept informed of developments at: http://www.supplyinggovernment.gov.uk/regInterest.asp .
New EU directives
The Trades Union Congress (TUC) reports that two new European Directives, which come into force in the UK in January 2006, offer important opportunities to introduce social, employment and environmental initiatives into public sector contracts. The Public Sector and Utilities Directives were adopted in Europe in 2004. During the negotiation process, trade unions and non-governmental organisations at European level campaigned to strengthen the scope for considering social, employment, disability, ethical and environmental issues throughout the public contracting procedure. See http://www.tuc.org.uk/economy/tuc-10233-f0.cfm for more details..
A European Court of Justice ruling prohibits cheese makers outside of designated areas in Greece from calling their products ""feta"".
The ruling upholds the EU's geographical indication (GI) system, under which Greek feta cheese producers received protected designation of origin (PDO) status in 2002. Once GI status is given other food makers must either stop calling the products by the protected name, or move production to the designated area using the same ingredients and processes. The EU plans to take the wider battle over its GI system to the World Trade Organisation soon in a bid to have the protection recognised internationally. More details provided on http://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/news/ng.asp?id=63474
London Food Strategy
London’s Mayor, Ken Livingstone, launched a draft London Food Strategy on 14th September to improve Londoner’s health through better diet, greater choice, and improved availability and quality of food for all Londoners, especially the most disadvantaged. London Food Link is coordinating the public consultation process. Responses to the strategy are welcome by 7th December 2005 with the final food strategy to be published in 2006. See www.lda.gov.uk/londonfood or contact Alice Elliott on 020 7837 1228 or alice@sustainweb.org for more details.
EVENTS LAST MONTH
Parents’ conference, 23 September, London
Organised by the Soil Association, this conference was attended by 75 parents from across the UK and heard inspiring stories from parents who are fighting to change their school meals, and from Jeanette Orrey (Soil Association’s School Meal Policy Advisor) and Felicity Lawrence, (Guardian Correspondent who has written much on School Meals). An email group for parents will be set up for those wanting to keep in touch with each other and with developments in school meals. For more information contact Charlotte Murray: cmurray@soilassociation.org.uk .
‘Supermarkets, Nutrition & Farming’ meeting, 18 October, London
This meeting, held by the Associate Parliamentary Food & Health Forum, considered the nutritional quality of the food we buy and the impact of farming and retailing practices on it. For further information email Patricia Constant at patricia.constant@centrallobby.com
‘Leading by example – Sustainable Procurement in the Public Sector’, 19 October
A conference on Sustainable Procurement, including a workshop on food, was held by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Office of Government Commerce. For more details visit http://govnet.co.uk/procurement/
‘Food in Later Life’, 26th October 2005, London
A conference to hear about and discuss the findings of a three year European funded study looked at older consumers’ views on foods, procurement, meal planning and meal preparation skills. For more information see www.foodinlaterlife.org
EVENTS COMING UP
Sustainable Public Procurement and Securing the Future, 3 - 4 November 2005, Cambridge
DEFRA, the Government Office for the East of England (GO-East), and the Regional Centres of Excellence are sponsoring hosts for this ""Buy it Green"" Network of Sustainable Procurement Professionals (BIG-NET) International Expert Seminar. The event is being jointly organised by the European Secretariat of ICLEI, Local Governments for Sustainability and Global to Local. Of key interest to English local authorities will be the launch of the new strategic priority on sustainable procurement to be announced by the Regional Centres of Excellence. Workshops - with UK and European case study presenters – will focus on food, sustainable construction, and supporting SMEs. The participation fee is £100 + VAT per delegate (except BIG-Net members who can attend free of charge). For more information contact Jennie Digby on 01223 / 372-845 or sustainableprocurement@goeast.gsi.gov.uk or www.sustainable-development.gov.uk/publications/uk-strategy/uk-strategy-2005.htm.
A taste of the future, 3 November, Suffolk
The Soil Association is organising a national Catering Seminar bringing catering businesses and suppliers together to highlight and respond to rising consumer demand for organic and local food. Tickets are £45.00 + VAT per head. To book a place or for more information please contact the Soil Association Certification Limited business development team on 0117 9142 407 (option1) or proc.cert@soilassociation.org.
