Contaminants in Food Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations.)

These Regulations make provision for the enforcement and execution of Commission Regulation (EC) No. 194/96 setting maximum levels for certain contaminants in foodstuffs (“the Commission Regulation”).

The Regulations—

(a) provide that it is an offence to contravene Article 2.1 of the Commission Regulation (placing on the market lettuce or spinach containing higher than specified levels of contaminants) save where the marketing is of authorised lettuce or spinach as defined in that regulation, and also prescribe a penalty for the offence (regulation 3);

(b) specify the enforcement authority (regulation 4);

(c) provide a defence in relation to exports in implementation of Articles 2 and 3 of Council Directive 89/397/EEC (O.J. No. L186, 30.6.89, p. 23) on the official control of foodstuffs, as read with the ninth recital to that Directive (regulation 5); and

(d) provide for the application of specified provisions of the Food Safety (Northern Ireland) Order 1991 (regulation 6).

• Article 5 of the Commission Regulation provides that preserved, deep frozen or frozen spinach already on the market on 15th February 1997 which does not conform to the provisions of the Regulation may continue to be marketed until stocks are exhausted.