The Imported Food (Peruvian Foodstuffs) Regulations 1991

Prohibition on importation of Peruvian food

2.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2) of this regulation, the importation into Great Britain of food which has been harvested in Peru or subjected in Peru to any process of cleaning, freezing, packaging or washing is prohibited.

(2) The prohibition imposed by paragraph (1) of this regulation does not apply to food which—

(a) is a canned foodstuff with a pH value less than 4.5; or

(b) subject to paragraph (4) of this regulation is of a description—

(i) specified in Schedule I to these Regulations; or

(ii) specified in Schedule 2 to these Regulations and at least 21 days have elapsed at the time of its arrival in Great Britain since it left Peru and, in the case of melons the skin is undamaged.

(3) Any person who imports into Great Britain any food in contravention of paragraph (1) of this regulation shall be guilty of an offence triable summarily and liable on conviction to imprisonment for a period not exceeding three months or to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale or to both.

(4) Nothing in sub-paragraph (b) of paragraph (2) of this regulation or the Schedules to these Regulations shall be taken to permit the importation into Great Britain of any canned foodstuff whose pH value is 4.5 or more, and in these Regulations “pH value” means the negative decimal logarithm of the concentration of hydrogen ions expressed in moles per litre.