SCOTLAND’S FOOD supply could be put at risk during the Coronavirus outbreak if the Scottish Government doesn’t implement a national definition of ‘key workers’ to include food supply.

Last week, Prime Minister Boris Johnson called for a nationwide closure of schools from Monday, March 23, but then went on to publish a list of key workers whose children could still go to school, because their roles were considered ‘critical’ for the response to the pandemic.

England, Wales and Northern Ireland were quick to include food production and supply amongst key jobs. However, the Scottish Government passed on the decision about who to define as key workers to its 32 local authorities, which has resulted in differing interpretations and confusion across council boundaries.

Food industry leaders are currently locked in talks with the Scottish Government, urging them to follow the other devolved nations and define food industry jobs as 'key' at a national level. Heeding these calls, the First Minister announced on Tuesday (24) for the first time that food supply is essential to the wellbeing of the nation, however, this has not yet been rolled out nationally.

As the SF went to press, less than 10 of Scotland’s local authorities had explicitly referenced food production and supply as category 2 key workers - ‘those supporting our critical national infrastructure, without whom serious damage to the welfare of the people of Scotland could be caused’.

Nicola Sturgeon said: “I am aware that there will be many businesses out there that don’t fit neatly into any of those categories – manufacturers and food producers for example.

“For those businesses the advice is broadly as follows: Firstly, if your staff can work from home – that is what you should allow them to do,” she continued. “Secondly, if your staff cannot work from home – you should be asking yourself is your business is contributing something right now that is essential to the fight against Coronavirus, for example making medical supplies or manufacturing essential items or is it contributing something essential to the wellbeing of the nation – for example food supplies,” Ms Sturgeon explained.

The fear over the coming weeks, is that Scotland might face a more stringent lockdown, which could see further restrictions including on moving goods across the country, which could stunt the supply chain if all 32 authorities fail to sing from the same hymn sheet over the key worker issue.

Scotland Food and Drink chief executive James Withers has been in talks with the government by the hour, as things develop at rapid pace: “At the moment the key worker process remains messy and leaving it down to 32 local authorities to decide has caused great challenges in trying to get consistency for an industry which has to move food supplies from farm to fork across council boundaries.

“I am heartened by what the First Minister has said, as it is the first-time explicit reference has been made to food supply in terms of essential activity,” he continued.

“Individual businesses should speak to their individual council authorities and use this as a definition for workers being classified in category 2 of key workers.

“All councils should build in food supply when they consider category 2 workers however, even with that, it doesn’t mean people working food industry should be using schools for childcare and must explore all other possibilities of safe childcare options first,” he urged.

For those wishing to hear regular updates on this issue they are urged to keep an eye on the SF and D Coronavirus page: https://foodanddrink.scot/news/coronavirus-scotland-food-drink-update/