Food Act 1984

[F1 Part I E+W+N.I. Food Generally

Textual Amendments

F1 Pts. I, II (ss. 1–49) repealed (E.W.) (with savings for ss. 15 and 21) by Food Safety Act 1990 (c. 16, SIF 53:1, 2), ss. 54, 59, Sch. 4 paras. 7, 8, Sch. 5 (but (3.4.1992) as regards ss. 16–20; S.I. 1992/57, art. 2 and not coming into force as regards s.13 so far as it relates to the Food Hygiene (Amendment) Regulations 1990 until either 1.4.1991 or 1.4.1992 as mentioned in S.I. 1990/2372)

Composition and labelling of food E+W+N.I.

1 Offences as to preparation and sale of injurious foods. E+W

(1) A person is guilty of an offence who—

(a) adds any substance to food,

(b) uses any substance as an ingredient in the preparation of food,

(c) abstracts any constituent from food, or

(d) subjects food to any other process or treatment, so as (in any such case) to render the food injurious to health, with intent that the food shall be sold for human consumption in that state.

(2) A person is guilty of an offence who—

(a) sells for human consumption,

(b) offers, exposes or advertises for sale for human consumption, or has in his possession for the purpose of such sale,

any food rendered injurious to health by means of any operation described in subsection (1), subject to subsections (3) and (4).

(3) In proceedings under this section for an offence consisting of the advertisement for sale of any food, it is a defence for the person charged to prove that, being a person whose business it is to publish, or arrange for the publication of, advertisements, he received the advertisement for publication in the ordinary course of business.

(4) In determining for the purposes of this Act whether an article of food is injurious to health, regard shall be had not only to the probable effect of that article on the health of a person consuming it, but also to the probable cumulative effect of articles of substantially the same composition on the health of a person consuming such articles in ordinary quantities.

2 General protection for purchasers of food. E+W

(1) If a person sells to the purchaser’s prejudice any food which is not—

(a) of the nature, or

(b) of the substance, or

(c) of the quality,

of the food demanded by the purchaser, he is guilty of an offence, subject to section 3.

(2) In subsection (1) the reference to sale shall be construed as a reference to sale for human consumption; and in proceedings under that subsection it is not a defence that the purchaser was not prejudiced because he bought for analysis or examination.

3 Defences in proceedings under s. 2. E+W

(1) In proceedings under section 2 for an offence consisting of the sale of food—

(a) to which any substance has been added, or

(b) in the preparation of which any substance has been used as an ingredient, or

(c) from which any constituent has been abstracted, or

(d) which has been subjected to any other process or treatment,

other than food thereby rendered injurious to health, it is a defence to prove that—

(i) the operation in question was not carried out fraudulently, and

(ii) the article was sold with a notice attached to it of adequate size, distinctly and legibly printed and conspicuously visible, stating explicitly the nature of the operation, or was sold in a wrapper or container displaying such a notice.

(2) In proceedings under section 2 in respect of any food containing some extraneous matter, it is a defence to prove that the presence of that matter was an unavoidable consequence of the process of collection or preparation.

(3) In proceedings under section 2 in respect of diluted whisky, brandy, rum or gin, it is a defence to prove that—

(a) the spirit in question had been diluted with water only; and

(b) its alcoholic strength by volume was still not lower than 37·2 per cent.

[F2 4 Regulations as to composition of food etc. E+W+N.I.

(1) The Ministers may, so far as appears to them to be necessary or expedient in the interests of the public health, or otherwise for the protection of the public, or to be called for by any [F3 EU] obligation, make regulations for any of the following purposes—

(a) for requiring, prohibiting or regulating the addition of any specified substance or any substance of any specified class, to food intended for sale for human consumption or any class of such food, or the use of any such substance as an ingredient in the preparation of such food, and generally for regulating the composition of such food;

(b) for requiring, prohibiting or regulating the use of any process or treatment in the preparation of any food intended for sale for human consumption, or any class of such food;

(c) for prohibiting or regulating the sale, possession for sale, offer or exposure for sale, consignment, or delivery, of food which does not comply with any of the regulations, or in relation to which an offence against the regulations has been committed or would have been committed if any relevant act or omission had taken place in England and Wales, or in Northern Ireland, subject to subsection (5), or for prohibiting or regulating the importation of any such food as is mentioned above;

(d) for prohibiting or regulating the sale, possession for sale, or offer, exposure or advertisement for sale, of any specified substance, or of any substance of any specified class, with a view to its use in the preparation of food for human consumption, and the possession of any such substance for use in the preparation of food intended for sale for human consumption.

