International
July: The meeting of the Codex Commission votes on whether to adopt residue limits for the growth promoter ractopamine. Limits are not adopted. There is however agreement on labelling of GM foods. (see International News - 4-9 July 2011)
March: Folowing a tsunami on the East coast of Japan, there was radiation leakage from the Fukushima nuclear power plant. Additional food safety controls were needed. (see EU News - 24 March 2011 and 25 March 2011)
May/June: Serious outbreaks of E.coli infection in Germany and France result in high mortality. Initial investigations suggested Spanish crops were the cause but subequent investigation showed the source to be seeds from Egypt used to grow beansprouts. (see EU News - 1 June 2011 and 29 June 2011)
March: Despite attempts at concilliation, the Council and the European Parliament fail to agree a text for the new controls on novel foods first proposed in January 2008. (see EU News - 29 March 2011)
January: Dioxin contamination of animal feed in Germany leads to a large recall of food products. (see EU News 6 January 2011 and 17 January 2011)
UK
August: There was media concern when it was discovered that milk from cloned cows and meat from 2-3 animals which were the offspring of cloned cattle had entered the food chain. (see UK News - 2 August 2010)
July: The new UK Government, formed in May following a General Election, decides to remove some of the responsibilities from the Food Standards Agency (See UK News - 20 July 2010)
International
July: Codex Commission meeting adopts standards for: reduction of acrylamide in foods, reduction of contamination with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, prevention of ochratoxin A contamination in coffee, powdered Follow-up Formulae and Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat foods. (see International News - 6 July 2009)
UK
July: FSA review of nutritional benefits of organic foods is published showing little evidence of any benefit to consumers. (see UK News - 29 July 2009)
March: Publication of the independent E.coli Public Inquiry report on the 2005 outbreak in Wales. (see UK News - 19 March 2009)
EU
December: Food safety crisis in Ireland due to contamination of pork meat by dioxins and PCBs. (see EU News - 8 December 2008)
November: Adoption of Additive Regulations by the Council of Ministers. (see EU News - 20 November 2008)
January: Commission publishes proposal for new 'Novel Food' Regulation (see EU News - 14 January 2008) and proposal for new 'Food Information' Regulation to update labelling rules. (see EU News - 30 January 2008)
International
Sepetember: Food safety crisis in China due to the sale of milk products containing melamine. Many infants ill with a few deaths. (see EU News - 24 September 2008)
UK
September: FSA publishes research suggesting links between certain additives (colours and preservatives) and hyperactivity in children. (see UK News - 6 September 2007, 7 September 2007 and 13 September 2007 )
January: Expansion of EU to 27 Member States.
UK
December: FSA publishes first National Food Control Plan. (see UK News - 14 December 2006)
March: New food safety scare over traces of benzene found in soft drinks. (see UK News - 31 March 2006)
EU
December: Nutrition Claims Regulation finally published - but it is the wrong version which appears in the Official Journal!
July: Commission proposes new legislation on food additives, flavourings and enzymes. (see EU News - 28 July 2006)
January: New food hygiene Regulations enter into force. (see EU News - 22 December 2005)
UK
September: Major food poisoning outbreak in South Wales linked to E.coli in cooked meats (see UK news - 22 September 2005 and 26 September 2005)
February: FSA orders recall of products manufactured with ingredients containing Sudan I. (see UK News - 18 February 2005 and 24 February 2005)
EU
October: European Court of Justice upholds the recognition of 'feta' cheese meaning that all 'feta' cheese mush come from Greece. (see EU News - 25 October 2005)
June: European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) opens offices in Parma, Italy and completes its move from Brussels in October. (see EU News - 21 June 2005)
January: Regulation 178/2002 becomes fully effective and introduces new food law requirements.
EU
May: Expansion of EU to 25 Member States. (see EU News - 15 April 2004)
April: Adoption of new Regulations on Hygiene and Official Control. (see EU News - 26 April 2004)
EU
December: After lengthy political negotiations, decisions are reached on the location of various EU offices. The European Food Safety Authority will be based in Parma, Italy. (see EU News - 13 December 2003)
International
February: Extraordinary meeting of the Codex Alimentarius Commission held in Geneva to discuss proposals in the Evaluation Report.
EU
January: EU adopts Regulation 178/2002 on food law and the establishment of the European Food Safety Authority adopted. (see EU News - 21 January 2002)
International
December: Codex Evaluation Report published. (see International News -10 December 2002)
April: International concern over research finding of acrylamide in baked and fried foods. (see International News - 26 April 2002)
April: FAO/WHO announce an in depth evaluation of the work of the Codex Alimentarius Commission. (see International News - 16 April 2002)
January: First meeting of the FAO/WHO Global Forum of Food Safety Regulators held in Marrakesh. (see International News - 24 January 2002)
UK
February: Foot and Mouth outbreak starts and continues for several months. No food safety concern except some question the possible risk from the smoke from the pyres used to burn cattle carcases. (see UK News - 22 February 2001, 5 July 2001 and 8 August 2001)
EU
January: Following the discovery of 10 cases of BSE in Germany, both the Health Minister and the Agriculture Minister resign. Other cases have been found in Belgium and France.
