Regulation in these islands has gone mad. Allotment holders in Carlisle, who have donated home-grown vegetables to the local hospice have been banned because their gifts breach health and safety rules.
For years amateur gardeners at Botcherby Paddock, Carlisle, have donated their produce to Eden Valley Hospice for them to sell at its city centre shops. But hospice managers told them this week they would not take any more because it contravened health regulations.
The legislation says products like jam must be sold with a list of ingredients and information about where it was made. Fresh produce like fruit and vegetables must be sold from chilled cabinets which Eden Valley Hospice do not have.
Frank Dolan, spokesman for the allotment holders, said the group were heartbroken.
"This has upset a lot of people. There is a lady here in her 90s who has made jam for the hospice for years and she is devastated.
"People have been donating their produce to the shops for a long time without any problems. We have never had any complaints before.
"But we were told this week the hospice would no longer accept it. This has put a lot of people's backs up.
"These health and safety rules are totally out of control. You can't do anything nowadays, it's barmy.
"What's the difference between this and taking produce to a harvest festival or a gala day? Are those going to come under threat now?
"We don't blame the hospice; they do a wonderful job and they are only following orders.
"But it will be the poor folk who are patients there that lose out because of this."
He's right. The laws are barmy. The FSA said: " The rules don't apply to food that isn't prepared as part of a business. So this means that most food being sold for charity won't need to be labelled, including food sold at one-off events such as church fetes and school fairs. But if you regularly sell and package food for charity, for example, jars of jam or boxed cakes, you might have to follow regulations."
I suggest there is a surplus of staff at the FSA.
Shame on the FSA and it's disappointing that the Hospice hasn't put up more of a fight to defend the good folk who contribute to their income.
John Stevenson is the new Conservative MP for Carlisle. He ought to be onto this right away and ensure these difficulties are resolved. After all it's his boss who says the 'Big Society' is the means to a more secure financial and sustainable future for us all.
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