Citation and commencement

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Food Additives Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 and come into operation on 20th January 2010.

Interpretation

2.–(1) In these Regulations –

"acid" means any substance which increases the acidity of a food and/or imparts a sour taste to it;

"acidity regulator" means any substance which alters or controls the acidity or alkalinity of a food;

"anti-caking agent" means any substance which reduces the tendency of individual particles of a food to adhere to each other;

"anti-foaming agent" means any substance which prevents or reduces foaming;

"antioxidant" means any substance which prolongs the shelf-life of a food by protecting it against deterioration caused by oxidation, including fat rancidity and colour changes;

"bulking agent" means any substance which contributes to the volume of a food without contributing significantly to its available energy value;

"carrier" and "carrier solvent" have the meanings respectively given to them in Directive 95/2;

"colour" has the meaning given to it in Directive 94/36;

"Directive 88/388" means Council Directive 88/388/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to flavourings for use in foodstuffs and to source materials for their production(5);

"Directive 94/35" means European Parliament and Council Directive 94/35/EC on sweeteners for use in foodstuffs(6);

"Directive 94/36" means European Parliament and Council Directive 94/36/EC on colours for use in foodstuffs(7);

"Directive 95/2" means European Parliament and Council Directive 95/2/EC on food additives other than colours and sweeteners(8);

"Directive 08/60" means Commission Directive 2008/60/EC laying down specific purity criteria concerning sweeteners for use in foodstuffs(9);

"Directive 08/84" means Commission Directive 2008/84/EC laying down specific purity criteria on food additives other than colours and sweeteners(10);

"Directive 08/128" means Commission Directive 2008/128/EC laying down specific purity criteria concerning colours for use in foodstuffs(11);

"Directive 09/39" means Directive 2009/39/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on foodstuffs for particular nutritional uses (recast)(12);

"emulsifier" means any substance which makes it possible to form or maintain a homogenous mixture of two or more immiscible phases, such as oil and water, in a food;

"emulsifying salt" means any substance which converts proteins contained in cheese into a dispersed form, thereby bringing about homogenous distribution of fat and other components;

"firming agent" means any substance which makes or keeps tissues of fruit or vegetables firm or crisp or which interacts with a gelling agent to produce or strengthen a gel;

"flavour enhancer" means any substance which enhances the existing taste and/or odour of a food;

"flavouring" has the meaning that it bears in Article 1.2 of Directive 88/388;

"flour treatment agent" means a substance added to flour or dough to improve its baking quality, but does not include any emulsifier;

"foaming agent" means any substance which makes it possible to form a homogenous dispersion of a gaseous phase in a liquid or solid food;

"food" means food sold, or intended for sale, for human consumption and, for the purposes of regulation 16 and in regulation 17, includes a colour, a sweetener and a food additive;

"food additive"–

"food for infants or young children" means food covered by Article 1.1, 2 and 3(c) of Directive 09/39, but also includes any food for infants or young children who are not in good health;

"gelling agent" means any substance which gives a food texture through the formation of a gel;

"glazing agent" means any substance which, when applied to the external surface of a food, imparts a shiny appearance or provides a protective coating, and includes lubricants;

"humectant" means any substance which prevents a food from drying out by counteracting the effect of an atmosphere having a low degree of humidity, or which promotes the dissolution of a powder in an aqueous medium;

"infants" means children under the age of one year;

"miscellaneous additive" means any food additive which is used or intended to be used primarily as an acid, acidity regulator, anti-caking agent, anti-foaming agent, antioxidant, bulking agent, carrier, carrier solvent, emulsifier, emulsifying salt, firming agent, flavour enhancer, flour treatment agent, foaming agent, gelling agent, glazing agent, humectant, modified starch, packaging gas, preservative, propellant, raising agent, sequestrant, stabiliser or thickener, but does not include any processing aid or any enzyme except invertase or lysozyme;

"modified starch" means any substance obtained by one or more chemical treatments of edible starch, which may have undergone a physical or enzymatic treatment, and may be acid or alkali thinned or bleached;

"the Order" means the Food Safety (Northern Ireland) Order 1991;

"packaging gas" means any gas, other than air, which is introduced into a container before, during or after the placing of a food in that container;

"permitted colour" means any colour listed in Annex I to Directive 94/36 which satisfies the specific purity criteria for that colour set out in the Annex to Directive 08/128;

