The Fruit Juices and Fruit Nectars (Scotland) Regulations 2003

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations, which extend to Scotland only, implement Council Directive 2001/112/EC relating to fruit juices and certain similar products intended for human consumption (O.J. No. L 10, 12.1.2002, p.58). They revoke and replace the Fruit Juices and Fruit Nectars (Scotland) Regulations 1977 (S.I. 1977/1026), as amended.

The Regulations–

(a) prescribe definitions and reserved descriptions for fruit juices and certain similar products (regulation 2 and Schedule 1);

(b) provide for the Regulations to apply to such fruit juices and similar products intended for human consumption and ready for delivery to the ultimate consumer or to a catering establishment (regulation 3) and also to include concentrated fruit juices not intended for delivery to the ultimate consumer (regulation 5(2));

(c) restrict the use of reserved descriptions to the fruit juices and similar products to which they relate (regulation 4);

(d) prescribe labelling requirements for such products (regulation 5);

(e) prescribe the manner of marking or labelling and apply specified provisions of the Food Labelling Regulations 1996 (S.I. 1996/1499) (regulation 6);

(f) specify a penalty, enforcement authorities and, in accordance with articles 2 and 3 of Council Directive 89/397/EEC on the official control of food stuffs (O.J. No. L 186, 30.6.89 p.23), a defence in relation to exports (regulations 7 and 8);

(g) make transitional provisions (regulation 9);

(h) apply various provisions of the Food Safety Act 1990 (regulation 10);

(i) revoke the previous Regulations and make consequential amendments (regulation 11);

(j) prescribe the raw ingredients and additional ingredients for such products (Schedules 2 and 3);

(k) prescribe permitted additional treatments and substances for such products (Schedule 4); and

(l) prescribe minimum juice and puree content of fruit nectars (Schedule 5).

A Regulatory Impact Assessment has been prepared and placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre. Copies may be obtained from the Food Standards Agency, 6th Floor, St Magnus House, 25 Guild Street, Aberdeen AB11 6NJ.