Improving School Food – The Way Forward, 4 November 2005, Bolton
This conference is aimed at head teachers, governors, caterers and business managers and is part of the drive to improve school food provision. For further information contact Angela Towers, NW Food and Health Task Force, 01772 895427.
Food for Life seminar, 7 November 2005, Swindon
In partnership with school meal caterers, Lets do Lunch, the Soil Association is running a Food for Life conference to consider the future of school meals in Swindon. Contact Charlotte Murray, cmurray@soilassociation.org.uk for details.
FDF Regional Food Industry Dinner, 8 Nov 2005, London
This event brings together all the key regional food groups in England and Wales with senior representatives from DEFRA, Regional Development Agencies, Food from Britain and Improve to discuss key regional food chain developments. Guest speaker is Sir Don Curry (Chairman of the Sustainable Farming and Food Implementation Group). Places are free but only open to Regional Food Groups within FDF membership along with invited guests from DEFRA, Regional Development Agencies and Improve. Contact Dominic Dyer on 020 7420 7110 or dominic.dyer@fdf.org.uk.
Healthy hospitals: Implementing sustainable food procurement, 10 November 2005, London
Practitioners and policy makers will debate the value of achieving sustainable food procurement in the NHS, and demonstrate how it can be done. A King's Fund report for the Better Hospital Food programme will be presented as well as an interim report of the Sustain/Soil Association Hospital Food Project (which aims get 10% of routine catering in London NHS hospitals from local and/or organic sources). Keynote speakers include Niall Dickson, King’s Fund and Kevin Morgan, Professor of European Regional Development at the University of Cardiff. For further information visit http://www.kingsfund.org.uk/resources/events/healthy.html or contact Dawn Galvan at events@kingsfund.org.uk
Condor Project Dissemination Meeting, 18 November 2005, London
This meeting will disseminate the findings of the CONDOR project which brought together a multidisciplinary team across 8 EU member states to examine the consumer decision-making processes involved in the choice between organic and non-organic foods. For more information visit www.condor-organic.org or email Becky Holland, bholland@gciuk.com .
School Food in London, 25 November, London
A number of key people will be speaking at this event being organised as part of the consultation on the draft London Food Strategy. See www.lda.gov.uk/londonfood or contact Alice Elliott on 020 7837 1228 or alice@sustainweb.org for more details
Westminster Diet & Health Forum Seminar: Food in Hospitals, 8 December 2005, London
The latest in the Forum’s series of seminars will discuss progress in hospital food service since the implementation of the Better Hospital Food programme; share best practice and move forward thinking on improving patients’ experience. To book places email petervangelder@dietandhealthforum.co.uk or phone 01344 875551.
RECENT PUBLICATIONS
Prison food
In his annual report, chief inspector of Scottish prisons, Dr Andrew McLellan, attacked the quantity and standard of food given to prisoners, claiming that ""Research into prison food shows it has a very high fat content, a very high salt content and not nearly enough vegetables."" He said the budget for food and drink - £1.57 per prisoner per day - has not changed since 1996. Source: http://news.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=498&id=2003892005
Connecting consumers with farming and farm produce
New research was published in October by the Institute of Grocery Distribution, on behalf of the Strategy for Sustainable Farming and Food Implementation Group. It looked at consumer attitudes to farming, food, and the countryside and found that the vast majority of people in England consider agriculture to be very important to Britain and that 87% consider that farming has an important role in maintaining the countryside. But it also found, that only half of people care where their food comes from, although 18% always try to buy British when possible. For more information visit http://www.igd.com/CIR.asp?menuid=146&cirid=1716%20
Local Authority Initiatives
The Food Standards Agency has published a list of food-related initiatives run by local authorities, so the public can find out what's happening in their area. The list includes initiatives such as hygiene awards, healthy eating schemes and registers of food-law convictions, plus contact details for individual local authorities. For more information or for local authorities wishing to add details to the register, contact Duncan Ritchie on 020 7276 8435 or email him at duncan.ritchie@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk
Welsh eating local
A survey has found Welsh consumers, and food service companies, are identifying and asking for local produce - and often do not mind paying more for it. The survey commissioned by the Welsh Development Agency also reveals that consumers are increasingly interested in the origin of food. The research shows that there is considerable goodwill and growing demand - 93% of consumers and 98% of public sector buyers would choose Welsh/locally produced foods to support Welsh/local producers. For more details see http://www.wda.co.uk/resources/outerspread.pdf .