"permitted miscellaneous additive" means any miscellaneous additive listed in Annex I, III, IV or V of Directive 95/2 which satisfies the purity criteria (if any) for that additive;

"permitted sweetener" means any sweetener specified in the second column of the Annex to Directive 94/35 which satisfies the specific purity criteria for that sweetener set out in the Annex to Directive 08/60;

"placing on the market" has the meaning given to it in Article 3.8 of Regulation (EC) No. 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down the general principles and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food safety;

"preservative" means any substance which prolongs the shelf-life of a food by protecting it against deterioration caused by micro-organisms;

"processing aid" means any substance not consumed as a food by itself, which is intentionally used in the processing of raw materials, foods or their ingredients to fulfil a certain technological purpose during treatment or processing and which may result in the unintentional but technically unavoidable presence of residues of the substance or its derivatives in the final product, but only if those residues do not present any health risk and do not have any technological effect on the finished product;

"propellant" means any gas, other than air, which expels a food from a container;

"purity criteria", in relation to a miscellaneous additive, means the purity criteria set out in relation to that additive in Annex I to Directive 08/84/EC;

"raising agent" means any substance or combination of substances which liberates gas and thereby increases the volume of a dough or a batter;

"Regulation 1333/2008" means Regulation (EC) No.1333/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council on food additives(14);

"relevant food additive" means any miscellaneous additive, colour or sweetener, or an enzyme which is not acting as a processing aid;

"sell" includes possess for sale, and offer, expose or advertise for sale;

"sequestrant" means any substance which forms a chemical complex with metallic ions;

"specified permitted colour" means any permitted colour other than–

"specified Regulation 1333/2008 provision" means any provision of Regulation 1333/2008 that is specified in the first column of Schedule 1 and whose subject-matter is described in the second column of Schedule 1;

"stabiliser" has the meaning given to it in Directive 95/2;

"sweetener" means any food additive which is used or intended to be used–

"thickener" means any substance which increases the viscosity of a food; and

"young children" means children aged between one and three years.

(2) Other expressions used in these Regulations and in Directive 94/35, 94/36 or 95/2 have, in so far as the context admits, the same meaning as they bear in the Directive concerned.

(3) Any reference in these Regulations to–

(a) a maximum level of permitted colour in or on a food is a reference to the maximum amount, in milligrams, of colouring principle contained in that permitted colour per kilogram or, as the case may be, per litre, of food which is ready to eat and which has been prepared according to any instructions for use;

(b) a maximum level of permitted miscellaneous additive in or on a food, or in respect of a food additive, is a reference to the maximum level of that permitted miscellaneous additive in or on the food, or in respect of the food additive, as sold, unless otherwise indicated; or

(c) quantum satis, means, in relation to the use of permitted colours or permitted miscellaneous additives in or on food, that no maximum level of permitted colour or permitted miscellaneous additive has been laid down for use in or on certain food but that a permitted colour or, permitted miscellaneous additive may be used in or on the food in accordance with good manufacturing practice at a level not higher than is necessary to achieve the intended purpose and only if such use does not mislead the consumer.

(4) Any reference to an EU instrument is a reference to it as amended, extended or applied at the date of making of these Regulations but any reference to an Annex to an EU instrument that is specified in paragraph (5) is a reference to that Annex as for the time being amended.

(5) The EU instruments are Directive 94/35, Directive 95/2 and Regulation 1333/2008.

(6) The Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954(15) shall apply to these Regulations as it applies to an Act of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Use of colours in or on food

3.–(1) A person shall not use in or on any food any colour other than a permitted colour.

(2) A person shall not use any permitted colour in or on any food listed in Annex II to Directive 94/36 except in accordance with paragraph (3)(a).

(3) Subject to paragraph (4) and to regulations 4 and 5, a person shall not use any permitted colour in or on any food unless–

(a) the food is one listed–

(i) in the first column of Annex III to Directive 94/36, in which case there may be used in or on such food any permitted colour which is listed in relation to it in the second column of that Annex in an amount not exceeding the maximum level for such permitted colour in or on such food as listed in the third column of that Annex;

(ii) in the second column of Annex IV to Directive 94/36, in which case there may be used in or on such food any permitted colour which is listed in relation to it in the first column of that Annex in an amount not exceeding the maximum level for such permitted colour in or on such food as listed in the third column of that Annex; or

(iii) in the first column of the Table in Part 2 of Annex V to Directive 94/36, in which case there may be used in or on such food any permitted colour which is listed in Parts I or 2 of that Annex in accordance with the conditions contained in that Annex governing the use of such colour in or on such food; or

(b) the food is listed neither in Annex II to Directive 94/36 nor in the first column of Annex III to that Directive, in which case there may be used in or on such food any one or more of the permitted colours listed in Part I of Annex V to that Directive up to an amount (in each case) of quantum satis.

