The Food Labelling Amendment (Scotland) Regulations 2005

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations extend to Scotland only. They amend the Food Labelling Regulations 1996 (S.I. 1996/1499 as amended), which extend to the whole of Great Britain.

The Regulations implement Commission Directive 2004/77/EC amending Directive 94/54/EC as regards the labelling of certain foods containing glycyrrhizinic acid and its ammonium salt (O.J. No. L 162, 30.4.04, p.76). Glycyrrhizinic acid occurs naturally in the liquorice plant, and its ammonium salt is manufactured from aqueous extracts of that plant.

The Regulations–

(a) require confectionery and drinks containing certain levels of that acid or salt to be labelled with the indication “contains liquorice” and for this to be coupled with a warning in certain cases (regulation 7);

(b) provide exemptions from these labelling requirements in the case of food which is not prepacked, food which is prepacked for direct sale, fancy confectionery products, small packages and certain indelibly marked glass bottles (regulations 4 to 6);

(c) contain a transitional provision (regulation 8); and

(d) amend the definition of “Directive 94/54” (regulation 3).

A full Regulatory Impact Assessment of the effect that these Regulations are likely to have on business costs has been prepared and placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre. Copies may be obtained from the Food Standards Agency (Scotland), Labelling Division, 6th Floor, St Magnus House, 25 Guild Street, Aberdeen AB11 6NJ.