The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety1 makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by Articles 15(2), 16(1) and (2), 25(1)(a), 2(a) and (3), 32 and 47(2) of the Food Safety (Northern Ireland) Order 19912 as read with paragraph 1A of Schedule 2 to the European Communities Act 19723.

These Regulations make provision for a purpose mentioned in section 2(2) of the 1972 Act and it appears to the Department that it is expedient for certain references to a Community instrument or to an Annex to a Community instrument as specified in regulation 2(4) to be construed as references to that instrument or annex as amended from time to time.

It has had regard to relevant advice given by the Food Standards Agency as required by Article 47(3A) of the 1991 Order.

There has been open and transparent public consultation during the preparation of the Regulations as required by Article 9 of Regulation (EC) No. 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council4 laying down the general principles and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food safety.