UK:
May: Concern over genetically modified crops and foods continues to cause concerns. Issue widely reported in newspapers
May: Butchers' shops licensing enters into force (see UK News - 4 April 2000)
April: Food Standards Agency opens for business (see UK News - 3 April 2000)
EU
November: Commission publishes proposal for Regulation on food law and the establishment of the European Food Authority (COM(2000)716)
January: Commission White Paper on Food Safety published (COM(1999)719)
International
January: WHO Executive Board agrees to expand work on food safety. Subsequently, in May, the WHO General Assembly adopts Resolution on Food Safety (see International News - 25 January 2002 and 20 May 2000)
UK
November: Food Standards Act 1999 receives Royal Assent and become law (see UK News - 11 November 1999)
EU
May: Food safety scare over foods of animal origin contaminated with dioxins in Belgium. Many foods withdrawn from sale in Belgium and other EU countries (see EU News - 2 June 1999 and 17 June 1999)
January: After 10 years of discussion and argument, 2 Directives on food irradiation are agreed and subsequently adopted in February (Directive 2002/2/EC and 2002/3/EC) (see EU News - 22 January 1999 and 3 February 1999)
International
October: FAO Conference on International Food Trade Beyond 2000: Science-Based Decisions, Harmonization, Equivalence and Mutual Recognition was held in Melbourne,Australia (see International News - 7 October 1999)
July: Codex Alimentarius Commission adopts standards for organic foods and sets up Task Force on Biotechnology (see International News - 4 July 1999)
UK
January: Government announces plans for new Food Standards Agency (note that the suggested £100 levy was not adopted) (see UK News - 14 January 1998)
EU
November: The EU agrees to the resumption of exports of some beef from the UK under strict conditions (see EU News - 23 November 1998)
International
January: WTO Dispute Panel issues report on the US complaint regarding the EU ban on hormones for growth promoting purposes. Both sides claim victory (see EU News - 16 January 1998)
UK
December: Beef-on-the-Bone ban introduced but many consider that the risk does not justify the additional precaution (see UK News - 15 December 1997)
May: Labour Government elected with a policy of changing the way food safety is organised - promise to establish an independent agency. Report (the 'James Report') commissioned by the Labour Party in March presented to the new Government. (see UK News - 9 May 1997)
EU
September: Commission establishes a Food and Veterinary Office based in Dublin.
April: Commission issues 'Green Paper' (a discussion paper) on European Food Law (see EU News - 1 May 1997)
January: Agreement is reached on Novel Foods Regulation. Regulation is published on the 27 January and entered into force on 14 May 1997 (see EU News - 16 January 1997)
International
June: WTO Panel rejects European ban on hormone-treated beef (see International News - 6 June 1997)
UK
May: Foodlaw-Reading web site opens.
March: Government statement that BSE in cattle is the most likely cause of nvCJD in people. Exports of beef banned.
February: Sales of genetically modified tomato paste start in 2 UK supermarkets
UK
September: New Hygiene Regulations (SI 1995 No 1763) enter into force. These implement the requirements of the EU Hygiene Directive and introduce a requirement for food business to identify critical points - a step towards the HACCP system.
EU
February: EU adopts Directive on additives other than colours and sweeteners (95/2/EC)
International
January: The World Trade Organisation (WTO) is formed and the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement comes into effect.
EU
June: EU adopts Directives on sweeteners (94/35/EC) and on colours (94/36/EC).
EU
June: EU adopts Directive on the Hygiene of Foodstuffs (93/43/EC)
EU
December: Deadline for the completion of the 'Internal Market' programme which had been started in 1985
UK
February: The sale of irradiated food becomes legal in the UK following the adoption of the Food (Control of Irradiation) Regulations in December 1990 (SI 1990 No 2490)
International
March: FAO/WHO Conference on Food Standards, Chemicals in Food and Food Trade held in Rome to discuss, in particular, the possible impact of the creation of the World Trade Organisation
UK
June: Food Safety Act 1990 receives Royal Assent and becomes law
May: With rising numbers of cattle being infected with BSE, the Minister of Agriculture seeks to reassure the public by eating beefburgers in public with his daughter.
EU
June: EU adopts Directive on the Official Control of Foodstuffs (89/397/EC)
UK
February: Continuing food scares hit the headlines - Listeria is new concern.
UK
December: Edwina Currie, a Junior Health Minister resigns following her statement suggesting that most eggs are infected with Salmonella.
November: Food safety crisis over Salmonella in eggs