The Quick-Frozen Foodstuffs Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007

Statutory Rules of Northern Ireland

2007 No. 65

food

The Quick-Frozen Foodstuffs Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007

Made

6th February 2007

Coming into operation

1st March 2007

The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety(1) makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred on it by section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972(2).

The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety has been designated(3) for the purposes of that section in relation to measures relating to food (including drink) including the primary production of food.

As required by Article 9 of Regulation (EC) No. 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council 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(4) there has been open and transparent public consultation during the preparation of the following Regulations.

Citation and Commencement. N.I.

1.  These Regulations may be cited as the Quick-frozen Foodstuffs Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007; and come into operation on 1st March 2007.

Commencement Information

I1 Reg. 1 in operation at 1.3.2007, see reg. 1

Interpretation N.I.

2.—(1) In these Regulations-

“authorised officer” in relation to an enforcement authority, means any person (whether or not an officer of the authority) who is authorised by them in writing, either generally or specially, to act in matters arising under these Regulations;

“catering establishment” has the meaning which it bears in the Food Labelling Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996(5);

“Directive 89/108” means Council Directive 89/108/EEC(6) on the approximation of the laws of Member States relating to quick-frozen foodstuffs for human consumption;

“Directive 92/2” means Commission Directive 92/2/EEC(7) laying down the sampling procedure and the Community method of analysis for the official control of the temperatures of quick-frozen foods intended for human consumption;

“enforcement authority” means the authority which, by virtue of regulation 9(5), is responsible for executing and enforcing these Regulations;

“food” has the meaning that it bears in Regulation 178/2002;

“local distribution” in relation to any product, means that part of the distribution chain in which the product is delivered to the point of placing on the market for retail purposes (such placing on the market to include placing on the market to a catering establishment);

“the Order” means the Food Safety (Northern Ireland) Order 1991;

“placing on the market” has the meaning it bears in Regulation 178/2002;

“prepackaging” shall be construed in accordance with the definition of “prepacked” in the Food Labelling Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996 but with “placed on the market” being substituted for “offered for sale”;

“quick-frozen foodstuff” means a product—

(a)

comprising food which has undergone a freezing process known as “quick-freezing” whereby the zone of maximum crystallisation is crossed as rapidly as possible, depending on the type of product, and

(b)

which is labelled for the purpose of placing on the market to indicate that it has undergone that process;

but does not include ice-cream or any other edible ice;

“Regulation 178/2002” means Regulation (EC) No. 178/2002 of the European Parliament and the Council 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;

“Regulation 37/2005” means Commission Regulation (EC) No. 37/2005(8) on the monitoring of temperatures in the means of transport, warehousing and storage of quick-frozen foodstuffs intended for human consumption;

“retail display cabinet” means any cabinet from which a quick-frozen foodstuff is placed on the market for retail purposes or in the course of a Cash-and-Carry business;

“specified Community provision” means any provision of Regulation 37/2005 that is specified in column 1 of Schedule 1 and whose subject-matter is described in column 2 of that Schedule; and

“ultimate consumer” has the meaning that it bears in the Food Labelling Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996.

(2) Unless the context otherwise requires, any expression used both in these Regulations and in Directive 89/108, Directive 92/2 or Regulation 37/2005 has the meaning that it bears in Directive 89/108, Directive 92/2 or Regulation 37/2005 as the case may be.

(3) Where any functions under the Act are assigned—

(a) by an order under Section 2 or 7 of the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984(9), to a port health authority;

(b) by an order under Section 6 of the Public Health Act 1936(10), to a joint board for a united district; or

(4) The Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954(11) shall apply to these Regulations as it applies to an Act of the Northern Ireland Assembly

Commencement Information

I2 Reg. 2 in operation at 1.3.2007, see reg. 1

Placing on the market of quick-frozen foodstuffs N.I.

3.  No person shall place a quick-frozen foodstuff on the market for human consumption unless the conditions set out in paragraph 1 of Schedule 2 are satisfied in relation to it.

Commencement Information

I3 Reg. 3 in operation at 1.3.2007, see reg. 1

Packaging of quick-frozen foodstuffs intended for the ultimate consumer N.I.

