PART IVMISCELLANEOUS AND SUPPLEMENTAL

Powers of Department

Power to issue codes of practice39

1

For the guidance of district councils,F1 the Department may issue codes of recommended practice as regards the execution and enforcement of this Order and of regulations and orders made under it; and any such code shall be laid before the Assembly after being issued.

F11A

The Food Standards Agency may, after consulting the Department, give a district council a direction requiring the council to take any specified steps in order to comply with a code under this Article.

2

In the exercise of the functions conferred on district councils by or under this Order, every district council—

a

shall have regard to any relevant provision of any such code; and

b

shall comply with any direction which is givenF1 under this Article and requires the council to take any specified steps in order to comply with such a code.

3

Any direction underF1 paragraph (1A) shall, on the application ofF1 the Food Standards Agency, be enforceable by mandamus.

F13A

The Food Standards Agency shall consult the Department before making an application under paragraph (3).

4

Before issuing any code under this Article,F1 the Department shall

F1a

F2Subject to paragraph (4B), consult with such organisations as appear toF1 the Department to be representative of interests likely to be substantially affected by the codeF1; and

F1b

have regard to any relevant advice given by the Food Standards Agency

F14A

If it appears to the Department that the Food Standards Agency has undertaken any consultation with an organisation that the Department is required to consult under paragraph (4), the Department may treat that consultation as being as effective for the purposes of that paragraph as if undertaken by the Department.

F24B

Paragraph (4)(a) shall not apply in any case in which consultation is required by Article 9 of Regulation (EC) No. 178/2002.

5

Any consultation undertaken before paragraph (4) comes into operation shall be as effective, for the purposes of that paragraph, as if undertaken after that paragraph comes into operation.