Food standards chiefs told to declare contacts with new Tesco director
Order follows Tim Smith's move from Food Standards Agency to take up new role as Tesco technical group director
By Tom Wall and Rebecca Smithers
Members of the board of the Food Standards Agency (FSA) have been ordered to declare any contact they have with its former chief executivefor two years following Tim Smith's controversial move to Tesco to ensure "proper governance and probity".
Copies of emails obtained under the Freedom of Information Act reveal that Smith's unprecedented move from the UK's food watchdog to the UK's biggest retailer last year forced the agency to "strengthen its governance arrangements" to deflect any criticism.
The FSA's chair, Lord Rooker, emailed board members after Smith took up his position as Tesco technical group director on 15 October last year. They were told to "declare any contact with Tim" at "each open board meeting" in order to protect "the FSA, the board as well as Tim himself".
But in recognition of the sensitive nature of the move – and the powerful position of Tesco – Rooker noted that Smith's "transition from UK food regulator to Tesco has passed with minimal comment" and that "Tesco is not any old British company."
He added: "Depending on which list you look at it is the third-largest UK employer (after the NHS and the Ministry of Defence), top own label supermarket, top UK market share in supermarkets, fourth in best retail brands and 24th in global brands. That is enough on how good and big they are." Smith's appointment was approved by the prime minister on the advice of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments, which handles applications from top civil servants wishing to take jobs in the private sector. It recommended that Smith should not become personally involved in lobbying the UK government on behalf of his new employer for two years.
But Professor Erik Millstone, a food safety governance expert from Sussex University, said Smith worked for Arla Foods, Northern Foods, Sara Lee and Express Dairies before he was appointed to the FSA in 2008.
Kath Dalmeny, policy director of food charity Sustain, said there was a "revolving door" between government and industry jobs: "There are obvious benefits for a company employing someone with recent and senior government or civil service experience, whether it be insights into the direction of government policy or influential personal contacts to help win their
business case – particularly to prevent regulation."
The revelation comes amid growing scrutiny of the FSA's handling of the UK horsemeat scandal. The FSA has announced a review into its own response to the affair after questioning whether it should have been "more alert" to the risks of contamination of meat amid criticism of its failure to identity the problem after the scandal was exposed in January by its Irish counterpart, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI).
The FSA advertised this week for a replacement for Rooker (who is stepping down in July at the end of his four-year contract.
Smith informed the FSA he was looking for a new job in May last year, when it took steps to avoid any perception "of improper influence or advantage". Three members of the FSA executive started monitoring his actions to ensure he was continuing to "work in the public interest and was not engaged in areas of business where that might be a potential for a perceived conflict of interest regarding a future employer".
He told the FSA he had received a job offer from Tesco in July 2012 and was asked by the board to step back from his responsibilities in August 2012.
Smith continuing receiving £140,000 salary until he left in October. He also received a performance bonus of £12,500 in July 2012.
Tesco said: "Tim Smith was appointed to his role as group technical director at Tesco in accordance with the rules set out by the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments. Tim Smith is fully aware of these rules and has abided by them throughout his time at Tesco."
By Tom Wall and Rebecca Smithers
Members of the board of the Food Standards Agency (FSA) have been ordered to declare any contact they have with its former chief executivefor two years following Tim Smith's controversial move to Tesco to ensure "proper governance and probity".
Copies of emails obtained under the Freedom of Information Act reveal that Smith's unprecedented move from the UK's food watchdog to the UK's biggest retailer last year forced the agency to "strengthen its governance arrangements" to deflect any criticism.
The FSA's chair, Lord Rooker, emailed board members after Smith took up his position as Tesco technical group director on 15 October last year. They were told to "declare any contact with Tim" at "each open board meeting" in order to protect "the FSA, the board as well as Tim himself".
But in recognition of the sensitive nature of the move – and the powerful position of Tesco – Rooker noted that Smith's "transition from UK food regulator to Tesco has passed with minimal comment" and that "Tesco is not any old British company."
He added: "Depending on which list you look at it is the third-largest UK employer (after the NHS and the Ministry of Defence), top own label supermarket, top UK market share in supermarkets, fourth in best retail brands and 24th in global brands. That is enough on how good and big they are." Smith's appointment was approved by the prime minister on the advice of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments, which handles applications from top civil servants wishing to take jobs in the private sector. It recommended that Smith should not become personally involved in lobbying the UK government on behalf of his new employer for two years.
But Professor Erik Millstone, a food safety governance expert from Sussex University, said Smith worked for Arla Foods, Northern Foods, Sara Lee and Express Dairies before he was appointed to the FSA in 2008.
Kath Dalmeny, policy director of food charity Sustain, said there was a "revolving door" between government and industry jobs: "There are obvious benefits for a company employing someone with recent and senior government or civil service experience, whether it be insights into the direction of government policy or influential personal contacts to help win their
business case – particularly to prevent regulation."
The revelation comes amid growing scrutiny of the FSA's handling of the UK horsemeat scandal. The FSA has announced a review into its own response to the affair after questioning whether it should have been "more alert" to the risks of contamination of meat amid criticism of its failure to identity the problem after the scandal was exposed in January by its Irish counterpart, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI).
The FSA advertised this week for a replacement for Rooker (who is stepping down in July at the end of his four-year contract.
Smith informed the FSA he was looking for a new job in May last year, when it took steps to avoid any perception "of improper influence or advantage". Three members of the FSA executive started monitoring his actions to ensure he was continuing to "work in the public interest and was not engaged in areas of business where that might be a potential for a perceived conflict of interest regarding a future employer".
He told the FSA he had received a job offer from Tesco in July 2012 and was asked by the board to step back from his responsibilities in August 2012.
Smith continuing receiving £140,000 salary until he left in October. He also received a performance bonus of £12,500 in July 2012.
Tesco said: "Tim Smith was appointed to his role as group technical director at Tesco in accordance with the rules set out by the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments. Tim Smith is fully aware of these rules and has abided by them throughout his time at Tesco."