(This note is not part of the Regulations.)
These Regulations provide for the enforcement and execution of certain specified provisions (relating to food) of Regulation (EC) No. 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council on genetically modified food and feed (O.J. No. L268, 18.10.2003, p. 1). Separate Regulations make provision for the enforcement of those provisions of Regulation (EC) No. 1829/2003 relating to animal feed.
In particular these Regulations –
(a)formally designate the Food Standards Agency as the national competent authority to receive applications for the authorisation of new genetically modified organisms for food use, food containing or consisting of genetically modified organisms, or food produced from or containing ingredients produced from genetically modified organisms (regulation 3);
(b)provide for district councils to enforce the provisions of these Regulations and Chapter II of Regulation (EC) No. 1829/2003, once the Regulations are in operation (regulation 4);
(c)establish penalties for failing to comply with certain specified provisions of Regulation (EC) No. 1829/2003 (regulation 5 and the Schedule);
(d)apply various provisions of the Food Safety (Northern Ireland) Order 1991 with some modifications in their application for the purposes of these Regulations (regulations 6 and 7);
(e)revoke the Genetically Modified and Novel Foods (Labelling) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000 (regulation 8);
(f)make consequential amendments to the Novel Foods and Novel Food Ingredients Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2004 and to the Food (Provisions Relating to Labelling) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003 (regulation 9).