(4) A person shall not use any permitted colour listed in the first column of Annex IV to Directive 94/36 in or on any food other than the food or foods listed in relation to that permitted colour in the second column of that Annex.

Health marking etc. of certain meat and meat products

4. A person shall not use any colour for the purpose of the health marking required by Article 5.1(a) of Regulation (EC) No. 853/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down specific hygiene rules for food of animal origin(16) or any other marking required on any meat product, other than the permitted colours–

(a) E155 Brown HT;

(b) E133 Brilliant Blue FCF;

(c) E129 Allura Red AC; or

(d) an appropriate mixture of (b) and (c).

Use of colours on eggshells

5. A person shall not use any colour for–

(a) the decorative colouring of eggshells, or

(b) the marking of eggshells (as provided for in Regulation (EC) No. 1234/2007 establishing a common organisation of agricultural markets and on specific provisions for certain agricultural products (Single CMO Regulation)(17)),

other than a permitted colour.

Sale of colours and food containing colours

6.–(1) A person shall not sell any colour for use in or on food unless such colour is a permitted colour.

(2) A person shall not sell direct to the consumer any colour other than a specified permitted colour.

(3) A person shall not sell any food having in or on it any added colour other than a permitted colour that has been used in or on that food without contravening any of the provisions of regulation 3, 4 or 5.

Transitional provision

7. In any proceedings for an offence consisting of a contravention of regulation 3, 4, 5 or 6, it shall be a defence to prove that–

(a) the colour or food which is the subject of the proceedings was placed on the market or labelled before 1st April 2005; and

(b) the matter constituting the offence would not have constituted an offence under the Colours in Food Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996(18) as they stood immediately before the coming into operation of the Colours in Food (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005(19).

Use of miscellaneous additives

8.–(1) A person shall not use in or on any food any miscellaneous additive other than a permitted miscellaneous additive.

(2) Subject to the first paragraph of note 3 to Annex I to Directive 95/2, a person shall not use any permitted miscellaneous additive listed in that Annex in or on any food which is listed in Article 2.3(a) of that Directive but not in the first column of Annex II to that Directive.

(3) Subject to the first paragraph of note 3 to Annex I to Directive 95/2, a person shall not use any permitted miscellaneous additive listed in that Annex in or on any food which is listed in the first column of Annex II to that Directive, except a permitted miscellaneous additive which is listed, or referred to, in relation to that food in the second column of that Annex in an amount not exceeding the maximum level (if any) for such additive in or on such food as listed in the third column of that Annex.

(4) A person shall not use any permitted miscellaneous additive listed in Annex I to Directive 95/2 in or on any food which is listed neither in Article 2.3(a) of that Directive nor in the first column of Annex II to that Directive and is not food for infants or young children, in an amount higher than quantum satis or otherwise than in compliance with note 2 to and the second paragraph of note 3 to Annex I to that Directive.

(5) A person shall not use any permitted miscellaneous additive listed in Annex III or IV to Directive 95/2 in or on any food which is not food for infants or young children, other than a food which is listed in either of those Annexes in relation to that additive and in accordance with the provisions contained in those Annexes governing the use of such additive in or on such food.

(6) A person shall not use any miscellaneous additive primarily as a carrier or carrier solvent unless that additive is a permitted miscellaneous additive listed in Annex V to Directive 95/2 and its use complies with the restrictions (if any) mentioned in relation to that additive in the third column of that Annex.

(7) Subject to the first paragraph of note 3 to Annex I to Directive 95/2, a person shall not use any permitted miscellaneous additive in or on any food for infants or young children unless that additive is listed in Annex VI to Directive 95/2, in which case it may be used only in accordance with the conditions contained in that Annex.

(8) A person shall not use in or on any food for infants or young children any relevant food additive in combination with a miscellaneous additive which has been used primarily as a carrier or carrier solvent unless that miscellaneous additive is listed in Annex VI to Directive 95/2 and its presence in or on the food is in accordance with the conditions contained in that Annex.

