EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations further amend the Food Labelling Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996 (“the principal Regulations”).

These Regulations implement Commission Directive 2008/100/EC amending Council Directive 90/496/EEC on nutrition labelling for foodstuffs as regards recommended daily allowances, energy conversion factors and definitions (OJ No. L285, 29.10.2008, p.9) (“the Commission Directive”).

The Regulations implement the Commission Directive by amending the principal Regulations so as to —

(a)include a definition of “fibre” (regulation 2(2));

(b)amend the lists of vitamins and minerals in respect of which nutrition claims may be made, both as regards the substances included and the recommended daily allowances (regulation 2(3) and Schedules 1&2);

(c)provide conversion factors for calculating the energy value of fibre and erythritol (regulation 2(4)); and

(d)provide for a transitional period for the phasing in of the new provisions (regulation 3).