The Meat Products (England) Regulations 2003

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

In relation to England these Regulations revoke, and replace in part, the Meat Products and Spreadable Fish Products Regulations 1984 (S.I. 1984/1566, as amended) which extend to England and Wales (Regulation 11).

These Regulations—

(a) define various expressions used in the Regulations (Regulation 2);

(b) specify the scope of the Regulations (Regulation 3);

(c) prohibit the use of specified names in the labelling or advertising of meat products if the products do not satisfy specific compositional requirements and the sale of food labelled in contravention of that prohibition (Regulation 4 and Schedule 2);

(d) prescribe that, save in specified cases, where meat products of a specified appearance are sold the name used as the name of the food in the labelling of the products must include an indication of any added ingredients of animal origin and of any other added ingredients not falling into specified categories (Regulation 5 and Schedule 3);

(e) subject to an exception, prohibit the sale of uncooked meat products which include amongst their ingredients specified parts of the carcase of any mammalian species of animal (Regulation 6);

(f) prescribe penalties for breach of the Regulations and allocate responsibility for their enforcement and execution (Regulation 7);

(g) subject to a modification, apply specified provisions of the Food Safety Act 1990 for the purposes of the Regulations (Regulation 8);

(h) amend the Food Labelling Regulations 1996 (S.I. 1996/1499 as amended) in relation to England by—

(i) adding to Regulation 2(1) (interpretation) a definition of “meat product”, and

(ii) in Regulation 23 (food which is not prepacked and similar food and fancy confectionery products) adding, as an exception to that regulation, a new paragraph 2(c) providing that, in the case of meat products other than specified ones, which are not prepacked or which are prepacked for direct sale, a declaration is required in accordance with regulation 5(bA) of the 1996 Regulations as to the quantity of certain ingredients or categories of ingredients (Regulation 9); and

(i) include a transitional provision relating to offences under the Regulations committed before 1st February 2004 and a defence in relation to food intended for export (Regulation 10).

A regulatory impact assessment has been prepared in respect of these Regulations and has been placed in the Library of each House of Parliament. Copies may be obtained from the Food Labelling and Standards Division of the Food Standards Agency, Aviation House, 125 Kingsway, London WC2B 6NH.