(2) In the exercise of their functions under this section the Ministers shall have regard to the desirability of restricting, so far as practicable, the use of substances of no nutritional value as foods or as ingredients of foods.

(3) Regulations made under this section may apply to cream, and to any food containing milk, but otherwise shall not apply to milk.

(4) Regulations so made may provide that, where any food is certified by a public analyst as being food to which the regulations apply so far as they are made under paragraph (c) of subsection (1), that food may be treated for the purposes of section 9, or in any corresponding Northern Ireland enactment, as being unfit for human consumption.

Those regulations may be—

(a) in relation to such cases as may be specified, and

(b) subject to such exceptions as may be allowed,

by or under the regulations, but nothing in any such regulations shall be taken as prejudicing the generality of the powers conferred by section 9, or in any corresponding Northern Ireland enactment.

F4 (5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .]

Textual Amendments

F2 S. 4: Pts. I, II (ss. 1-49) repealed (E.W.) (with savings for ss. 15 and 21) by Food Safety Act 1990 (c. 16, SIF 53:1, 2), ss. 54, 59, Sch. 4 paras. 7, 8, Sch. 5 but (prosp.) as regards ss. 16-20, and not coming into force as regards s. 13 so far as it relates to the Food Hygiene (Amendment) Regulations 1990 until either 1.4.1991 or 1.4.1992 as mentioned in S.I. 1990/2372).

F3 Words in Act substituted (22.4.2011) by The Treaty of Lisbon (Changes in Terminology) Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/1043), arts. 3, 6 (with arts. 3(2)(3), 4(2), 6(4)(5))

F4 S. 4(5) repealed (N.I.) ( 4.11.1991) by S.I. 1991/762, art. 51(4), Sch.4; S.R. 1991/175, art. 2(2).

[F5 5 Ministers’ power to obtain particulars of ingredients. E+W+N.I.

(1) To enable the Ministers to exercise their functions under section 4—

(a) they may by order require every person who at the date of the order or at any subsequent time carries on a business which includes the production, importation or use of substances of any class specified in the order to provide the Minister (within such time as may be so specified) with the particulars mentioned in paragraph (b);

(b) those particulars shall be such as may be so specified of the composition and use of any such substance sold in the course of that business for use in the preparation of food for human consumption, or used for that purpose in the course of that business.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), an order made under that subsection may require the following particulars to be provided in respect of any substance—

(a) particulars of the composition and chemical formula of the substance;

(b) particulars of the manner in which the substance is used or proposed to be used in the preparation of food;

(c) particulars of any investigations carried out by or to the knowledge of the person carrying on the business in question, for the purpose of determining whether and to what extent the substance, or any product formed when the substance is used as mentioned above, is injurious to, or in any other way affects, health;

(d) particulars of any investigations or inquiries carried out by or to the knowledge of the person carrying on the business in question for the purpose of determining the cumulative effect on the health of a person consuming the substance in ordinary quantities.

(3) No particulars provided in accordance with an order under this section, and no information relating to any individual business obtained by means of such particulars, shall, without the previous consent in writing of the person carrying on the business in question, be disclosed except—

(a) in accordance with directions of the Minister, so far as may be necessary for the purposes of section 4 or of any corresponding enactment for the time being in force in Scotland or Northern Ireland,

(b) for the purposes of any proceedings for an offence against the order or any report of those proceedings,

and a person who discloses any such information or particulars in contravention of this subsection is guilty of an offence.

(4) Section 51 of the M1 Patents Act 1949 (which secures inventions against anticipation in certain cases) applies in relation—

(a) to the disclosure of any invention made in pursuance of an order under this section, and

(b) to anything done in consequence of any such disclosure,

as it applies in relation to such communications of inventions as are therein mentioned, and to anything done in consequence of such communications.

F6 (5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .]

