Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) Strategy 2025–2029: Insights for Food Businesses in Ireland

The 4 Goals to be Undertaken

The FSAI’s Strategy outlines four primary goals to shape its activities over the next five years.

1. Advocate and Engage

The goal emphasizes advocating for food safety and authenticity while engaging stakeholders to safeguard consumer health, build trust, and enhance compliance. As a trusted authority, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) seeks to:

⇒ Highlighting the Importance of Food Safety: Actively promoting why food safety and authenticity matter through collaboration with stakeholders like professionals, the media, and the public, both in Ireland and internationally.

⇒ Supporting Food Businesses: Providing clear, evidence-based advice, tools, and resources to help businesses comply with safety standards. Communication with food businesses will also be improved through better technology.

⇒ Collaborating with Partners: Working closely with the government, state agencies, and other partners to strengthen food safety at all stages of the food supply chain, from farm to table.

⇒ Raising Industry Standards: Engaging directly with the food industry through events, forums, and specialized groups to address specific challenges and improve overall compliance.

What This Means for Ireland Food Businesses:

1. FSAI remains a trusted source of guidance and advocacy for food safety and authenticity.
2. Food safety continues to be a national priority, ensuring consumer trust and public health.
3. Food businesses are better equipped to meet legal requirements and maintain high standards.

2. Reduce Risk

This goal focuses on enhancing the FSAI’s ability to protect consumer health by identifying, assessing, and managing risks that affect food safety and authenticity. It aims to minimize risks in the food chain through strong regulation, collaboration, and science-based approaches.

⇒ Managing Food Risks and Crises: FSAI ensures quick and effective responses to food incidents, legal non-compliance, and crises. They work transparently with national and international agencies to coordinate actions and clearly communicate risks to consumers.

⇒ Strengthening Risk Identification and Management: Through partnerships with the European Food Safety Authority and global networks, the FSAI improves Ireland’s ability to anticipate and handle emerging food risks using advanced systems and collaborative efforts.

⇒ Expert-Driven Decision-Making: FSAI relies on its Scientific Committee and subject matter experts to provide independent, science-backed advice to the government, ensuring policies are effective in managing food risks.

⇒ Advancing Science and Research: The FSAI expands its knowledge base by investing in regulatory science, collaborating with partners, and leveraging data systems to drive improvements in food safety practices.

What This Means for Ireland Food Businesses:

1. Risks from food incidents and crises are well-managed, ensuring consumer safety.
2. Ireland’s risk management practices align with international best standards.
3. Expert advice and cutting-edge science guide food safety policies and decisions.
4. Advanced systems and research ensure proactive responses to emerging threats.

3. Enforce Food Law

This goal emphasizes enforcing food laws to protect consumers by ensuring compliance with national, European, and international standards. As Ireland’s central authority for food law enforcement, the FSAI works to maintain a robust regulatory framework and build trust in the safety and authenticity of food.

⇒ Effective Enforcement System: FSAI leads and supports Ireland’s food safety inspectorate to deliver fair and consistent enforcement, backed by audits, data analysis, and service improvements.

⇒ Strengthening the Regulatory Framework: Collaborates with official agencies and other stakeholders to enhance Ireland’s food control system, deter non-compliance, and align with European food safety standards.

⇒ Shaping Food Standards: Actively engages in developing food standards and regulations, addressing legislative gaps, and contributing to national and international policy improvements.

What This Means for Ireland Food Businesses:

1. The FSAI ensures Ireland’s food law enforcement system is effective, fair, and consistent.
2. Food produced or consumed in Ireland meets high safety and authenticity standards, fostering consumer trust.
3. Ireland’s food control system remains responsive and aligned with international best practices.

4. Drive Organizational Excellence

This goal focuses on achieving better food safety outcomes by fostering a culture of innovation, inclusivity, and continuous improvement. Through strong leadership, efficient systems, and leveraging technology, the FSAI aims to deliver exceptional performance and service to stakeholders.

⇒ Empowering People and Culture: Creating an inclusive and collaborative environment that values innovation and continuous improvement, enabling staff and stakeholders to excel.

⇒ Streamlining Systems and Processes: Ensuring systems are efficient, effective, and compliant with ISO standards, supported by reliable cloud platforms for sustainability and agility.

⇒ Strengthening Governance and Leadership: Maintaining robust governance structures for informed decision-making, risk management, and adherence to compliance standards, including business continuity and cyber resilience.

⇒ Harnessing Digitalisation and Data: Leveraging technology and data-driven insights to enhance operational efficiency, improve customer experience, and support strategic goals.

What This Means for Ireland Food Businesses:

1. Systems and processes are efficient, effective, and aligned with international standards.
2. Enhanced use of technology and data improves service delivery, operational efficiency, and stakeholder engagement.

The FSAI’s Strategy 2025–2029 is more than a roadmap—it is an agenda for a safer, healthier food system. By advocating for food safety, managing risks, enforcing laws, and driving organizational excellence, the FSAI positions itself as a major facilitator in food regulatory compliance in Ireland. With a proactive stance, the Strategy promises to safeguard public health and reinforce Ireland’s reputation as a producer of high-quality, trustworthy food.