The Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling (CCMAS) held its 40^th Session in Budapest, Hungary, 27 – 31 May 2019. The Session was attended by 51 member countries, one member organisation and 13 observer organisations.

Selvarani Elahi, representing the UK Government Chemist, attended with colleagues from the Food Standards Agency and the Association of Public Analysts.

CCMAS considers methods of analysis for Codex standards and testing in relation to international food trade. The CCMAS 40^th Session discussed analytical methods for nutritional metals, acid value and free fatty acids in palm oil, milk and milk product commodities, ‘gluten free’ labelling in products containing cereals, pulses and legumes, and herbs and spices.

The meeting also included updates from working groups on the revision of three substantive Codex documents: general standard for methods of analysis and sampling, guidelines on measurement uncertainty and guidelines on sampling. Work on these documents continues in order to reach global consensus.

The UK delegation presented a poster on the UK Food Authenticity Network, which attracted attention from delegates. Follow-up discussions are planned with member countries on creating ‘country-specific’ pages on the Food Authenticity Network for their countries in order to create a truly global network.

Licences for all forms of net fishing on the estuary, usually available from 1 June, are not currently being issued as new figures on the stock for the Severn, Wye and Usk, which salmon from the Severn estuary migrate to, have been shown to be extremely low and further consideration of the availability of permits is required.

The review of the stock assessment will continue until 14 June when a decision will be announced on what further action is needed to protect the species. The Environment Agency is considering introducing an emergency byelaw prohibiting any salmon fishing by nets in the estuary for the current season, which continues through to the end of August, or whether other action can achieve the protection that is required. A review on whether rod anglers will be required to return any salmon caught after 16 June will be part of this consideration.

Reducing the taking of salmon is only one part of the Environment Agency’s larger national programme to protect salmon stocks. Actions taken by the Environment Agency and its partners that contribute to protecting salmon stocks include removing barriers, improving water quality and agricultural practices and addressing unsustainable water abstractions.

David Hudson, Environment Manager for Gloucestershire said:

We have not taken this decision lightly. There are a variety of environmental factors that have led to the decline in salmon stocks in the Severn estuary, it’s not just about the number taken through fishing.

But only through taking action now, and through the co-operation of others, will we manage to protect this iconic fish in the Severn for future generations. Doing nothing is not an option.

I know this will impact many fishermen and am sorry for the disruption but it is essential we take strong and immediate action to protect salmon in the river Severn as they are particularly at risk. We are liaising with our colleagues in Natural Resources Wales and Natural England and with those affected.

Good morning everyone, thank for joining us today, and special thanks to His Royal Highness the Duke of York for hosting us here at St James’s Palace.

It’s a pleasure to welcome leaders of so many world-class companies around the table today – and of course our honoured guest, President Trump, a man who knows a thing or two about business himself as well.

I think the range of companies you see around this table shows us the huge scope of transatlantic business links that we have between the United States and the United Kingdom.

And the numbers I think show that they speak for themselves. Trade between our nations last year was worth almost $240 billion.

We see that British companies employ a million people across the US. And every morning, a million people in the UK go to work for American employers in the UK.

It is a great partnership, but I think it’s a partnership that we can take even further.

That’s with of course a bilateral free trade agreement. And also I think building a wider economic partnership for the future as well.

And by continuing to work together to underpin, shape and influence the global economy, the rules on which that’s based and its institutions, to keep markets free, fair and open, and keeping our industries and businesses competitive.

I think there are huge opportunities for us to seize together, and challenges for us to work together on to tackle as well.

And the opportunity today is that we are going to look at how we do both of those.

In a few moments I’ll ask Sir Roger to start the discussions, but first of all I would like you, Mr President, if you would like to open with some thoughts.

The Charity Commission has removed the trustees of Islamic Global Trust, after finding no evidence that it carried out any charitable activity and not being able to locate the trustees. The charity has also been removed from the register.

The Commission initiated a statutory inquiry after a local authority alerted it to concerns that the charity had incorrectly claimed business rates relief on property it rented, but where no charitable activity was being carried out.

Islamic Global Trust was set up to help people in need and advance education in the UK and Pakistan, but the inquiry’s wider investigation found no evidence to support funds being spent on this cause.

Commission analysis of the charity’s financial records, including annual returns and bank statements, revealed inconsistencies as well as evidence that charitable funds were misapplied.

Payments included monthly gym membership, £6,100 to a digital TV channel where one of the trustees was a director, £14,600 to two debt collection agencies, and payments to Companies House, despite the charity not being registered with that agency.

There were also unattributed payments of £10,000 from the charity’s account, and bank charges incurred where cheques could not be honoured due to insufficient funds.

The report also finds that the trustees failed to submit their charity’s annual accounts and returns in line with the law.

During the inquiry the trustees changed, and despite numerous efforts to locate the new trustees they could not be found. Two of the former trustees, in post at the outset of the inquiry, were also not locatable.

As the trustees could not be traced they were removed as trustees. The charity was taken off the register.

Amy Spiller, Head of Investigations Team at the Charity Commission said:

Charities hold special status in society and the public rightly have high expectations of those responsible for them. Trustees should be careful custodians of charity, acting in the public interest to further the charitable mission and purpose of their organisation.

The trustees of Islamic Global Trust failed in their duties. They used charitable funds for their own agendas, without regard for their charitable cause and the purposes for which money was donated. This was an abuse of charity and public trust.

A full report of the inquiry is available on GOV.UK.

Ends.

The UK is the second largest legal services market in the world, worth around £25 billion to the economy with more than 300,000 people employed in the sector, and a leading global legal centre.

Entrepreneurs, academics, and legal services providers are starting to develop new technology to modernise the sector and improve the UK’s productivity, and the government is committed to supporting this activity and encouraging law firms to utilise emerging technology even further.

Justice Secretary David Gauke, said

Technology promises to be a key component in the success of our legal services sector and this funding will help support emerging LawTech in the UK and wider economic growth.

We are home to some of the best law firms in the world, globally renowned courts and a wealth of legal talent. Through the effective use of technology, we can help the sector advance and continue to lead globally.

More than 200 international firms, from more than 40 jurisdictions, have chosen to base themselves here and English and Welsh law is the most commonly used in international business and dispute resolution.

Notes to editors

LawTech

LawTech refers to new legal technologies which aim to support, supplement or replace traditional methods for the delivery of legal services. In 2018 the LawTech sector was valued at $15.9 billion globally.

LawTech Delivery Panel

Announced by the Lord Chancellor in July 2018, the LawTech Delivery Panel is industry-led and government supported. The Panel promotes and champions the use of technology in the UK’s legal sector, by identifying both barriers to and catalysts for growth and adoption. The Panel aims to provide direction to the legal sector, help foster innovation and create an environment in which new technology and the UK’s fledgling LawTech community can thrive.

The Panel brings together industry, government, academia, judiciary, regulators and the legal technology community to address challenges and seize opportunities related to regulation, investment and funding, education and skills, legal framework and UK jurisdiction, commercial disputes resolution and ethics.

Further information on the work of the Panel can be found on the Law Society website.