Textual Amendments

F5 S. 5: Pts. I, II (ss. 1-49) repealed (E.W.) (with savings for ss. 15 and 21) by Food Safety Act 1990 (c. 16, SIF 53:1, 2), ss. 54, 59, Sch. 4 paras. 7, 8, Sch. 5 but (prosp.) as regards ss. 16-20, and not coming into force as regards s. 13 so far as it relates to the Food Hygiene (Amendment) Regulations 1990 until either 1.4.1991 or 1.4.1992 as mentioned in S.I. 1990/2372).

F6 S. 5(5) repealed (N.I.) ( 4.11.1991) by S.I. 1991/762, art. 51(4), Sch.4; S.R. 1991/175, art. 2(2).

Marginal Citations

M1 1949 c. 87.

6 Food falsely described. E+W

(1) A person who gives with any food sold by him, or displays with any food exposed by him for sale, a label, whether or not attached to or printed on the wrapper or container, which—

(a) falsely describes the food, or

(b) is calculated to mislead as to its nature, or its substance or its quality,

is guilty of an offence, unless he proves that he did not know, and could not with reasonable diligence have ascertained that the label was of such character as mentioned above.

(2) A person who publishes, or is a party to the publication of, an advertisement (not being such a label so given or displayed by him as mentioned above) which—

(a) falsely describes any food, or

(b) is calculated to mislead as to the nature, or the substance or the quality of any food,

is guilty of an offence, subject to subsection (3); and in any proceedings under this subsection against the manufacturer, producer or importer of the food, it rests on the defendent to prove that he did not publish, and was not a party to the publication of, the advertisement.

(3) In proceedings under subsection (2) it is a defence for the person charged to prove either—

(a) that he did not know, and could not with reasonable diligence have ascertained, that the advertisement was of such a character as is described in that subsection, or

(b) that, being a person whose business it is to publish, or arrange for the publication of, advertisements, he received the advertisement for publication in the ordinary course of business.

(4) For the purposes of this section, a label or advertisement which is calculated to mislead as to the nutritional or dietary value of any food is calculated to mislead as to the quality of the food.

(5) In proceedings for an offence under this section the fact that a label or advertisement in respect of which the offence is alleged to have been committed contained an accurate statement of the composition of the food shall not preclude the court from finding that the offence was committed.

(6) In this section references to sale shall be construed as references to sale for human consumption.

[F7 7 Regulations as to describing food. E+W+N.I.

(1) The Ministers may make regulations for imposing requirements as to, and otherwise regulating—

(a) the labelling, marking or advertising of food intended for sale for human consumption; and

(b) the descriptions which may be applied to such food.

This provision is without prejudice to section 6.

(2) Regulations made under this section—

(a) may apply to cream, and to any food containing milk (but shall not otherwise apply to milk);

(b) may provide for any purpose authorised by paragraph (c) of section 4(1) in the case of regulations under that section.

F8 (3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .]

Textual Amendments

F7 S. 7: Pts. I, II (ss. 1-49) repealed (E.W.) (with savings for ss. 15 and 21) by Food Safety Act 1990 (c. 16, SIF 53:1, 2), ss. 54, 59, Sch. 4 paras. 7, 8, Sch. 5 but (prosp.) as regards ss. 16-20, and not coming into force as regards s. 13 so far as it relates to the Food Hygiene (Amendment) Regulations 1990 until either 1.4.1991 or 1.4.1992 as mentioned in S.I. 1990/2372).

F8 S. 7(3) repealed (N.I.) ( 4.11.1991) by S.I. 1991/762, art. 51(4), Sch.4; S.R. 1991/175, art. 2(2).

Food unfit for human consumption E+W

8 Sale etc. of unfit food. E+W

(1) A person who—

(a) sells, or offers or exposes for sale, or has in his possession for the purpose of sale or of preparation for sale, or

(b) deposits with, or consigns to, any person for the purpose of sale or of preparation for sale,

any food intended for, but unfit for, human consumption is guilty of an offence, subject to subsection (3).

(2) Where food in respect of which an offence under paragraph (a) of subsection (1) has been committed was sold to the offender by some other person, that person is also guilty of an offence, subject to subsection (3).

(3) Where a person is charged with an offence under paragraph (b) of subsection (1), or under subsection (2), it is a defence for him to prove either—

(a) that he gave notice to the person with whom he deposited, or to whom he consigned or sold, the food in question that it was not intended for human consumption; or

(b) that, at the time when he delivered or despatched it to that person, either it was fit for human consumption or he did not know, and could not with reasonable diligence have ascertained, that it was unfit for human consumption.

