The Food Enzymes Regulations 2009

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

1.  These Regulations provide for the execution and enforcement in England of Regulation (EC) No. 1332/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council on food enzymes and amending Council Directive 83/417/EEC, Council Regulation (EC) No 1493/1999, Directive 2000/13/EC, Council Directive 2001/112/EC and Regulation (EC) No 258/97 (OJ No. L354, 31.12.2008, p.7), (“the EC Regulation”).

2.  The Regulations provide that it is an offence —

(a) once the list of food enzymes mentioned in Article 17 of the EC Regulation` has been adopted, to place on the market or use as food enzymes any that are not on that list (regulation 3(2)(a));

(b) to place on the market a food enzyme (or any food containing such an enzyme) that is not compliant with the EC Regulation and its implementing measures (regulation 3(2)(b));

(c) to fail to label food enzymes or enzyme preparations in accordance with the relevant requirements for business to business transactions (regulation 3(2)(c)) or for sales to the final consumer (regulation 3(2)(d)); or

(d) to fail to provide certain technical information to the Commission in specified circumstances (regulation 3(2)(e)).

3.  These Regulations also —

(a) designate the authorities having the duty to enforce these Regulations and the EC Regulation (regulation 4);

(b) apply certain specified provisions of the Food Safety Act 1990 for the purpose of these Regulations (regulation 5); and

(c) provide that where food does not comply with these Regulations such that it would be an offence to place it on the market, it may be treated as failing to comply with food safety requirements for the purposes of seizure and destruction under section 9 of the Food Safety Act 1990 (regulation 6).

4.  The Regulations make consequential amendments —

(a) in relation to England only, to the Food Labelling Regulations 1996 (regulation 7), the Caseins and Caseinates Regulations 1985 (regulation 8) and the Novel Foods and Novel Food Ingredients Regulations 1997 (regulation 10);

(b) to the Fruit Juices and Fruit Nectars (England) Regulations 2003 (regulation 9); and

(c) in relation to the whole of the United Kingdom, to the Spirit Drinks Regulations 2008 (regulation 11).

5.  A full impact assessment of the effect that this instrument will have on the costs of business and the voluntary sector is available from the Food Composition and Labelling Division of the Food Standards Agency, Aviation House, 125 Kingsway, London WC2B 6NH and is annexed to the Explanatory Memorandum which is available alongside the instrument on the OPSI website.