The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety1 makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred on it by section 2(2) of, and paragraph 1A of Schedule 2 to, the European Communities Act 19722.

The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety has been designated for the purposes of that section in relation to measures relating to food (including drink) including the primary production of food3.

These Regulations make provision for a purpose mentioned in section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972 and it appears to the Department that it is expedient for any reference to a Community instrument defined in Schedule 1 to be construed as a reference to that instrument as amended from time to time.

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 safety4, there has been open and transparent public consultation during the preparation and evaluation of these Regulations.