Sale of food additives and food containing miscellaneous additives

9.–(1) A person shall not sell any miscellaneous additive for use in or on food unless that additive is a permitted miscellaneous additive.

(2) A person shall not sell any miscellaneous additive for use primarily as a carrier or carrier solvent unless that additive is a permitted miscellaneous additive listed in Annex V to Directive 95/2.

(3) A person shall not sell direct to the consumer any miscellaneous additive other than a permitted miscellaneous additive.

(4) A person shall not sell any food having in it or on it any miscellaneous additive unless it is a permitted miscellaneous additive which has been used, or is present, in or on that food without contravening any of the provisions of regulation 8(1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (7) or (8).

(5) A person shall not sell any relevant food additive in combination with a miscellaneous additive which has been used primarily as a carrier or carrier solvent unless that miscellaneous additive has been used in respect of that relevant food additive without contravening the provisions of regulation 8(6).

Transitional provisions and exemption

10.–(1) In any proceedings for an offence consisting of a contravention of regulation 8(1) where it is alleged that a miscellaneous additive failed to satisfy the purity criteria for that additive, it shall be a defence for the accused to show–

(a) that the miscellaneous additive concerned is E431-E436 or polyethylene glycol 6000 and that the miscellaneous additive concerned or any food in or on which it was used was placed on the market or labelled before 5th November 2004; or

(b) that the miscellaneous additive concerned is E407, E407A, E1517 or E1519 and that the miscellaneous additive concerned or any food in or on which it was used was placed on the market or labelled before 1st April 2005,

and that the matter constituting the offence would not have constituted an offence under the Miscellaneous Food Additives Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996(20) had the amendments made to them by regulation 3 of the Miscellaneous Food Additives (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2004(21) not been in operation when that matter occurred.

(2) In any proceedings for an offence consisting of a contravention of regulation 8 or 9 in respect of any food additive, food or flavouring, it shall be a defence to prove that–

(a) the food additive, food or flavouring concerned was placed on the market or labelled before 27th January 2006; and

(b) the matter constituting the offence would not have constituted an offence under the Miscellaneous Food Additives Regulations (Northern Ireland)1996 had the amendments made to them by regulations 3 to 6, 7(b), 8(a) and (b), 9(a), 10 and 11(a) to (c), (e) to (i) and (k) to (l) of the Miscellaneous Food Additives (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005(22) not been in operation when the food additive, food or flavouring was placed on the market or labelled.

(3) In any proceedings for an offence consisting of a contravention of regulation 8 or 9 in respect of any food additive or food, it shall be a defence to prove that–

(a) the food additive or food concerned was placed on the market or labelled before 15th August 2008; and

(b) the matter constituting the offence would not have constituted an offence under the Miscellaneous Food Additives Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996 had the amendments made to them by regulations 5(a), 6(a), (b) and (d), and 8 of the Miscellaneous Food Additives and the Sweeteners in Food (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007(23) not been in operation when the food additive or food was placed on the market or labelled.

Placing on the market and use of sweeteners

11.–(1) A person shall not place on the market any sweetener which is intended–

(a) for sale to the ultimate consumer; or

(b) for use in or on any food,

other than a permitted sweetener.

(2) A person shall not use any sweetener in or on any food except a permitted sweetener that–

(a) is used in or on any food that is listed in the third column of the Annex to Directive 94/35 in an amount not exceeding the maximum usable dose for that sweetener that is listed in relation to that food in the fourth column of that Annex; and

(b) is listed in relation to that food in the second column of that Annex.

Sale of food containing sweeteners

12. A person shall not sell any food having in or on it any sweetener other than a permitted sweetener which has been used in or on that food without contravening regulation 11(2).

Transitional provision

13. In any proceedings for an offence consisting of a contravention of regulation 11 or 12, it shall be a defence to prove that–

(a) the act constituting the offence was committed before 29th January 2006;

(b) the act constituting the offence was that of–

(i) selling a sweetener or food, or

(ii) using a sweetener in or on food,

which in either case was placed on the market before 29th July 2005; and

(c) the act constituting the offence would not have constituted an offence under the Sweeteners in Food Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996(24) had the amendments made by regulations 3(1)(a) and (c) and (2) and 4, 5, 6 and 7 of the Sweeteners in Food (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005(25) not been in operation when the act occurred.

