These Regulations make provision for a purpose mentioned in section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972(1) and it appears to the Secretary of State that it is expedient for the references to the provisions of Article 114(2) of, and Annex XIII to, Council Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 establishing a common organisation of agricultural markets and on specific provisions for certain agricultural products (Single CMO Regulation)(2) to be construed as references to those provisions as amended from time to time.
As required by Article 9 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(3), there has been open and transparent public consultation during the preparation and evaluation of the following Regulations.
In accordance with section 48(4A) of the Food Safety Act 1990(4), the Secretary of State has had regard to relevant advice from the Food Standards Agency.
The Secretary of State makes the following Regulations in exercise of powers conferred by paragraph 1A of Schedule 2 to the European Communities Act 1972(5) and sections 6(4), 16(1), 17(2), 26(1) and (3) and 48(1) of the Food Safety Act 1990(6) and now vested in the Secretary of State(7).
“the Annex” means Annex XIII to the Council Regulation;
“Article 114(2)” means Article 114(2) of the Council Regulation;
“the Council Regulation” means Council Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 establishing a common organisation of agricultural markets and on specific provisions for certain agricultural products (Single CMO Regulation);
“drinking milk” has the meaning given in point I(b) of the Annex;
“food authority” does not include the appropriate Treasurer referred to in section 5(1) of the 1990 Act;
“milk” has the meaning given in point I(a) of the Annex; and
“sell” includes possess for sale and offer, expose or advertise for sale.
(2)
Other expressions used in these Regulations and in the Council Regulation which are not defined in these Regulations have the same meaning in these Regulations as they have in the Council Regulation.
(3)
References in these Regulations to Article 114(2) and the Annex are references to Article 114(2) and the Annex as amended from time to time.
Each food authority must enforce the provisions of these Regulations within its area.
(2)
Each food authority must give such assistance and information to any other food authority in Great Britain as that other food authority may reasonably require for the purpose of carrying out its duties under these Regulations or an equivalent provision.
(3)
In this regulation, “equivalent provision” means a provision in Regulations made in Scotland or Wales for the purpose of implementing Article 114(2) or the Annex.
The provisions of the 1990 Act set out in paragraph (3) apply for the purposes of these Regulations.
(2)
For the purposes of these Regulations, any reference in those provisions to the 1990 Act or to a Part of the 1990 Act must be construed as a reference to these Regulations.
(3)
The provisions are—
(a)
section 2 (extended meaning of “sale” etc.)(8);
(b)
section 3 (presumptions that food intended for human consumption);
(c)
section 20 (offences due to fault of another person);
(d)
section 21 (defence of due diligence)(9);
(e)
paragraph (8) of section 30 (analysis etc. of samples);
(f)
section 33 (obstruction etc. of officers);
(g)
paragraphs (1) to (3) of section 35 (punishment of offences) in so far as the paragraphs relate to offences under paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 33(10);
(h)
section 36 (offences by bodies corporate); and
(i)
section 44 (protection of officers acting in good faith).
Regulation 2(1) of the Food Labelling Regulations 1996(13) is amended in accordance with paragraphs (2) to (4).
(2)
After the definition of “confectionery product”, insert—
““Council Regulation 1234/2007” means Council Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 establishing a common organisation of agricultural markets and on specific provisions for certain agricultural products (Single CMO Regulation);”.
(3)
In the definition of “raw milk”, for the words “Article 3(1) of Council Regulation (EC) No 2597/97 laying down additional rules on the common organisation of the market in milk and milk products for drinking milk”, substitute “point III(1) of Annex XIII to Council Regulation 1234/2007”.
(4)
In the definitions of “semi-skimmed milk”, “skimmed milk” and “whole milk”, for the words “Article 3(1) of Council Regulation (EC) No 2597/97”, substitute “”point III(1) of Annex XIII to Council Regulation 1234/2007”.
13th May 2008
Jeff Rooker
Minister of State
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
