Weights and Measures &c. Act 1976

Shortages of food and other goods U.K.

12 Orders for alleviation of food or other shortages. E+W+S

(1) This section applies to food or other goods in relation to which requirements are imposed under or by virtue of—

[F1 (a) section 16 of the Food Safety Act 1990 (“the 1990 Act”);]

[F2 (c) Article 6 or 9 of the Food (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (the “1989 Order”); or]

[F3 (d) section 21, 22 or 23 of the 1985 Act;]

[F4 (e) Article 19 of the 1981 Order.]

(2) Where it appears to the appropriate Minister that—

(a) any food or other goods to which this section applies are or are likely to be, for a limited period of time, in short supply or unavailable in any area; and

(b) the alleviation of that situation is or is likely to be seriously hindered by a relevant requirement,

he may by order exclude or modify the relevant requirement in its operation in relation to the food or goods in question for a period specified in the order.

(3) The said period shall not exceed one year, but may be extended on one or more occasions by a subsequent order under this section for a further period not exceeding one year.

(4) An order under this section may attach conditions to the exclusion or modification of the relevant requirement, and may, while it is excluded or modified—

(a) impose, as respects the food or goods, any requirement which could be imposed under the section under or by virtue of which the relevant requirement is imposed, or

(b) exclude, as respects the food or goods, any exception or exemption from a requirement imposed by or under the said section.

(5) An order under this section—

(a) may impose on persons offending against the order penalties not exceeding the maximum penalties specified in the Acts [F5 or Orders]mentioned in subsection (1) above, or in instruments made under those Acts [F5 or those orders], in relation to the relevant requirement,

(b) may be limited to an area which is only part of the territory to which the relevant requirement extends,

(c) may, where so limited, make special provision for goods which are dealt with partly within the area and partly outside,

(d) may make different provision in relation to different cases or classes of cases, and may exclude specified cases or classes of cases,

(e) may contain such incidental or supplemental provisions as appear to the appropriate Minister to be expedient for the purposes of the order.

(6) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (5) above an order under this section may contain transitional provisions by reference to the beginning or end of the period for which the relevant requirement is excluded or modified.

(7) An order under this section may make provision for any of the purposes mentioned in subsections (4), (5) and (6) above by means of amending, or of applying with or without modifications, or of excluding the application in whole or in part of, any provision of the Act [F6 or Order]under or by virtue of which the relevant requirement is imposed and, except as provided by an order under this section, Schedule 6 to this Act shall have effect where a requirement is imposed under subsection (4) above.

(8) In this section “requirement” includes any condition or prohibition.

(9) In this section, “appropriate Minister” in relation to any relevant requirement, means—

[F7 (a) Where it was imposed under the 1990 Act—

(i) the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Secretary of State acting jointly in so far as it was imposed in relation to England and Wales; and

(ii) the Secretary of State in so far as it was imposed in relation to Scotland;]

(b) where it was imposed under the [F8 1989 Order] , the Department of Health and Social Services for Northern Ireland;

(c) where it was imposed under F9 . . . [F10 the 1985 Act], the Secretary of State;

(d) where it was imposed under the [F11 1981 Order], the Department of Commerce for Northern Ireland.

Extent Information

E1 This version of this provision extends to England and Wales and Scotland only; a separate version has been created for Northern Ireland only.

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 12(1)(a) substituted (E.W.S.) for s. 12(1)(a)(b) by Food Safety Act 1990 (c. 16, SIF 53:1, 2), s. 59(1), Sch. 3 para. 20(1)

F2 S. 12(1)(c) substituted by S.I. 1989/846 (N.I. 6), art. 76(1), Sch. 3 para. 12(a).

F3 Section 12(1)(d) substituted (E.W.S.) by Weights and Measures Act 1985 (c. 72, SIF 131), s. 97, Sch. 12 para. 7(2)

F4 Section 12(1)(e) substituted by S.I. 1981/231 (N.I. 10), art. 54(1), Sch. 10 para. 3(a)

F5 Words substituted by virtue of S.I. 1989/846 (N.I. 6), art. 76(1), Sch. 3 para. 12(b)

F6 Words inserted by S.I. 1981/231 (N.I. 10), art. 54(1), Sch. 10 para. 3(c)

F7 S. 12(9)(a) substituted (E.W.S.) by Food Safety Act 1990 (c. 16, SIF 53: 1, 2), s. 59(1), Sch. 3 para. 20(2)(a)

F8 Words substituted by S.I. 1989/846 (N.I. 6), art. 76(1), Sch. 3 para. 12(c).

F9 Words repealed (E.W.S.) by Food Safety Act 1990 (c. 16, SIF 53:1, 2), s. 59(1), (4), Sch. 3 para. 20(2)(b), Sch. 5

F10 Words substituted (E.W.S.) by Weights and Measures Act 1985 (c. 72, SIF 131), s. 97, Sch. 12 para. 7(3)

F11 Words substituted by S.I. 1981/231 (N.I. 10), art. 54(1), Sch. 10 para. 3(d)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 By S.I. 1982/846 (N.I. 11), art. 5(1) it is provided that the reference to the Department of Commerce shall be construed as a reference to the Department of Economic Development

12 Orders for alleviation of food or other shortages. N.I.

(1) This section applies to food or other goods in relation to which requirements are imposed under or by virtue of—

(a) section 4 or 7 of the [F13 Food Act 1984 (the “1984 Act”)] ; or

(b) section 4 or 7 of the Food and Drugs (Scotland) Act 1956 (the “1956 Act”); or

[F14 ( c) Article 15 of the Food Safety (Northern Ireland) Order 1991 (the “1991 Order”); or]

(d) section 21 of the 1963 Act; or

[F15 (e) Article 19 of the 1981 Order.]