Offences and Penalties

14.–(1) A person who contravenes any provision of regulation 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11 or 12 is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.

(2) Subject to the transitional provisions contained in Article 34 of Regulation 1333/2008, a person who contravenes or fails to comply with–

(a) any specified Regulation 1333/2008 provision;

(b) before 1st January 2011, Article 4.2 (as read with Articles 12, 13.2, 18.3 and 35) of Regulation 1333/2008 (requirement to use, in food additives, food enzymes or food flavourings, only food additives included in Part 1 or 4 of Annex III to that Regulation and to use them in accordance with any conditions specified in that Annex);

(c) on or after 1st January 2011, Article 4.2 (as read with Articles 12, 13.2, 18.3 and 35) of Regulation 1333/2008 (requirement to use, in food additives, food enzymes or food flavourings, only food additives included in Annex III to that Regulation and to use them in accordance with any conditions specified in that Annex);

(d) on or after 20th January 2011, Article 23.4 of Regulation 1333/2008 (requirement that manufacturers of table-top sweeteners make available by appropriate means the information necessary to allow their safe use by consumers); or

(e) on or after 20th July 2010, Article 24.1 (as read with Article 24.2 and the third paragraph of Article 31) of Regulation 1333/2008 (requirement that the labelling of food containing the food colours listed in Annex V to that Regulation include the additional information set out in that Annex),

is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.

Execution and Enforcement

15. Each district council shall execute and enforce within its district these Regulations and Regulation 1333/2008.

Application of various Articles of the Food Safety (Northern Ireland) Order 1991

16.–(1) The following provisions of the Order shall apply for the purposes of these Regulations with the modification that any reference in those provisions to the Order or Part thereof shall be construed as a reference to these Regulations –

(a) Articles 2(4) (extended meaning of sale) and 3 (application to food offered as prizes etc.);

(b) Article 19 (offences due to fault of another person);

(c) Article 20 (defence of due diligence)(26) with the modification that–

(i) paragraphs (2) to (4) shall apply in relation to an offence under these Regulations as they apply in relation to an offence under Article 13 or 14, and

(ii) in paragraph (4)(b) the references to "sale" are deemed to include references to "placing on the market";

(d) Article 21 (defence of publication in the course of business);

(e) Article 30(8) (which relates to documentary evidence);

(f) Article 36(1) (punishment of offences), in so far as it relates to offences under Article 34(1) as applied by paragraph (3)(b);

(g) Article 36(2) and (3)(27), in so far as it relates to offences under Article 34(2) as applied by paragraph (3)(c).

(2) In the application of Article 33 of the Order (powers of entry) for the purposes of these Regulations, the references in Article 33(1) to the Order are to be construed as including references to Regulation 1333/2008.

(3) The following provisions of the Order shall apply for the purposes of these Regulations with the modification that any reference in those provisions to the Order is to be construed as including a reference to Regulation 1333/2008 and these Regulations–

(a) Article 4 (presumptions that food intended for human consumption) with the modification that the references to "sold" and "sale" are deemed to include references to "placed on the market" and "placing on the market" respectively;

(b) Article 34(1) (obstruction etc. of officers);

(c) Article 34(2), with the modification that the reference to "any such requirement as is mentioned in paragraph (1)(b)" is deemed to be a reference to any such requirement as is mentioned in Article 34(1)(b) as applied by sub-paragraph (b).

(4) Article 35 of the Order (time limit for prosecutions) shall apply to offences under these Regulations as it applies to offences punishable under Article 36(2) of the Order.

Condemnation of food

17. Where any food is certified by a food analyst as being food which it is an offence under these Regulations to use, sell, or place on the market, that food shall be treated for the purposes of Article 8 of the Order (under which food may be seized and destroyed under an order of a justice of the peace) as failing to comply with food safety requirements.

Consequential amendments

18.–(1) In the Mineral Hydrocarbons in Food Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1966(28) in regulation 3 (exemptions), for paragraph (1)(d), there is substituted–

"(d) any food containing mineral hydrocarbon that is used in the food as a miscellaneous additive as defined in the Food Additives Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 in compliance with the provisions of those Regulations.".

(2) In the Fruit Juices and Fruit Nectars Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003(29), for paragraph 6 of Schedule 3 (additional ingredients permitted in particular designated products) there is substituted–

"6. In any designated product, any substance permitted pursuant to Regulation (EC) No. 1333/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council on food additives may be added.".