(4) If a person licensed under section 1 of the M2 Slaughterhouses Act 1974 to keep a slaughterhouse is convicted of an offence under this section, the court may cancel his licence, in addition to any other punishment.

(5) The justice of the peace before whom any food is brought under section 9 may, but need not, be a member of the court before which a person is charged with an offence under this section in relation to that food.

Marginal Citations

M2 1974 c. 3.

9 Examination and seizure of suspected food. E+W

(1) An authorised officer of a council—

(a) may at all reasonable times examine any food intended for human consumption which has been sold, or is offered or exposed for sale, or is in the possession of, or has been deposited with or consigned to, any person for the purpose of sale or of preparation for sale; and

(b) if it appears to him to be unfit for human consumption, may seize it and remove it in order to have it dealt with by a justice of the peace.

(2) An officer who seizes any food under subsection (1) shall inform the person in whose possession the food was found of his intention to have it dealt with by a justice of the peace, and any person who under section 8 might be liable to a prosecution in respect of the food shall, if he attends before the justice of the peace upon the application for its condemnation, be entitled to be heard and to call witnesses.

(3) If it appears to a justice of the peace that any food brought before him, whether seized under the provisions of this section or not, is unfit for human consumption, he shall condemn it and order it to be destroyed or to be so disposed of as to prevent it from being used for human consumption.

(4) If a justice of the peace refuses to condemn any food seized under this Part by an authorised officer of a council, the council shall compensate the owner of the food for any depreciation in its value resulting from its seizure and removal.

10 Food as prizes etc. E+W

Sections 8 and 9 apply—

(a) in relation to any food which is intended for human consumption and is offered as a prize or reward in connection with any entertainment to which the public are admitted, whether on payment of money or not, as if the food were, or had been, exposed for sale by each person concerned in the organisation of the entertainment;

(b) in relation to any food which is intended for human consumption and is offered as a prize or reward or given away for the purpose of advertisement, or in furtherance of any trade or business, as if the food were, or had been, exposed for sale by the person offering or giving away the food; and

(c) in relation to any food which is intended for human consumption and is exposed or deposited in any premises for the purpose of being so offered or given away as mentioned above, as if the food were, or had been, exposed for sale by the occupier of the premises.

In this section “entertainment” includes any social gathering, amusement, exhibition, performance, game, sport or trial of skill.

11 Food in transit. E+W

(1) If an authorised officer of a council has reason to suspect that any vehicle or container contains any food—

(a) which is intended for sale for human consumption, or

(b) which is in the course of delivery after sale for human consumption,

he may examine the contents of the vehicle or container, subject to subsections (4) and (5).

(2) For that purpose the officer may, if necessary, detain the vehicle or container.

(3) If the officer finds any food which appears to him to be intended for, but unfit for, human consumption, he may deal with it as food falling within section 9(1), and subsections (2) to (4) of that section shall apply accordingly.

(4) Nothing in this section authorises the detention of—

(a) any vehicle belonging to any of the Boards established by the M3 Transport Act 1962, the London Transport Executive, and their wholly owned subsidiaries, and used by them for the purposes of any railway operated by them;

(b) any vehicle belonging to a railway company and used by them for the purposes of their undertaking;

(c) any authorised vehicle used for the purpose of his business as a carrier of goods by a person holding a licence under Part V of the M4 Transport Act 1968.

(5) Where the duties of an officer of customs and excise with respect to any goods have not been wholly discharged, nothing in this section authorises the examination of those goods without his consent.

Marginal Citations

M3 1962 c. 46.

M4 1968 c. 73.

12 Products of knackers’ yards. E+W

(1) No person shall, for human consumption—

(a) sell, or

(b) offer or expose for sale, or

(c) have in his possession for the purpose of sale or of preparation for sale,

any part of, or product derived wholly or partly from, an animal which has been slaughtered in a knacker’s yard or of which the carcase has been brought into a knacker’s yard.

(2) A person who contravenes subsection (1) is guilty of an offence, and, if he is licensed under section 1 of the M5 Slaughter-houses Act 1974 to keep either a slaughterhouse of a knacker’s yard, the court may, in addition to any other punishment, cancel his licence.

