X1TITLE ISUBJECT MATTER, SCOPE AND DEFINITIONS

Annotations:

Article 1Subject matter and scope

1

This Regulation lays down general rules for the performance of official controls to verify compliance with rules aiming, in particular, at:

a

preventing, eliminating or reducing to acceptable levels risks to humans and animals, either directly or through the environment;

and

b

guaranteeing fair practices in feed and food trade and protecting consumer interests, including feed and food labelling and other forms of consumer information.

2

This Regulation shall not apply to official controls for the verification of compliance with the rules on common market organisations of agricultural products.

3

This Regulation shall be without prejudice to specific Community provisions concerning official controls.

4

The performance of official controls pursuant to this Regulation shall be without prejudice to feed and food business operators' primary legal responsibility for ensuring feed and food safety, as laid down in Regulation (EC) No 178/2002, and any civil or criminal liability arising from the breach of their obligations.