Food safety is as much the responsibility of the industry as it is the government. This was the stark but practical message from Sir John Krebs, chairman of the Food Standards Agency, at the Guildhall this week.

The third annual City lecture delivered to a 650-strong audience was supported by all seven of the City's ancient Worshipful Livery Companies that are associated with food and was sponsored by retailer Sainsbury's.

Sir John (pictured) quantified the position the industry had experienced and, more significantly, what it might look forward to.

He said: 'Public authorities will check as much as they can, but given the scale and complexity of what will be taking place, UK importers will have a major responsibility for ensuring the security of their supply chains.' Food scares have lessened, said Sir John, often as the result of work within the industry.

He stressed the key point: 'Transparency, and honestly acknowledging that food is not risk free and that there are uncertainties, are for me, important parts of maintaining public confidence.' Over the three years the FSA has been established, Sir John believes it has played an important role with its fierce independence seen as a cornerstone of its credibility.

Consumer confidence has been at a low ebb, Sir John said, but the FSA is making headway by simply telling the truth. A report soon to be published, reveals public awareness has risen from 58 to 76 per cent Sir John said: 'Half the population considers the FSA to be an organisation it can trust, and confidence in protecting health has risen from 50 per cent to 60 per cent.' However, if the culture of secrecy is now a thing of the past, Sir John sounded a warning over the enlargement of the EU.

'There are food processing plants in new member states that do not meet EU standards, and they will have to be upgraded or closed,' he said. 'But this will take time and meanwhile compliant and non-compliant products will have to be segregated.

'I need hardly say that this will create opportunities for accidental mixing or fraud, which in turn could erode consumer confidence if and when it is uncovered.

'Within the European framework, regulators will play their part, but the industry will have to be vigilant in checking its sources to ensure safety and standards are upheld.' The new EU borders will present a challenge to the integrity of food supply. There will be 87 inspection points created, so simply enhancing UK import controls will not help.

Fresh produce came in for a specific mention in relation to assured quality schemes. He added: 'Confidence can be built by going further than the minimum requirements. Some consumers may say they prefer not to eat pesticides on fruit and vegetables.' The FSA agreed pesticides residues should be minimised, and some producers should achieve low levels that cannot be detected with existing analytical methods.

'Why can't these elements of best practice be adopted by all, not because there are health risks, but because they meet consumer concerns and build confidence?' asked Sir John.