(3) In the Condensed Milk and Dried Milk Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003(30) for paragraph (a) of Note 1 to Schedule 1 (partly or wholly dehydrated preserved milk products and their reserved descriptions) there is substituted–

"(a) Any designated product may contain–

(i) any substance permitted pursuant to Regulation (EC) No. 1333/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council on food additives, and

(ii) vitamins and minerals in accordance with the requirements of Regulation (EC) No. 1925/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the addition of vitamins and minerals and of certain other substances to foods" (31).

(4) In the Meat Products Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2004(32), for the Note to Schedule 3 (added ingredients which are not required to be indicated in the name of the food in the case of a meat product to which regulation 5 applies) there is substituted–

"For the purposes of item 1 of this Schedule, "additive" means any substance permitted for use in food pursuant to Regulation (EC) No. 1333/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council on food additives or Regulation (EC) No. 1334/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council on flavourings and certain food ingredients with flavouring properties for use in and on foods and amending Council Regulation (EEC) No. 1601/91, Regulations (EC) No. 2232/96 and (EC) No. 110/2008 and Directive 2000/13/EC."(33).

(5) In the Jam and Similar Products Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003(34)–

(a) in regulation 2(1) (interpretation) for the definition of "permitted sweetener" there is substituted–

""permitted sweetener" means any sweetener in so far as its use is permitted in the specified jam or similar product by the Food Additives Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009;"; and

(b) in Schedule 2 (permitted additional ingredients and authorised treatments for products described in items 1 to 7 of Schedule 1), for paragraph (1)(m) there is substituted–

"(m) any substance permitted pursuant to Regulation (EC) No. 1333/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council on food additives.".

Amendment of the Specified Sugar Products Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003

19. In the Specified Sugar Products Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003(35), for Note 7 to Schedule 1 (specified sugar products and their reserved descriptions) there is substituted–

"7. Specified sugar products may contain any substance permitted pursuant to Directive 2009/32/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the approximation of the laws of the Member States on extraction solvents used in the production of foodstuffs and food ingredients (Recast) or Regulation (EC) No. 1333/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council on food additives.".

Revocations

20. The Regulations set out in Schedule 2 are revoked.

Regulation 2(1)

SCHEDULE 1 SPECIFIED REGULATION 1333/2008 PROVISIONS

Regulation 20

SCHEDULE 2 REGULATIONS REVOKED

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations revoke the Food Additives Labelling Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1992 (S.R. 1992 No. 417), the Sweeteners in Food Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996 (S.R. 1996 No. 48), the Colours in Food Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996 (S.R. 1996 No. 49), the Miscellaneous Food Additives Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996 (S.R. 1996 No. 50) and various Statutory Rules which amended them. They also re-enact with changes and on a transitional basis certain provisions of the Sweeteners in Food Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996, the Colours in Food Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996 and the Miscellaneous Food Additives Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996.

These Regulations provide for the execution and enforcement of Regulation (EC) No. 1333/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council on food additives (OJ No. L354, 31.12.2008, p.16) ("the Regulation") and give effect to Commission Directive 2009/10/EC amending Directive 2008/84/EC laying down specific purity criteria on food additives other than colours and sweeteners (OJ No. L44, 14.2.2009, p.62).

These Regulations prohibit–

(a) the use in or on any food of any colour other than a permitted colour and the use of any permitted colour unless specified requirements are satisfied (the terms "colour" and "permitted colour" are defined in regulation 2(1)) (regulation 3);

(b) the use for health marking and other marking of certain meat and meat products of colours other than certain permitted colours (regulation 4);

(c) the use of a colour for the decorative colouring of eggshells or the marking of eggshells as provided for in a specified EU instrument other than a permitted colour (regulation 5);

(d) the sale –

(i) of any colour for use in or on any food unless the colour is a permitted colour,

(ii) direct to consumers of any colour other than a specified permitted colour (the term "specified permitted colour" is defined in regulation 2(1)), or

(iii) of any food having in or on it any colour other than a permitted colour that has been used in or on the food without contravening specified provisions of these Regulations (regulation 6);

(e) the use in or on any food of any miscellaneous additive other than a permitted miscellaneous additive (the terms "miscellaneous additive" and "permitted miscellaneous additive" are defined in regulation 2(1)) (regulation 8(1));

