Enterprise given responsibility for food and drink

Responsibility has been moved from the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture

Responsibility for the development of the food and drink industry and its promotion has been transferred to the Department for Enterprise, the government has confirmed.

A spokesman said the 100-day transition from the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture (Defa) had been decided following a review and would come into effect from April.

The change follows criticism of the cancellation of the annual Isle of Man Food and Drink Festival last year and the promotional opportunities put on instead for producers.

Enterprise Minister Tim Johnston said his department would work with the sector "sustain and scale their businesses and help them to thrive into the future".

Previously under Defa's remit, the Department for Enterprise (DfE) will now support business development for food and drink producers, promote local produce, and provide guidance on grant support available to the industry.

Defa Minister Clare Barber said it was "crucial her department focused on the development of "core policies that support the delivery of the Agricultural Strategy and the Food Security Plan 2024".

Those frameworks would take "significant work" to implement, she said.

'Clarity'

The review was carried out by both departments following industry feedback.

Barber said that while Defa had "very good collaboration" with DfE in the past, it was right to "categorically define" the responsibilities for both departments "for the sake of providing clarity to the industry", she said.

Her department would keep control of regulations and policy governing food and drink, as well as key processors, including the Isle of Man Creamery, Isle of Man Meats, and the Laxey Glen Mills.

She said: "I am looking forward to see how this new way of working will allow us to tackle challenges and seize opportunities more effectively."

Johnston said that the business agency within DfE had focused on "increasing awareness and recognition of Manx food and drink produce in the UK and further afield for export purposes".

The change would allow the department "to bring the same approach to local food and drink producers where businesses".