Marginal Citations

M5 1974 c. 3.

Hygiene E+W+N.I.

[F9 13 Regulations as to food hygiene. E+W+N.I.

(1) the Ministers may make such regulations as appear to them to be expedient for securing the observance of sanitary and cleanly conditions and practices in connection with—

(a) the sale of food for human consumption, or

(b) the importation, preparation, transport, storage, packaging, wrapping, exposure for sale, service or delivery of food intended for sale or sold for human consumption,

or otherwise for the protection of the public health in connection with those matters.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), regulations made under this section may provide—

(a) for imposing requirements as to the construction, layout, drainage, equipment, maintenance, cleanliness, ventillation, lighting, water-supply and use of premises in, at or from which food is sold for human consumption, or offered, exposed, stored or prepared for sale, for human consumption (including any parts of such premises in which apparatus and utensils are cleansed, or in which refuse is disposed of or stored);

(b) for imposing requirements as to the provision, maintenance and cleanliness of sanitary and washing facilities in connection with such premises, the disposal of refuse and the maintenance and cleanliness of apparatus, equipment, furnishings and utensils used in such premises, and in particular for imposing requirements that every sanitary convenience situated in such premises shall be supplied with water through a suitable flushing appliance;

(c) for prohibiting or regulating the use of any specified materials, or of materials of any specified class, in the manufacture of apparatus or utensils designed for use in the preparation of food for human consumption, and the sale or importation for sale of apparatus or utensils designed for such use and containing any specified materials, or materials of any specified class;

(d) for prohibiting spitting on premises where food is sold for human consumption, or offered, exposed, stored or prepared for sale for human consumption (including any parts of such premises where apparatus and utensils are cleansed);

(e) for imposing requirements as to the clothing worn by persons in such premises;

(f) for securing the inspection of animals intended for slaughter, and of carcases of animals, for the purpose of ascertaining whether meat intended for sale for human consumption is fit for such consumption;

(g) for requiring the staining or sterilisation in accordance with the regulations of meat which is unfit for human consumption, or which is derived from animals slaughtered in knackers’ yards or from carcases brought into knackers’ yards, or which, though not unfit for human consumption, is not intended for such consumption;

(h) for regulating generally the treatment and disposal of any food unfit for human consumption;

(j) for prohibiting or regulating, or enabling local authorities to prohibit or regulate, the sale for human consumption, or the offer, exposure or distribution for sale for human consumption, of shellfish taken from beds or other layings for the time being designated by or under the regulations.

In this subsection “animals” includes poultry.

(3) Regulations under this section may make different provisions in relation to different classes of business; and without prejudice to the foregoing provisions of this section or section 118, any such regulations imposing requirements in respect of premises may—

(a) impose on the occupier of the premises and, in the case of requirements of a structural character, on any owner of the premises who either lets them for use for a purpose to which the regulations apply or permits them to be so used after notice from the authority charged with the enforcement of the regualtions, responsibility for compliance with those requirements;

(b) provide, subject to such limitations and safeguards as may be specified, for conferring, in relation to particular premises, exemptions from the operation of specified provisions contained in regulations made for the purposes of paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) of subsection (2) while there is in force a certificate of the local authority to the effect that compliance with those provisions cannot reasonably be required with respect to the premises or any activities carried on in them.

(4) If any person who has incurred, or is about to incur, expenditure in securing that the requirements of regulations made under this section, being requrements of a structural character, are complied with in respect of any premises owned or occupied by him claims that the whole or any part of the expenditure ought to be borne by any other person having an interest in the premises, he may apply to the county court.

(5) The court may make such order concerning the expenditure or its apportionment as appears to the court, having regard to all the circumstances of the case, including the terms of any contract between the parties, to be just and equitable; and any order made under this subsection may direct that any such contract as mentioned above shall cease to have effect in so far as it is inconsistent with the terms of the order.

(6) Regulations made under this section may impose in respect of accommodation in home-going ships, and in respect of vehicles, stalls and places other than premises, any such requirements as may be imposed under the regulations in respect of premises.

(7) references in this section to food shall be construed as references to food other than milk, except that—

(a) regulations under this section relating to importation may apply to milk; and

(b) any regulations under this section may apply to any food containing milk.