4.  No person shall place any quick-frozen foodstuff intended for the ultimate consumer on the market unless—

(a) it has been packed by its manufacturer or packer in such prepackaging as is suitable to protect it from microbial and other forms of external contamination and against dehydration; and

(b) the quick-frozen foodstuff has remained in such prepackaging up to the time of placing on the market.

Commencement Information

I4 Reg. 4 in operation at 1.3.2007, see reg. 1

Labelling of quick-frozen foodstuffs N.I.

5.—(1) The description “quick-frozen” or any other description listed in Article 8.1(a) of Directive 89/108 shall not be used in the labelling for the purpose of placing on the market of—

(a) a quick-frozen foodstuff; or

(b) a food which by virtue of that labelling becomes a quick-frozen foodstuff.

(2) A quick-frozen foodstuff intended for supply, without further processing, to the ultimate consumer or to a catering establishment shall, in addition to the description “quick-frozen” (and, as the intending supplier may see fit, any other description listed in Article 8.1(a) of Directive 89/108) added to its sales name, be marked or labelled on its packaging, container or wrapping, or on a label attached thereto, with-

(a) an indication of the date of minimum durability;

(b) an indication of the maximum period during which it is advisable to store it;

(c) an indication of—

(i) the temperature at which; and/or

(ii) the equipment in which,

it is advisable to store it;

(d) a reference allowing identification of the batch to which it belongs; and

(e) a clear message of the type “do not refreeze after defrosting”.

(3) Any other quick-frozen foodstuff shall, in addition to the description “quick-frozen” (and, as the supplier may see fit, any other description listed in Article 8.1(a) of Directive 89/108) added to its sales name, be marked or labelled on its packaging, container or wrapping, or on a label attached thereto, with-

(a) a reference allowing identification of the batch to which it belongs; and

(b) the name or business name and address of the manufacturer or packer, or of a person established within the European Community who places that foodstuff on the market.

(4) No person shall place on the market any food intended for the ultimate consumer or any catering establishment where its labelling or marking contravenes paragraph (1) or (2) and no person shall place on the market any food intended for any other person where its labelling or marking contravenes paragraph (1) or (3).

Commencement Information

I5 Reg. 5 in operation at 1.3.2007, see reg. 1

Equipment N.I.

6.  Each food operator handling a quick-frozen foodstuff intended for placing on the market for human consumption shall ensure during each stage during which it is within his care and control that the equipment used in respect of that foodstuff is such as to ensure that no act or omission on his part would cause the placing on the market of the foodstuff for human consumption to contravene these Regulations.

Commencement Information

I6 Reg. 6 in operation at 1.3.2007, see reg. 1

Sampling and method of measuring temperatures N.I.

7.  Where, further to an inspection, an authorised officer has reasonable grounds to believe that the temperatures that are being or have been maintained in respect of any quick-frozen foodstuff are not the temperatures prescribed for such foodstuff in paragraph 1(e) and (f) of Schedule 2, he shall further inspect such quick-frozen foodstuff and such temperatures in accordance with the provisions of Directive 92/2.

Commencement Information

I7 Reg. 7 in operation at 1.3.2007, see reg. 1

Records N.I.

8.  Each food operator handling any quick-frozen foodstuff shall at the request of an authorised officer of an enforcement authority make records required to be kept under Article 2 of Regulation 37/2005 available to that or another authorised officer of that district council.

Commencement Information

I8 Reg. 8 in operation at 1.3.2007, see reg. 1

Offences penalties and enforcement N.I.

9.—(1) If any person contravenes any of the provisions of these Regulations he shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.

(2) Subject to paragraphs (3) and (4), if any person contravenes a specified Community provision he shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.

(3) A person shall be considered not to have contravened the first paragraph of Article 2.2 of Regulation 37/2005 if the requirements of Schedule 3 are complied with.

(4) A person shall be considered not to have contravened Article 2 of Regulation 37/2005 if—

(a) the offence which would otherwise have been committed was in respect of a cold store facility with a capacity of less than 10m³ used for storing stock in retail outlets; and

(b) the air temperature in the cold store is measured by an easily visible thermometer.