Market Towns Local Foodcheck Handbook
Developed by the ‘Eat the View’ initiative and published by Action for Market Towns on 6-7th October, this handbook provides information and advice on a structured process to enhancing and developing a market town’s local food economy. To download the handbook and/or spreadsheet go to: http://www.countryside.gov.uk/LAR/Landscape/ETV/research/localfood.asp
National School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme (SFVS)
Research by the Soil Association revealed that Government testing found over 25% more pesticides in samples of fruit and vegetables supplied to school children under the School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme (SFVS), than in samples of the same fruit and vegetables on sale in shops. Although almost all pesticides were present at levels below the Government's 'Maximum Residue Level', 84% of samples of fruit and vegetables contained pesticides, with multiple pesticides being detected in 65% of the samples. You can read the full report at www.soilassociation.org/pesticides
Two user guides to help contract caterers and other foodservice companies practice more sustainable food procurement have just been published. Based on five 'principles of sustainable procurement' developed in consultation with major catering businesses (private and public sector), the guides provide simple suggestions as to how to improve performance and also how to report on sustainable food procurement performance, with suggested Key Performance Indicators (KPI) (including DEFRA's KPIs from their Catering Services and Food Procurement Toolkit). The Guides are available from http://www.business.brookes.ac.uk/research/ceshi/index.html.
October 2005
NEWS
Environment and agriculture ministers head for London and sustainability
Environment and agriculture ministers from across Europe gathered in London on 9 - 12 Sept for a key meeting aimed to put sustainable principles into practice. Transport, governance as well as procurement are involved in achieving sustainability for the event. As far as possible, food and drink will be British or fair trade. More at http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2005/050907b.htm
Sustainable seafood project
EAF funded project called Fish 'n' Kids that goals to get sustainable seafood onto the menus in schools and restaurants, and to raise awareness through education materials and a web-based resource for kids, teacher and catering staff. A summary of the project is available at http://www.msc.org/html/ni_153.htm
For more information contact Laura Stewart, Foodservice Project Manager, Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) on 0 207 350 4000 or laura.stewart@msc.org
The French public health law on unhealthy food
The recent French public health law includes some clauses regarding junk food and vending machines. It sets strict guidelines regarding the advertising of 'unhealthy' food, but at the same time offers the companies a buy-out clause that enables them to promote unhealthy food if they pay a tax, which then supports health promotion campaigns. All vending machines in schools have to be got rid of by September this year. cpeckham@alimenterra.org
The funding for South West Region
DEFRA’s Food Procurement Implementation Group (FPIG) has allocated up to £15,000 to fund pilot distribution and supply chain development work in the South West Region. The funding will be limited to either one £15k contract or two £7.5k contracts, depending on the response. The project(s) will work with farmers, growers, food producers, retailers and distributors to
- support businesses seeking to supply the public sector,
- identify business opportunities for suppliers
- develop suppliers and supply chains for the public sector with procurement officers
- share information on good practice.
The closing date for responses is passed but details of activities are available from jessica.harper@gosw.gsi.gov.uk
Fair Trade Procurement
Value Wales (Procurement) has just started running the project that looks at ways to increase procurement of fair trade products across the public sector. It is focusing initially on mechanisms for the cost effective procurement of FT bananas. Eleanor Fisher would like to get in contact with individuals, organisations and authorities with experience of FT procurement in the public sector and would welcome any connections related to ethical sourcing and public sector procurement. Eleanor Fisher, Value Wales (Procurement), 01792 313074 (Monday to Wednesday) eleanor.fisher@wales.gsi.gov.uk
UK food makers boosted by five-a-day message.
The government's '5-a-day' logo is being featured on over 700 food brands in the UK. To qualify for a licence to use the logo, which costs GBP100, the food must not have any added sugar, fat or salt and should contain at least 80 g of fruit or vegetables. Fresh, chilled, canned, frozen and dried fruit and vegetables all qualify. A survey of almost 7,000 people by the Government revealed that fruit consumption had increased by 4.3% to around four portions, including fruit juice, although purchasing of certain vegetables had declined as there had been a 3% reduction in beta-carotene intake.