(8) The Ministers shall from time to time take such steps as they think expedient for publishing codes of practice in connection with matters which may be made the sudject of regulations under this section, for the purpose of giving advice and guidance to persons responsible for compliance with such regulations.

(9) If a person convicted of an offence against any regulations made under this section with respect to slaughterhouses or knackers’ yards is the holder of a licence under section 1 of the M6 Slaughterhouses Act 1974 in respect of the premises where the offence was committed, the court may, in addition to any other punishment, cancel the licence.

F10 (10) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .]

Textual Amendments

F9 S. 13: Pts. I, II (ss. 1-49) repealed (E.W.) (with savings for ss. 15 and 21) by Food Safety Act 1990 (c. 16, SIF 53:1, 2), ss. 54, 59, Sch. 4 paras. 7, 8, Sch. 5 but (prosp.) as regards ss. 16-20, and not coming into force as regards s. 13 so far as it relates to the Food Hygiene (Amendment) Regulations 1990 until either 1.4.1991 or 1.4.1992 as mentioned in S.I. 1990/2372).

F10 S. 13(10) repealed (N.I.) ( 4.11.1991) by S.I. 1991/762, art. 51(4), Sch.4; S.R. 1991/175, art. 2(2).

Marginal Citations

M6 1974 c. 3

14 Court’s power to disqualify caterer. E+W

(1) The provisions of this section have effect where a person is proceeded against by a local authority for an offence against regulations made under section 13 in respect—

(a) of any premises used as catering premises; or

(b) of any business carried on at such premises.

(2) If the person is convicted of the offence and the court thinks it expedient to do so—

(a) having regard to the gravity of the offence or (in the case of an offence committed in respect of premises) to the unsatisfactory nature of the premises, or

(b) having regard to any offences against regulations made under section 13 of which the person has been previously convicted,

the court may, on the application of the local authority, make an order disqualifying that person from using those premises as catering premises for such period not exceeding two years as may be specified in the order.

(3) An order under this section shall not be made against any person unless the local authority have, not less than 14 days before the date of the hearing, given that person written notice of their intention to apply for an order to be made against him.

(4) A person subject to an order under this section is guilty of an offence if, while the order is in force—

(a) he uses the premises to which the order relates as catering premises; or

(b) he participates in the management of any business in the course of which the premises are so used by another person.

(5) A person so subject may, from time to time after the expiry of 6 months from the date on which the order came into force, apply to the court before which he was convicted, or by which the order was made, to revoke the order; but where such an application is refused by the court a further application under this subsection shall not be entertained if made within 3 months of the refusal.

(6) On any such application the court may, if it thinks proper having regard to all the circumstances of the case, including in particular—

(a) the person’s conduct subsequent to the conviction, and

(b) any improvement in the state of the premises to which the order relates,

grant the application.

(7) The court to which an application under subsection (5) is made has power to order the applicant to pay the whole or any part of the costs of the application.

15 Byelaws as to food. E+W

A local authority may make byelaws for securing the observance of sanitary and cleanly conditions and practices—

(a) in connection with the handling, wrapping and delivery of food sold or intended for sale for human consumption; and

(b) in connection with the sale or exposure for sale in the open air of food intended for human consumption.

Registration of premises and licensing of vehicles E+W

F11 16 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E+W

Textual Amendments

F11 Ss. 16-20 repealed (3.4.1992) by Food Safety Act 1990 (c. 16), s. 59(4), Sch. 5; S.I. 1992/57, art.2

F12 17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E+W

Textual Amendments

F12 Ss. 16-20 repealed (3.4.1992) by Food Safety Act 1990 (c. 16), s. 59(4), Sch. 5; S.I. 1992/57, art. 2

F13 18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E+W

Textual Amendments

F13 Ss. 16-20 repealed (3.4.1992) by Food Safety Act 1990 (c. 16), s. 59(4), Sch. 5; S.I. 1992/57, art.2

F14 19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E+W

Textual Amendments

F14 Ss. 16-20 repealed (3.4.1992) by Food Safety Act 1990 (c. 16), s. 59(4), Sch. 5; S.I. 1992/57, art. 2