(f) subject to a specified EU provision, the use of a permitted miscellaneous additive listed elsewhere in the EU instrument in which that provision appears in or on a food listed in a specified part of that instrument (regulation 8(2));

(g) subject to a specified EU provision in the case of the prohibition imposed by regulation 8(3), the use of certain permitted miscellaneous additives in or on specified foods unless specified requirements are satisfied (regulation 8(3), (4) and (5));

(h) the use of any miscellaneous additive primarily as a carrier or carrier solvent unless the additive is a permitted miscellaneous additive listed in a specified EU provision and its use complies with the restrictions, if any, mentioned in relation to the additive in that provision (the terms "carrier" and "carrier solvent" are defined in regulation 2(1)) (regulation 8(6));

(i) subject to a specified EU provision, the use of any permitted miscellaneous additive in or on food for infants or young children unless it is listed in a specified EU provision and it is used only in accordance with the conditions contained in that provision (the term "food for infants or young children" is defined in regulation 2(1)) (regulation 8(7));

(j) the use in or on any food for infants or young children of any relevant food additive in combination with a miscellaneous additive used primarily as a carrier or carrier solvent unless the miscellaneous food additive is listed in a specified EU provision and its presence in or on the food is in accordance with the conditions contained in that provision (the term "relevant food additive" is defined in regulation 2(1)) (regulation 8(8));

(k) the sale of any miscellaneous additive for use in or on food other than a permitted miscellaneous additive (regulation 9(1));

(l) the sale of any miscellaneous additive for use primarily as a carrier or carrier solvent unless the additive is a certain type of permitted miscellaneous additive (regulation 9(2));

(m) the sale direct to consumers of any miscellaneous additive other than a permitted miscellaneous additive (regulation 9(3));

(n) the sale of any food having in or on it any miscellaneous additive other than a permitted miscellaneous additive which has been used or is present in or on the food without contravening specified provisions of these Regulations (regulation 9(4));

(o) the sale of any relevant food additive in combination with a miscellaneous additive used primarily as a carrier or carrier solvent unless the miscellaneous additive has been used in respect of the relevant food additive without contravening the requirements of regulation 8(6) (regulation 9(5));

(p) the placing on the market of any sweetener intended for sale to the ultimate consumer or for use in or on any food other than a permitted sweetener (the terms "sweetener" and "permitted sweetener" are defined in regulation 2(1)) (regulation 11(1));

(q) the use of any sweetener in or on any food other than a permitted sweetener which–

(i) is used in or on a food listed in a specified EU provision in an amount not exceeding the maximum usable dose for the sweetener that is listed in relation to that food in that provision, and

(ii) is listed in relation to that food in that provision (regulation 11(2));

(r) the sale of any food having in or on it any sweetener other than a permitted sweetener which has been used in or on the food without contravening regulation 11(2) (regulation 12).

These Regulations also–

(a) re-enact with changes on a transitional basis (see paragraph 1 above) certain provisions included in the Sweeteners in Food Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996, the Colours in Food Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996 and the Miscellaneous Food Additives Regulations (Northern Ireland)1996 (regulations 7, 10 and 13);

(b) provide that a person who contravenes or fails to comply with specified provisions of these Regulations or (subject to a transitional provision contained in Article 34 of the Regulation) the Regulation, is guilty of a summary offence and liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale (£5,000) (regulation 14);

(c) make provision for the execution and enforcement of these Regulations and the Regulation (regulation 15);

(d) apply with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations certain provisions of the Food Safety (Northern Ireland) Order 1991 (regulation 16);

(e) provide that, where food is certified as being food which it is an offence under these Regulations to use, sell or place on the market, the food will be treated for the purposes of Article 8 of the Food Safety (Northern Ireland) Order 1991 as failing to comply with food safety requirements (regulation 17);

(f) make consequential amendments to the Mineral Hydrocarbons in Food Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1966 (S.R. & O (NI)1966 No. 200), the Fruit Juices and Fruit Nectars Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003 (S.R. 2003 No. 305), the Condensed Milk and Dried Milk Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003 (S.R. 2003 No. 300), the Meat Products Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2004 (S.R. 2004 No. 13) and the Jam and Similar Products Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003 (S.R. 2003 No. 519) (regulation 18); and

(g) make a minor amendment to the Specified Sugar Products Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003 (S.R. 2003 No. 301) (regulation 19).