School dinner news
Schools in Greenwich that have served healthy school meals, as advised by Jamie Oliver, have reported a marked improvement in children's concentration, reading and writing ability, as well as fewer fights. Greenwich Council is now planning to offer freshly prepared meals in all its 65 primary and 13 secondary schools. A spokesman also reported that kitchen staff were more motivated, and that sickness levels had dropped. (Daily Mail, p28).
Make food fun
A study of 1,000 children throughout the world found that those who joined healthy-eating clubs were able to make healthy food choices for themselves.Daily Mirror Your Life Kids, 38, 25/07/2005
Pod cakes
One of Scotland's biggest independent bakers, Kingdom Bakers in Kirkcaldy, has increased its turnover by GBP500,000 to GBP4.8m, and
the number of employees from 98 to 120, in the last 12 months, due to the launch of the 'Pancake Pod' (!) range into the profitable children's market and the introduction of a fruit-filled pancake for lunch boxes. National account manager Alastair Sherry said 'the whole market is moving towards low fat and real fruit and branding for children, it's a healthier choice'.(Kingdom Bakers.) Scotsman, 29/07/2005
Healthy Lunch boxes
From weekly news briefing for Rosie Denison and Graham Moore on food and health 1 August 2005: Children represent 29% of all lunchbox meals eaten and 57% of all children take out a lunchbox in a fortnight. Most kids lunchbox meals are eaten at school, down 8% on last year, while school meals are also in decline. Health is an important element in lunchbox meals with 24% of foods eaten because they are healthy, and this driver is up 2%. It is becoming even more important for children (+8%) and adult females (+4%). (The Grocer July 30, 2005). It is reported that 1 in 600 school lunch boxes contain a salad (Mail on Sunday, 14.8.05, p60).
New EU directives
The Trades Union Congress (TUC) reports that two new European Directives, which come into force in the UK in January 2006, offer important opportunities to introduce social, employment and environmental initiatives into public sector contracts. The Public Sector and Utilities Directives were adopted in Europe in 2004. During the negotiation process, trade unions and non-governmental organisations at European level campaigned to strengthen the scope for considering social, employment, disability, ethical and environmental issues throughout the public contracting procedure. Real progress was made on these issues in the new Directives.
For example, Article 26 of the Public Sector Directive states:
'Contracting authorities may lay down special conditions relating to the performance of a contract … The conditions governing the performance of a contract may, in particular, concern social and environmental considerations.'
Recital 33 states:
'Contract performance conditions … may, in particular, be intended to favour on-site vocational training, the employment of people experiencing particular difficulty in achieving integration, the fight against unemployment or the protection of the environment.'
Recital 33 goes on to include compliance with basic ILO Conventions and recruiting more disabled people as initiatives that may also be included.
TUC believes, the UK Government seems to have adopted a narrow and minimalist interpretation of the new Directives. It cites for example, the Office of Government Commerce Sustainable Procurement Group, in its Joint Note on Social Issues in Purchasing, states that the new Public Sector Directive 'clarifies the scope to take social and environmental issues into account' at the relevant stages of the procurement process. Yet this Directive does not merely clarify the existing position, it offers important new opportunities. Further details from nstanley@tuc.org.uk
EVENTS
Social Food Enterprise Conference, 19th September
Somerset Food Links and the Co-op are hosting a one-day conference in Taunton to explore the opportunities offered by co-operative approaches within the local food system. The conference is designed to highlight the crucial role social enterprise and co-operation play in a sustainable local food economy and showcase best practice. For details and bookings see www.foodlinks.org.uk/documents/events/Flier.pdf
Growing the Future Conference, 27th September
A one-day conference on organic and local food in school meals and education will be held at the National Botanic Garden of Wales on Tuesday 27th September 2005. The aim of this conference is to publicize good examples of organic and local food being used in school meals and the opportunities for related educational activities. Flyer available for downloading at www.organic.aber.ac.uk/schoolsnet . Contact Jane Powell: jnp@aber.ac.uk 01970 621530
Better School Food Conference, 29 September
The Better School Food Conference organised by Government Office for the South East will be held on Thursday, 29th September from 10.15am to 4.15 pm at the University of Sussex. Delegate fee: £39.95 including VAT, Contact Margaret Atkins 01732 746644 margaretatkins@macomms.co.uk
Leading by Example - Sustainable Procurement in the Public Sector, 19th October
