The Food Supplements (England) Regulations 2003

Title, commencement and extent E+W

1.  These Regulations may be cited as the Food Supplements (England) Regulations 2003; they come into force on 1st August 2005 and extend to England only.

Interpretation E+W

2.—(1) In these Regulations—

“the Act” means the Food Safety Act 1990;

“catering establishment” means a restaurant, canteen, club, public house, school, hospital or similar establishment (including a vehicle or a fixed or mobile stall) where, in the course of a business, food is prepared for delivery to the ultimate consumer and is ready for consumption without further preparation;

F1 ...

F2 ...

F2 ...

“dose form” means a form such as capsules, pastilles, tablets, pills, and other similar forms, sachets of powder, ampoules of liquids, drop dispensing bottles, and other similar forms of liquids or powders designed to be taken in measured small unit quantities;

“food supplement” means any food the purpose of which is to supplement the normal diet and which—

(a)

is a concentrated source of a vitamin or mineral or other substance with a nutritional or physiological effect, alone or in combination; and

(b)

is sold in dose form;

“preparation” includes manufacture and any form of processing or treatment, and “prepared” shall be construed accordingly;

[F3 “Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011” means Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the provision of food information to consumers, amending Regulations (EC) No 1924/2006 and (EC) No 1925/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council, and repealing Commission Directive 87/250/EEC, Council Directive 90/496/EEC, Commission Directive 1999/10/EC, Directive 2000/13/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, Commission Directives 2002/67/EC and 2008/5/EC and Commission Regulation (EC) No 608/2004;]

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

“ultimate consumer” means any person who purchases otherwise than—

(a)

for the purpose of resale;

(b)

for the purposes of a catering establishment; or

(c)

for the purposes of a manufacturing business.

(2) A food supplement shall be regarded as prepacked for the purposes of these Regulations if—

(a) it is ready for sale to the ultimate consumer or to a catering establishment, and

(b) it is put into packaging before being offered for sale in such a way that the food supplement cannot be altered without opening or changing the packaging.

F4 (3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F4 (4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in reg. 2(1) omitted (13.12.2014) by virtue of The Food Information Regulations 2014 (S.I. 2014/1855), Sch. 7 para. 25(a)

F2 Words in reg. 2 omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Nutrition (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/651), regs. 1(1), 12(2)(a); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F3 Words in reg. 2(1) inserted (13.12.2014) by The Food Information Regulations 2014 (S.I. 2014/1855), Sch. 7 para. 25(b)

F4 Reg. 2(3)(4) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Nutrition (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/651), regs. 1(1), 12(2)(b); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

Scope of Regulations E+W

3.—(1) These Regulations apply to food supplements sold as food and presented as such.

[F5 (2) These Regulations do not apply to medicinal products [F6 as defined by regulation 2(1) of the Human Medicines Regulations 2012]. ]

Textual Amendments

F5 Reg. 3(2) substituted (1.1.2010) by The Food Supplements (England) and Addition of Vitamins, Minerals and Other Substances (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/3251), regs. 1, 2(4)

F6 Words in reg. 3(2) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Nutrition (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/651), regs. 1(1), 12(3); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

Restriction on form in which food supplements are sold to the ultimate consumer E+W

4.  No person shall sell any food supplement to the ultimate consumer unless it is prepacked.

Prohibitions on sale relating to composition of food supplements E+W

5.—(1) F7 ..., no person shall sell a food supplement in the manufacture of which a vitamin or mineral has been used unless that vitamin or mineral—

(a) is listed in [F8 Schedule 1 to the Nutrition (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019]; and

(b) is in a form which—

(i) is listed in [F9 Schedule 2 to the Nutrition (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019], and

(ii) meets the relevant purity criteria.

(2) The relevant purity criteria for the purposes of paragraph (1)(b)(ii) are—

[F10 (a) the purity criteria, if any, specified in EU-derived domestic legislation, retained direct EU legislation or in regulations made by the Secretary of State under regulation 3 of the Nutrition (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019; or]

(b) in the absence of such purity criteria, generally acceptable purity criteria for the substance in question recommended by international bodies.

