2020 No. 257 (W. 59)
Food, Wales

The Addition of Vitamins, Minerals and Other Substances (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2020

Made
Laid before the National Assembly for Wales
Coming into force
The Welsh Ministers make the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 16(1)(a) and (f), 17(2), 26(1)(a) and (3) and 48(1) of the Food Safety Act 19901 and now vested in them2 and section 2(2) of, and paragraph 1A of Schedule 2 to, the European Communities Act 19723.
The Welsh Ministers have been designated for the purposes of section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972 in relation to measures relating to food (including drink) including the primary production of food4.These Regulations make provision for a purpose mentioned in section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972, and it appears to the Welsh Ministers that it is expedient for certain references to provisions of Regulation (EC) No 2016/1285 to be construed as references to those provisions as amended from time to time.
The Welsh Ministers have had regard to relevant advice given by the Food Standards Agency in accordance with section 48(4A) of the Food Safety Act 19906.
As required by Article 9 of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down the general principles and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food safety7, there has been open and transparent public consultation during the preparation and evaluation of these Regulations.

Title and commencement1.

(1)

The title of these Regulations is the Addition of Vitamins, Minerals and Other Substances (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2020.

(2)

These Regulations come into force on 3 April 2020.

Amendment of the Addition of Vitamins, Minerals and Other Substances (Wales) Regulations 20072.

(1)

The Addition of Vitamins, Minerals and Other Substances (Wales) Regulations 20078 are amended as follows.

(2)

In regulation 2(1) (interpretation), in the definition of ““the EC Regulation”” (“y Rheoliad CE”) for “I or II” substitute “1, 2 or 3”.

(3)

In regulation 4(2) (offences and penalties)—

(a)

at the end of sub-paragraph (d) omit “and”;

(b)

at the end of sub-paragraph (e) for “.” substitute “;”;

(c)

after sub-paragraph (e) insert—

“(f)

Article 8(2)(a)(i) (prohibition of the addition of a substance listed in Annex 3, Part A to foods or its use in the manufacture of foods);

(g)

Article 8(2)(a)(ii) (prohibition of the addition of a substance listed in Annex 3, Part B to foods or its use in the manufacture of foods unless that substance is added or used in accordance with the conditions specified in that Part).”

(4)

After regulation 4 insert—

“Transitional provision in relation to food containing substance listed in Annex 3, Part B4A.

An offence is not committed under paragraph (1) of regulation 4 by virtue of paragraph (2)(g) of that regulation in respect of the addition of a substance to, or its use in the manufacture of, any food if—

(a)

the food is placed on the market before 1 April 2021; and

(b)

the substance concerned falls within the entry in Annex 3, Part B relating to trans fat other than trans fat naturally occurring in fat of animal origin.”

Vaughan Gething
Minister for Health and Social Services, one of the Welsh Ministers
EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Addition of Vitamins, Minerals and Other Substances (Wales) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/1984 (W. 165)) (“the 2007 Regulations”).

Regulation 2(1) of the 2007 Regulations is amended so that the definition of “the EC Regulation” includes a reference to Annex 3 (as it may be amended from time to time) of Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 December 2006 on the addition of vitamins and minerals and of certain other substances to foods (OJ No. L 404, 30.12.2006, p. 26), as last amended by Commission Regulation (EU) 2019/650 of 24 April 2019 amending Annex 3 to Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards Yohimbe (Pausinystalia yohimbe (K. Schum) Pierre ex Beille) (OJ No. L 110, 25.4.2019, p. 21).

Regulation 4(2) of the 2007 Regulations is amended so that it is an offence to add a substance listed in Annex 3, Part A of the EC Regulation to foods, or to use such a substance in the manufacture of foods.

Regulation 4(2) of the 2007 Regulations is further amended so that it is an offence to add a substance listed in Annex 3, Part B to the EC Regulation to foods, or to use such a substance in the manufacture of foods unless that substance is added or used in accordance with the conditions specified in that Part.

A new transitional provision (regulation 4A) is inserted into the 2007 Regulations to provide that no offence is committed in respect of any food that does not comply with the provisions of Annex 3, Part B relating to trans fat other than trans fat naturally occurring in fat of animal origin and which is placed on the market before 1 April 2021.

The Welsh Ministers’ Code of Practice on the carrying out of Regulatory Impact Assessments was considered in relation to these Regulations. As a result, it was not considered necessary to carry out a regulatory impact assessment as to the likely costs and benefits of complying with these Regulations.