50.—(1) Subject to the following paragraphs, in any proceedings for an offence under these Regulations it shall be a defence to prove that—
(a)(i)the act was committed before 1st October 1997, or
(ii)the act was committed in relation to food prepacked before 1st October 1997; and
(b)the matters constituting the offence would not have constituted an offence under the Food Labelling Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1984(1) or the Cheese and Cream Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996(2) if those Regulations had been in operation when the act was committed or the food was prepacked.
(2) In any proceedings for an offence under regulation 44(1)(a), as read with—
(a)regulation 14(4) and Schedule 3, or
(b)regulation 14(9) and Schedule 4,
paragraph (1) shall be read as if for “1st October 1997” there were substituted, in both places where it occurs, “1st October 1996”.
(3) In any proceedings for an offence under regulation 44(1)(a) as read with regulation 33, paragraph (1) shall be read as if for “1st October 1997” there were substituted “1st January 1997”.
S.R. 1984 No. 407; the relevant amending Regulations are S.R. 1985 No. 120, S.R. 1987 No. 65, S.R. 1988 Nos. 23 and 433, S.R. 1989 No. 229, S.R. 1990 Nos. 37, 103 and 440, S.R. 1991 No. 216, S.R. 1992 Nos. 416 and 463, S.R. 1994 Nos. 214 and 270, S.R. 1995 Nos. 85 and 201 and S.R. 1996 No. 53