Sweeteners in Food (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations.)

These Regulations further amend the Sweeteners in Food Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996 (“the principal Regulations”) by –

(a) granting authorisation for the marketing and use as a sweetener of salt of aspartame–acesulfame, as permitted by Article 5 of Directive 89/107/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the member States concerning food additives authorised for use in foodstuffs intended for human consumption (O.J. No. L40, 11.2.89, p. 27). Article 5 permits member States to authorise sweeteners for the marketing and use within their own territories, pending consideration for inclusion in Directive 94/35/EC on sweeteners for use in foodstuffs (O.J. No. L237, 10.9.94, p.3, as amended) (regulation 2(2) and (5));

(b) clarifying the meaning of “maximum usable dose” as used in relation to cyclamic acid and its Na and Ca salts and saccharin and its Na, K and Ca salts (regulation 2(3)); and

(c) making a consequential change to regulation 3(3) of the principal Regulations (regulation 2(4)).

Copies of the Food and Agriculture Organisation documents referred to in the new definition of “permitted sweetener” which is substituted by regulation 2(2) may be obtained from the Stationery Office (TSO), PO Box 29, St Crispins House, Norwich NR3 1GN. Alternatively copies may be obtained online from www.tso.co.uk.