Food (Wales) Bill

A Senedd Member Bill, introduced by Peter Fox MS was successful in a legislative ballot on 22 September 2021. Peter Fox MS was given leave to proceed with his Bill by the Senedd on 17 November 2021.

The Business Committee has remitted the Bill to the Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee.

About the Bill

The stated purpose of the Bill is to establish a more sustainable food system in Wales. The Bill includes provision for:

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>>> establishing ‘Food Goals’ to help deliver the Bills main policy objective;

>>>requiring public bodies to take reasonable steps to advance the food goals;

>>>establishing a Welsh Food Commission with the objective of promoting and facilitating the advancement and achievement of the food goals by public bodies;

>>>requiring Welsh Ministers to prepare and publish a national food strategy; and

>>>requiring public bodies (other than the Welsh Ministers) to make and publish a local food plan

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Further detail about the Bill can be found in its accompanying Explanatory Memorandum.

Current Stage

BillStageRejected

A debate on the general principles took place on 24 May 2023. The motion to agree the general principles was not agreed and the Bill was rejected by the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 26.14.

Record of Passage in the Welsh Parliament

The following table sets out the dates for each stage of the Bill’s passage through the Senedd.

¬¬¬Stage 1 (12 December 2022 – 24 May 2023)

A debate took place in Plenary on 24 May 2023. The motion to agree the general principles of the Bill was not agreed.

Bill summary (PDF 397KB)

Bill summary – infographic

Written consultation responses

Bilingual Glossary (PDF 92KB)

Committee dates

The Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee will consider the Bill on the following dates:

Date and Agenda	Purpose of meeting	Transcript	Senedd.TV
14 December 2022	Consideration of Approach to Stage 1 Scrutiny (Private)	Private
19 January 2023	Evidence sessions	Transcript	View meeting
25 January 2023	Evidence sessions	Transcript	View meeting
16 February 2023	Evidence sessions	Transcript	View meeting
1 March 2023	Evidence sessions	Transcript	View meeting
8 March 2023	Evidence sessions	Transcript	View meeting

The Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee laid its report on 12 May 2023 (PDF 1,634KB).

The Committee received a response (PDF 265KB) from Peter Fox MS, Member-in-charge of the Bill on 19 May 2023.

The Committee received a response (PDF 236KB) from the Welsh Government on 14 July 2023.

The Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee will consider the Bill on the following dates:

Date and Agenda	Purpose of meeting	Transcript	Senedd.TV
23 January 2023	Ministerial evidence session	Transcript	View meeting
30 January 2023	Evidence Session – Peter Fox MS	Transcript	View meeting