(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations, which apply to Great Britain, come into force on 29th July 1993. They implement the provisions of Council Directive 88/344/EEC (OJ No. L157, 24.6.88, p. 28), as amended by Council Directive 92/115/EEC (OJ No. L409, 31.12.92, p. 31), on the approximation of the laws of the Member States on extraction solvents used in the production of foodstuffs and food ingredients.
The principal provisions of these Regulations–
(a)define extraction solvents (regulation 2) and list permitted extraction solvents (regulation 2 and Schedule 1);
(b)prohibit the sale, or importation into Great Britain from outside the European Economic Community, of–
(i)any extraction solvent other than a permitted extraction solvent (regulation 4(1)(b)), and
(ii)any food having in it or on it any extraction solvent other than, provided certain conditions are met, a permitted extraction solvent (regulation 4(1)(a) and (2) and Schedules 1, 2 and 3); and
(c)require, on the sale or importation into Great Britain from outside the European Economic Community of a permitted extraction solvent, that certain information be given (regulation 4(3) and Schedule 4).