(5) Each district council shall enforce and execute these Regulations within its district.

Commencement Information

I9 Reg. 9 in operation at 1.3.2007, see reg. 1

Application of various provisions of the Food Safety (Northern Ireland) Order 1991 N.I.

10.  The following provisions of the Order shall apply for the purposes of these Regulations with the modification that any reference in those provisions to the Order or a Part of it shall be construed as a reference to these Regulations—

(a) Article 2(6) (which relates to territorial waters);

(b) Article 4 (presumptions that food intended for human consumption);

(c) Article 19 (offences due to fault of another person);

(d) Article 20 (defence of due diligence)(12);

(e) Article 30(8) (which relates to documentary evidence);

(f) Article 34 (obstruction etc. of officers);

(g) Article 34(2), with the modification that the reference to “any such requirement as is mentioned in subsection (1)(b)” shall be deemed to be a reference to any such requirement as is mentioned in section 34(1)(b) as applied by sub-paragraph(e);

(h) Article 36(1) (punishment of offences), in so far as it relates to offences under Article 34(1) as applied by sub-paragraph(e);

(i) Article 36(2) and (3)(13), in so far as it relates to offences under Article 33(2) as applied by sub-paragraph(f); and

(j) Article 43 (protection of officers acting in good faith).

Commencement Information

I10 Reg. 10 in operation at 1.3.2007, see reg. 1

Revocation N.I.

11.  The Quick-frozen Foodstuffs Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1990(14) are revoked.

Commencement Information

I11 Reg. 11 in operation at 1.3.2007, see reg. 1

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety on 6th February 2007.

Don Hill

A senior officer of the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety

Regulations 2 and 9(2)

SCHEDULE 1 N.I. SPECIFIED COMMUNITY PROVISIONS

Commencement Information

I12 Sch. 1 in operation at 1.3.2007, see reg. 1

1. Provision of Regulation 37/2005	2. Subject-matter
Article 2.1	Requirement that the means of transport, warehousing and storage of quick-frozen foodstuffs shall be fitted with suitable recording instruments to monitor, at frequent and regular intervals, the air temperature to which the quick-frozen foodstuffs are subjected.
Article 2.2 – first sentence of first paragraph	Requirement that all measuring instruments described in Article 2.1 of Regulation 37/2005 shall comply with EN 12830, EN 13485 and EN 13486 standards.
Article 2.2 – second sentence of first paragraph	Requirement that food operators keep all relevant documents verifying that the measuring instruments conform to the relevant EN standard.
Article 2.3	Requirement that temperature recording shall be dated and stored by the food operator for a period of at least a year, or for longer taking into account the nature and shelf life of the quick-frozen foodstuffs.
Article 3.1 – first paragraph	Requirement that storage in retail display cabinets, or in the course of local distribution the air temperature shall only be measured by at least one easily visible thermometer.
Article 3.1 – second paragraph (a) and (b)	Requirement that in open retail cabinets the maximum load line of the cabinet shall be clearly marked and the thermometer shall indicate the temperature at the air return side at the level of that mark.

Regulations 3 and 7

SCHEDULE 2 N.I. Conditions that have to be satisfied in relation to a quick-frozen foodstuff if it is to be placed on the market for human consumption

1.  The conditions are that— N.I.

(a) a quick-frozen foodstuff has been manufactured from raw materials of sound, genuine and merchantable quality and no other materials;

(b) no raw material has been used in the manufacture of the quick-frozen foodstuff unless, at the time of its use, it would have been lawful for the raw material to be placed on the market for human consumption;

(c) the preparation and quick-freezing of the quick-frozen foodstuff have been carried out with sufficient promptness, and by use of appropriate technical equipment, to minimise any chemical, biochemical and microbiological changes to the food comprised in it;

(d) no cryogenic medium other than an authorised cryogenic medium has been used in direct contact with any food comprised in the quick-frozen foodstuff;

(e) the quick-freezing of each food comprised in the quick-frozen foodstuff has resulted in the temperature of that food after thermal stabilisation being –18^oC or colder; and

(f) following the quick-freezing and thermal stabilisation of each food comprised in the quick-frozen foodstuff in compliance with sub-paragraph (e) the temperature of that food has been maintained at a level no warmer than –18^oC except where a permitted exception relating to the temperature of the food applies.

