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Coronavirus Act: Food supply

This briefing paper is one of a collection of Commons Library briefings on the Coronavirus Bill (now the Coronavirus Act 2020). It deals with the provisions relating to a power to require information about the food supply chain. The other briefing papers, dealing with other parts of the Bill and general background, are available on the Commons Library website (Coronavirus Bill: Overview). 

Sections 25-29 of the Coronavirus Act deal with powers to require information about food supply chains. The Government has said that it is collaborating with the food sector to manage the risk of disruption to supply chains, but that the Act provides powers in case requests for voluntary provision of information were not to be complied with in the future.

This paper provides information on the provisions of the Act relating to food supply. It also provides an overview of various issues regarding food supply that have been raised in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, including concerns about shortages and the ability of vulnerable groups to access food.