F11 (3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F7 Words in reg. 5(1) omitted (1.1.2010) by virtue of The Food Supplements (England) and Addition of Vitamins, Minerals and Other Substances (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/3251), regs. 1, 2(5)(a)

F8 Words in reg. 5(1)(a) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Nutrition (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/651), regs. 1(1), 12(4)(a)(i); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F9 Words in reg. 5(1)(b)(i) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Nutrition (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/651), regs. 1(1), 12(4)(a)(ii); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F10 Reg. 5(2)(a) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Nutrition (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/651), regs. 1(1), 12(4)(b); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F11 Reg. 5(3) omitted (1.1.2010) by virtue of The Food Supplements (England) and Addition of Vitamins, Minerals and Other Substances (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/3251), regs. 1, 2(5)(d)

Restrictions on sale relating to labelling etc of food supplements E+W

6.—(1) No person shall sell a food supplement which is ready for delivery to the ultimate consumer or to a catering establishment unless the name under which it is sold is “food supplement”.

(2) Without prejudice to [F12 Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011], no person shall sell a food supplement which is ready for delivery to the ultimate consumer or to a catering establishment unless it is marked or labelled with the following particulars—

(a) the name of the category of any vitamin or mineral or other substance with a nutritional or physiological effect which characterises the product or an indication of the nature of that vitamin or mineral or other substance;

(b) the portion of the product recommended for daily consumption;

(c) a warning not to exceed the stated recommended daily dose;

(d) a statement to the effect that food supplements should not be used as a substitute for a varied diet;

(e) a statement to the effect that the product should be stored out of the reach of young children; and

(f) the amount of any vitamin or mineral or other substance with a nutritional or physiological effect which is present in the product.

(3) The information required by paragraph (2)(f) shall—

(a) be given in numerical form;

[F13 (b) in the case of a vitamin or mineral listed in [F14 Schedule 1 to the Nutrition (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019] be given using the relevant unit specified in brackets after the name of that vitamin or mineral;]

(c) be the amount per portion of the product as recommended for daily consumption on the labelling of the product;

(d) be an average amount based on the manufacturer’s analysis of the product; and

[F15 (e) in the case of a vitamin or mineral listed in [F16 point 1 of Part A of Annex XIII to Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011], be expressed also as a percentage (which may also be given in graphical form) of the [F17 relevant reference value specified in that point]].

(4) No person shall sell any food supplement which is ready for delivery to the ultimate consumer or to a catering establishment if the labelling, presentation or advertising of that food supplement includes any mention, express or implied, that a balanced and varied diet cannot provide appropriate quantities of nutrients in general.

Textual Amendments

F12 Words in reg. 6(2) substituted (13.12.2014) by The Food Information Regulations 2014 (S.I. 2014/1855), Sch. 7 para. 26(a)

F13 Reg. 6(3)(b) substituted (1.1.2010) by The Food Supplements (England) and Addition of Vitamins, Minerals and Other Substances (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/3251), regs. 1, 2(6)(a)

F14 Words in reg. 6(3)(b) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Nutrition (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/651), regs. 1(1), 12(5); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F15 Reg. 6(3)(e) substituted (1.1.2010) by The Food Supplements (England) and Addition of Vitamins, Minerals and Other Substances (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/3251), regs. 1, 2(6)(b)

F16 Words in reg. 6(3)(e) substituted (13.12.2014) by The Food Information Regulations 2014 (S.I. 2014/1855), Sch. 7 para. 26(b)(i)

F17 Words in reg. 6(3)(e) substituted (13.12.2014) by The Food Information Regulations 2014 (S.I. 2014/1855), Sch. 7 para. 26(b)(ii)

Manner of marking or labelling E+W

7.—(1) No person shall sell any food supplement which—

(a) is ready for delivery to the ultimate consumer, or

(b) is ready for delivery to a catering establishment and is prepacked,

unless the particulars with which it is required to be marked or labelled by virtue of regulation 6(2) appear—

(i) on the packaging;

(ii) on a label attached to the packaging; or

(iii) on a label which is clearly visible through the packaging,

save that where the sale is otherwise than to the ultimate consumer such particulars may, alternatively, appear only on the commercial documents relating to the food supplement where it can be guaranteed that such documents, containing all such particulars, either accompany the food supplement to which they relate or were sent before, or at the same time as, delivery of the food supplement, and provided always that the particulars required by [F18 points (a), (f), (g) and (h) of Article 9(1) Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011] are also marked or labelled on the outermost packaging in which that food supplement is sold.

(2) No person shall sell any food supplement which is ready for delivery to a catering establishment and is not prepacked, unless the particulars with which it is required to be marked or labelled by virtue of regulation 6(2) appear—

(a) on a label attached to the food supplement;

(b) on a ticket or notice which is readily discernible by the intending purchaser at the place where he chooses the food supplement; or

(c) in commercial documents relating to the food supplement where it can be guaranteed that such documents either accompany the food supplement to which they relate or were sent before, or at the same time as, delivery of the food supplement.