Commencement Information

I13 Sch. 2 para. 1 in operation at 1.3.2007, see reg. 1

2.  For the purposes of paragraph 1— N.I.

(a) an authorised cryogenic medium is—

(i) air,

(ii) nitrogen, or

(iii) carbon dioxide; and

(b) a permitted exception relating to the temperature of any food applies when—

(i) that food is kept within brief periods during transport (including local distribution) at a temperature warmer than -18^oC but not warmer than -15^oC; or

(ii) that food is kept in a retail display cabinet at a temperature warmer than -18^oC to an extent consistent with good storage practice but not warmer than -12^oC.

Commencement Information

I14 Sch. 2 para. 2 in operation at 1.3.2007, see reg. 1

Regulation 9(3)

SCHEDULE 3 N.I. TRANSITITONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR MEASURING INSTRUMENTS INSTALLED BEFORE 1st JANUARY 2006

Application N.I.

1.  This Schedule applies only in respect of measuring instruments used for the purpose of monitoring the temperature as provided for in Article 2.1 of Regulation 37/2005 that were installed before 1st January 2006.

Commencement Information

I15 Sch. 3 para. 1 in operation at 1.3.2007, see reg. 1

2.  This Schedule will cease to have effect on 1st January 2010.

Commencement Information

I15 Sch. 3 para. 1 in operation at 1.3.2007, see reg. 1

I16 Sch. 3 para. 2 in operation at 1.3.2007, see reg. 1

Requirements N.I.

3.  The requirements are that —

(a) in respect of any means of storage or transport other than those mentioned in the following sub-paragraphs of this paragraph, the instrument shall be a system suitable for the monitoring, at frequent and regular intervals, of air temperatures within such means;

(b) in respect of storage in a cold chamber with a capacity of less than 10m³ on premises used for placing quick-frozen foodstuffs on the market for retail purposes, the instrument shall be a thermometer so placed as to be easily visible;

(c) in respect of storage in a retail display cabinet (other than an open retail display cabinet) the instrument shall be one or more thermometers so placed as to be easily visible;

(d) in respect of storage in an open retail display cabinet, the instrument shall be one or more thermometers so placed as to be easily visible and indicating the temperature at the air return side at the level of the clearly marked maximum load line for that cabinet;

(e) in respect of a means of transport other than-

(i) a vehicle registered outside the United Kingdom, or

(ii) a means of transport when being used in the course of local distribution,

the instrument shall be a system for monitoring air temperatures that-

(aa) has an accuracy of plus or minus 1^oC when its sensor is measuring a temperature within the range of –25^oC to +30^oC,

(bb) has a measuring accuracy which does not change by more than plus or minus 0.5^oC when it is operating in temperatures within the range of –20^oC to +30^oC,

(cc) has a display resolution of not more than 1^oC, and

(dd) is robust and shockproof;

(f) in respect of a vehicle registered outside the United Kingdom, the instrument shall be an instrument which has been approved by the competent authority in the country in which the vehicle is registered; and

(g) in respect of means of transport when being used in the course of local distribution, the instrument shall be one or more thermometers so placed as to be easily visible.

Commencement Information

I17 Sch. 3 para. 3 in operation at 1.3.2007, see reg. 1

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations revoke and remake with amendments the Quick-frozen Foodstuffs Regulations (NI) 1990 as amended (S.R. 1990 No. 455). In addition to continuing the implementation of the Directives specified in paragraph 3 below, these Regulations now also provide for the execution and enforcement of Commission Regulation (EC) No. 37/2005 on the monitoring of temperatures in the means of transport, warehousing and storage of quick-frozen foodstuffs intended for human consumption (OJ No. L10, 13.1.2005, p.18).