(2) Where it appears to the appropriate Minister that—

(a) any food or other goods to which this section applies are or are likely to be, for a limited period of time, in short supply or unavailable in any area; and

(b) the alleviation of that situation is or is likely to be seriously hindered by a relevant requirement,

he may by order exclude or modify the relevant requirement in its operation in relation to the food or goods in question for a period specified in the order.

(3) The said period shall not exceed one year, but may be extended on one or more occasions by a subsequent order under this section for a further period not exceeding one year.

(4) An order under this section may attach conditions to the exclusion or modification of the relevant requirement, and may, while it is excluded or modified—

(a) impose, as respects the food or goods, any requirement which could be imposed under the section under or by virtue of which the relevant requirement is imposed, or

(b) exclude, as respects the food or goods, any exception or exemption from a requirement imposed by or under the said section.

(5) An order under this section—

(a) may impose on persons offending against the order penalties not exceeding the maximum penalties specified in the Acts [F16 or Orders]mentioned in subsection (1) above, or in instruments made under those Acts [F16 or those orders], in relation to the relevant requirement,

(b) may be limited to an area which is only part of the territory to which the relevant requirement extends,

(c) may, where so limited, make special provision for goods which are dealt with partly within the area and partly outside,

(d) may make different provision in relation to different cases or classes of cases, and may exclude specified cases or classes of cases,

(e) may contain such incidental or supplemental provisions as appear to the appropriate Minister to be expedient for the purposes of the order.

(6) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (5) above an order under this section may contain transitional provisions by reference to the beginning or end of the period for which the relevant requirement is excluded or modified.

(7) An order under this section may make provision for any of the purposes mentioned in subsections (4), (5) and (6) above by means of amending, or of applying with or without modifications, or of excluding the application in whole or in part of, any provision of the Act [F17 or Order]under or by virtue of which the relevant requirement is imposed and, except as provided by an order under this section, Schedule 6 to this Act shall have effect where a requirement is imposed under subsection (4) above.

(8) In this section “requirement” includes any condition or prohibition.

(9) In this section, “appropriate Minister” in relation to any relevant requirement, means—

(a) where it was imposed under [F18 the 1984 Act], the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Secretary of State acting jointly;

(b) where it was imposed under the [F19 1991 Order], the Department of Health and Social Services for Northern Ireland;

(c) where it was imposed under the 1956 Act or the 1963 Act, the Secretary of State;

(d) where it was imposed under the [F20 1981 Order], the Department of Commerce for Northern Ireland.

Textual Amendments

F13 Words substituted by Food Act 1984 (c. 30, SIF 53:1), s. 134, Sch. 10 para. 29(a)

F14 S. 12(1)(c) substituted (N.I.) (21. 5.1991) by virtue of S.I. 1991/762 (N.I. 7), art. 51(1), Sch. 2 para. 11(a); S.R. 1991/175, art. 2(1).

F15 Section 12(1)(e) substituted by S.I. 1981/231 (N.I. 10), art. 54(1), Sch. 10 para. 3(a)

F16 Words substituted by virtue of S.I. 1989/846 (N.I. 6), art. 76(1), Sch. 3 para. 12(b)

F17 Words inserted by S.I. 1981/231 (N.I. 10), art. 54(1), Sch. 10 para. 3(c)

F18 Words substituted by Food Act 1984 (c. 30, SIF 53:1), s. 134, Sch. 10 para. 29(b)

F19 Words in s. 12(9)(b) substituted (N.I.) (21. 5.1991) by virtue of S.I. 1991/762 (N.I. 7), art. 51(1), Sch. 2 para. 11(b); S.R. 1991/175, art. 2(1).

F20 Words substituted by S.I. 1981/231 (N.I. 10), art. 54(1), Sch. 10 para. 3(d)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C2 By S.I. 1982/846 (N.I. 11), art. 5(1) it is provided that the reference to the Department of Commerce shall be construed as a reference to the Department of Economic Development

13 Shortages: supplementary provisions. U.K.

(1) Before the appropriate Minister makes an order under section 12 of this Act he shall consult, to the extent that it appears to him to be appropriate having regard to the subject matter of the order and the urgency of the matter, with such persons as appear to him to be representative of interests substantially affected by the order.

(2) An order made under section 12 of this Act may be varied or revoked by a subsequent order so made.

(3) An order under section 12 of this Act shall not extend to any area to which the relevant requirement did not extend.

(4) An order under section 12 of this Act, except an order which extends to Northern Ireland only, shall be made by statutory instrument which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

(5) [F12 The power under section 12 of this Act to make an order which extends to Northern Ireland only shall be exercisable by statutory rule for the purposes of the Statutory Rules (Northern Ireland) Order 1979, and any such order]shall be subject to negative resolution as defined by section 41(6) of the M1 Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954 as if it were a statutory instrument within the meaning of that Act.

(6) In this section—

• “appropriate Minister”,

• “requirement”, and

• “relevant requirement”,

have the same meanings as in section 12 of this Act.

Textual Amendments

F12 Words substituted by S.I. 1979/1573 (N.I. 12), art. 11(1), Sch. 4 para. 19

Marginal Citations

M1 1954 c. 33 (N.I.)