(3) No person shall sell any food supplement which is ready for delivery to the ultimate consumer or to a catering establishment unless the particulars with which it is required to be marked or labelled by virtue of regulation 6(2) are easy to understand, clearly legible and indelible and, when a food is sold to the ultimate consumer, those particulars are marked in a conspicuous place in such a way as to be easily visible.

(4) No person shall sell any food supplement which is ready for delivery to the ultimate consumer or to a catering establishment if the particulars with which it is required to be marked or labelled by virtue of regulation 6(2) are in any way hidden, obscured or interrupted by any other written or pictorial matter.

Textual Amendments

F18 Words in reg. 7(1) substituted (13.12.2014) by The Food Information Regulations 2014 (S.I. 2014/1855), Sch. 7 para. 27

Enforcement E+W

8.—(1) Each food authority shall enforce and execute these Regulations in its area.

(2) In this regulation “food authority” does not include—

(a) the council of a district of a non-metropolitan county except where the county functions have been transferred to that council pursuant to a structural change; or

(b) the appropriate Treasurer referred to in section 5(1)(c) of the Act (which deals with the Inner Temple and the Middle Temple).

Offences and penalties E+W

9.  If any person contravenes regulation 4, 5, 6 or 7 he shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.

Defence in relation to exports E+W

F19 10.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F19 Reg. 10 revoked (1.1.2006) by The Official Feed and Food Controls (England) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/2626), reg. 1(b), Sch. 6 Pt. 2

Application of various provisions of the Act E+W

11.  The following provisions of the Act shall apply for the purposes of these Regulations with the modification that any reference in those provisions to the Act or Part thereof shall be construed as a reference to these Regulations—

(a) section 2 (extended meaning of “sale” etc.);

(b) section 3 (presumptions that food is intended for human consumption);

(c) section 20 (offences due to fault of another person);

(d) section 21 (defence of due diligence) as it applies for the purposes of section 8, 14 or 15;

(e) section 22 (defence of publication in the course of business);

(f) section 30(8) (which relates to documentary evidence);

(g) section 33(1) (obstruction etc. of officers);

(h) section 33(2), with the modification that the reference to “any such requirement as is mentioned in subsection (1)(b) above” shall be deemed to be a reference to any such requirement as is mentioned in that subsection as applied by paragraph (g) above;

(i) section 35(1) (punishment of offences) in so far as it relates to offences under section 33(1) as applied by paragraph (g) above;

(j) section 35(2) and (3) in so far as it relates to offences under section 33(2) as applied by paragraph (h) above;

(k) section 36 (offences by bodies corporate); and

(l) section 44 (protection of officers acting in good faith).

[F20 Transitional provision E+W

12.— [F21 (1)] In any proceedings for an offence under regulation 9 relating to a breach of regulation 6 or 7 consisting of a contravention of or a failure to comply with regulation 6 (3)(e), it shall be a defence to prove that—

(a) the food supplement concerned was sold before the 31st October 2012; and

(b) the matters constituting the alleged offence would not have constituted an offence under those Regulations if the amendments made by regulation 2(2) and (6)(b) of the Food Supplements (England) and Addition of Vitamins, Minerals and Other Substances (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2009 had not been in operation when the food was sold.

[F22 (2) In any proceedings for an offence under regulation 9 relating to a breach of regulation 6 or 7 consisting of a contravention of, or a failure to comply with, regulation 6(3)(b), it shall be a defence to prove that—

(a) zinc was used in the manufacture of the food supplement and the food supplement was marked or labelled before 10th February 2023; and

(b) the matters constituting the alleged offence would not have constituted an offence under these Regulations as they had effect immediately before 10th February 2023.]]

Textual Amendments

F20 Reg. 12 added (1.1.2010) by The Food Supplements (England) and Addition of Vitamins, Minerals and Other Substances (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/3251), regs. 1, 2(7)

F21 Words in reg. 12 renumbered as reg. 12(1) (10.2.2023) by The Food Supplements and Food for Specific Groups (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 2) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/131), regs. 1(2), 3(2)

F22 Reg. 12(2) inserted (10.2.2023) by The Food Supplements and Food for Specific Groups (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 2) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/131), regs. 1(3), 3(3)

Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Health

Hazel Blears

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State,

Department of Health