The Sweeteners in Food Amendment (Scotland) Regulations 2003

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations, which extend to Scotland only, further amend the Sweeteners in Food Regulations 1995 (S.I. 1995/3123, as already amended) (“the 1995 Regulations”) by–

(a) granting authorisation for the marketing and use as a sweetener of salt of aspartame acesulfame, as permitted by Article 5 of Directive 89/107/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States concerning food additives authorised for use in foodstuffs intended for human consumption (O.J. No. L 40, 11.2.89, p.27). Article 5 permits member States to authorise the marketing and use within their own territories of additives for a maximum of 2 years, pending consideration for inclusion in Directive 94/35/EC on sweeteners for use in foodstuffs (O.J. No. L 237, 10.9.94, p.3, as amended) (regulations 3(a) and 5);

(b) clarifying the meaning of “maximum usable dose” as used in relation to cyclamic acid and its Na and Ca salt and saccharin and its Na, K and Ca salts (regulation 3(b)); and

(c) making consequential changes in regulations 3(3) and regulation 5 and 5A of the 1995 Regulations (regulations 4, 6 and 7).

Copies of the Food Agriculture Organisation’s documents referred to in regulation 3(a) in the new definition of “permitted sweetener” may be obtained from the Stationery Office, PO Box 29, St Crispins House, Norwich NR3 1GN. Alternatively copies may be obtained online from www.tso.co.uk.

No regulatory impact assessment has been prepared in relation to these Regulations.