Defra, Office of Government Commerce (OGC) and OGCbuying.solutions will host a national conference for central & local government departments, the wider public sector and public sector suppliers that will look into the next steps in transforming sustainable procurement in the public sector. The conference will take place on Wednesday 19th October 2005 at QEII Conference Centre in London and will provide key figures from the new Sustainable Procurement Task force as well as eminent specialists within procurement. Confirmed speakers include Martin Sykes, Executive Director, Smarter Procurement, OGCand Susannah Senior, Sustainable Development Commission. Food is one of the topics to be covered in the seven planned workshops. For the full programme information see: http://www.govnet.co.uk/procurement/programme.htm
Sustainable food in hospitals, 10th November
The joint Sustain-Soil Association London Hospital project is nearing the end of its first phase to get 10% of routine catering in 4 London NHS hospitals from local and/or organic sources (funded by ERDP and the Kings Fund). To celebrate the project's success Sustain has teamed up with the Kings Fund to disseminate work at a national conference on 10th November in London. Aimed at NHS trust managers, it hopes to systematise and expand sustainable food catering in hospitals. A project report will be available as will an analysis by the Kings Fund's public health lead on opportunities for sustainable food within the Better Hospital Food Programme. The event will be chaired by Professor Kevin Morgan of Cardiff University. More details via http://www.kingsfund.org.uk/resources/events/healthy.html or call Dan or Emma at Sustain 020 7837 1228.
PUBLICATIONS
Making the case for sustainable procurement: the NHS as a good corporate citizen
This briefing aims to make the case for good procurement practice within the wider context of the NHS as a ‘good corporate citizen'. It illustrates how procurement can be undertaken in a more sustainable manner and is intended for NHS staff responsible for procurement and also for trust boards and local authorities. There are various 'hooks' for food.
http://www.publichealth.nice.org.uk/page.aspx?o=514063
Towards Sustainability - Facing the future
The NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency's second sustainability report, Towards Sustainability - Facing the future, has been published. It contains information on environmental, social and economic impacts, and comments on innovation, healthcare associated infections, collaborative procurement hubs and sustainable procurement. The full report is web-based and can be found at: http://www.pasa.nhs.uk/sustainabledevelopment/2005/ To comment or provide feedback on the report e-mail to environment@pasa.nhs.uk
West Midlands' reports
The three Defra funded West Midlands pilots have now completed their reports and they are available to download on the Farming and Food West Midlands site:
http://www.farmingandfood-westmidlands.org.uk/resources/procure/promote4.htm#draftprop0505
1. Growing a Healthy Food Economy: Linking Producers with Public Sector Purchasers
http://www.farmingandfood-westmidlands.org.uk/papers/ghfe_final.pdf
2. Developing a Flexible and Sustainable Supply Chain Model to provide Local Food into Schools
http://www.farmingandfood-westmidlands.org.uk/papers/greengroce.doc
3. Localising school meal supply chains in Shropshire and Worcestershire
http://www.farmingandfood-westmidlands.org.uk/papers/sch_supply.pdf
And a map of Selected Producer Groups in Herefordshire can be accessed at: http://www.farmingandfood-westmidlands.org.uk/local/hereford/herefordshire.swf
North East Land Links' report on local authority food procurement
North East Land Links (NELL) have completed a survey of local authority food procurement practices in the north east of England. The findings together with proposals for how current practices might be amended to take into account the objectives of the PSFPI can be found in the report ‘ A review of local authority food procurement in the north east of England’. This work was funded by the Countryside Agency and One North East. Copies of the report can be obtained from NELL.
For further information regarding PSFPI related activity in the north east please contact Bill Kirkup, North East Land Links Project Manager, 0191 441 4402, email bill.kirkup@necf.org.uk.
North East sets out to realise public benefit of buying local
A bid to spread the benefits of local procurement across a whole UK region has been launched on 1 August 2005 in the North East, following the publication of a new guide from nef (the new economics foundation). A new guide to public procurement, 'Public spending for Public Benefit' draws on five years engagement with policy makers and practitioners to show how local authorities and other public bodies can use their purchasing power to promote local economic development. More information on http://www.neweconomics.org/gen/news_publicspendingforpublicbenefit.aspx or contact Ruth Potts, nef communications, 020 7820 6357, 07749 026 203, ruth.potts@neweconomics.org
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