These Regulations-

(a) prohibit the placing on the market of a quick-frozen foodstuff unless certain conditions are satisfied (regulation 3);

(b) prohibit the placing on the market of a quick-frozen foodstuff intended for the ultimate consumer unless certain conditions regarding packaging are satisfied (regulation 4);

(c) impose requirements relating to the labelling of quick-frozen foodstuffs (regulation 5);

(d) impose requirements in relation to the equipment used in respect of quick-frozen foodstuffs intended for placing on the market for human consumption (regulation 6);

(e) provide for additional inspections of quick-frozen foodstuffs and of the temperatures maintained in respect of them (regulation 7);

(f) require a food operator to make records available in certain circumstances (regulation 8);

(g) provide that a person who contravenes any of the provisions of these Regulations is guilty of an offence and create a penalty for that offence (regulation 9(1));

(h) provide that (subject to certain exceptions: (1) compliance with transitional requirements for measuring instruments installed before 1st January 2006 in the case of a contravention of the first paragraph of Article 2.2 of Commission Regulation (EC) No. 37/2005 and (2) a contravention of Article 2 of Commission Regulation (EC) No. 37/2005 in respect of small cold stores in retail outlets where the air temperature is measured by an easily visible thermometer) a person who contravenes specified provisions of that Regulation is guilty of an offence and create a penalty for that offence (regulation 9(2), (3) and (4));

(i) provide for the execution and enforcement of these Regulations (regulation 9(5)); and

(j) apply with modifications certain provisions of the Food Safety (NI) Order 1991 (1991 c.16) for the purposes of these Regulations (regulation 10).

The Directives implemented by the S.R. 1990 No.455 that these Regulations continue to implement are—

(a) Council Directive 89/108/EEC on the approximation of the laws of Member States relating to quick-frozen foodstuffs for human consumption(15); and

(b) Commission Directive 92/2/EEC laying down the sampling procedure and the Community method of analysis for the official control of the temperatures of quick-frozen foods intended for human consumption (OJ No. L34, 11.2.92, p.30).

(1)

Formerly the Department of Health and Social Services; see S.I. 1999/283 (N.I.1) Article 3(6)

(2)

1972 c.68

(3)

S.I. 2003/2901

(4)

OJ No. L31, 1.2.2002, p. 1. as last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No. 575/2006 (OJ No. L100, 8.4.2006, p3) amending Regulation (EC) No. 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the number and names of the Permanent Scientific Panels of the European Food Safety Authority (OJ No. L100, 8.4.2006, p3). By virtue of Regulation 5 of the Food Safety (Northern Ireland) Order 1991 (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2004 (S.R. 2004 No.482), with effect from 7th December 2004 the consultation requirement contained in Article 47(3) of the 1991 Order is disapplied in any case in which consultation is required by Article 9 of Regulation (EC) No. 178/2002

(5)

S.R. 1996 No.383

(6)

OJ No. L40, 11.2.89, p.34, as last amended as at the making of this instrument by Council Directive 2006/107/EC adapting Directive 89/108/EEC relating to quick-frozen foodstuffs for human consumption and Directive 2003/13/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council relating to the labelling, presentation and advertising of foodstuffs by reason of the accession of Bulgaria and Romania. (OJ No. L363, 20.12.06, p.411)

(7)

OJ No. L34, 11.2.92, p.30

(8)

OJ No. L10, 13.1.05, p.18

(9)

1984 c.22; section 7(3)(d) was substituted by paragraph 27 of Schedule 3 to the Food Safety Act 1990 (1990 c.16)

(10)

1936 c.49; section 6 is to be read with paragraph 1 of Schedule 3 to the Food Safety Act 1990

(11)

1954 c. 33 (N.I.)

(12)

Article 20 was amended by S.R. 2004 No.505

(13)

Article 36(3) was amended by S.R. 2004 No.05

(14)

S.R. 1990 No. 455

(15)

OJ No. L40, 11.12.89, p.34 as last amended as at the making of this instrument by the Act concerning the conditions of accession of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak Republic and the adjustments to the Treaties on which the European Union is founded (OJ No. L236, 23.9.2003, p.33).