The Act
3.The purpose of the Act is to provide for the Scottish Ministers and certain public bodies (in the first instance, local authorities and health boards) to produce good food nation plans and to make provision as to the effect of those plans, namely that the Scottish Ministers and specified public bodies must have regard to the plans when exercising certain functions. These plans will set out main outcomes, indicators and policies in relation to food-related issues. A definition of “food-related issue” is provided in section 24 of the Act and it may therefore be useful to read that section (and paragraphs 54 to 56 of these Notes) at this stage. There will be duties on the Scottish Ministers and the public bodies to have regard to the plans when carrying out certain functions, as well as duties to report on progress in relation to the plans.