F15 20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E+W

Textual Amendments

F15 Ss. 16-20 repealed by Food Safety Act 1990 (c.16), s. 59(4), Sch. 5; S.I. 1992/57, art.2

Control of food premises E+W

21 Closure order. E+W

(1) Where on an information laid by a local authority a person is convicted of an offence under regulations made under section 13 and the offence includes—

(a) the carrying on of a food business at any insanitary premises or at any premises the condition, situation or construction of which is such that food is exposed to the risk of contamination, or

(b) the carrying on of a food business on, at or from a stall which is insanitary, or which is so situated or constructed, or is in such a condition, that the food is exposed to the risk of contamination,

then, subject to subsection (2), if the court is satisfied that—

(i) food continues or is likely to continue to be prepared, stored, sold or offered or exposed for sale at those premises or on, at or from that stall, and

(ii) by reason of the situation, construction or insanitary or defective condition of the premises or stall or the insanitary or defective condition of the fittings or fixtures or equipment or the infestation of vermin or the accumulation of refuse, the carrying on of a food business at those premises or on, at or from that stall would be dangerous to health,

the court may on the local authority’s application, whether or not it makes any other order, by order (called “a closure order”) prohibit the preparation, storage, sale or offer or exposure for sale at those premises or on, at or from that stall of food until the local authority certifies under subsection (4) that such specified measures as the court considers necessary to remove the danger to health have been carried out.

(2) A closure order shall not be made unless the local authority have, not less than 14 days before the trial of the information, given—

(a) the person against whom the information was laid, and

(b) if he is not that person, the owner of the premises or stall (unless the local authority are unable after reasonable inquiry to ascertain his identity),

written notice of their intention to apply for the order.

(3) The local authority shall in any notice under subsection (2) specify the measures which, in their opinion, should be taken to remove any danger to health.

(4) Any person who wishes to carry on a food business at any premises or on, at or from any stall with respect to which a closure order is in force may apply to the local authority who, if satisfied that the measures specified by the closure order have been carried out, shall as soon as practicable and in not more than 14 days give to the applicant a certificate to that effect, and such certificate shall be conclusive evidence of the matters stated in it.

22 Emergency order. E+W

(1) Where an information is, or has been, laid by a local authority in relation to an offence described in section 21(1) and application is made by the local authority for an order under this section, the court may, subject to subsection (2), if satisfied—

(a) by evidence tendered by the local authority, and

(b) after affording, if he appears, the person against whom the information is or was laid and, if he is not that person, the owner of the premises or stall, an opportunity to be heard and tender evidence,

that the use of the premises or stall for the preparation, storage, sale or offer or exposure for sale of food involves imminent risk of danger to health, make an order (called “an emergency order”) prohibiting, either absolutely or subject to conditions, the use of those premises or that stall for those purposes until—

(i) the determination of the proceedings to which the information gave rise, or

(ii) the issue of a certificate by the local authority under subsection (6),

whichever is the earlier.

(2) The court shall not consider an application under this section unless it is satisfied that at least three clear days’ notice in writing of intention to make that application and of the time at which it would be made has been given to the person against whom the information is or was laid and, if he is not that person, to the owner of the premises or stall.

(3) The local authority shall in any notice under subsection (2) specify the measures which, in their opinion, should be taken to remove any danger to health.

(4) Notice for the purpose of subsection (2) may be served in any way, except by post, authorised by rules made under section 144 of the M7 Magistrate’s Courts Act 1980 for the service of a summons issued by a justice of the peace or by leaving it for him with some person who appears to be employed at the premises or stall to which the information relates.

(5) The local authority shall serve a copy of an emergency order made under this section as soon as may be after the order has been made on the person against whom the information was laid and, if he is not that person, on the owner of the premises or stall, and shall affix a copy of it in a conspicuous position on the premises or, if practicable, on the stall.

(6) Any person who wishes to carry on a food business at any premises or on, at or from any stall, with respect to which an emergency order is in force, may apply to the local authority who, if satisfied there is no longer any risk of danger to health, shall as soon as practicable and in not more than 14 days issue a certificate to that effect.

Marginal Citations

M7 1980 c. 43.

23 Compensation. E+W

(1) If on the trial of an information relating to an offence described in section 21(1) the court, on the application of an interested person—

(a) determines that at the date of any emergency order the use of the premises or stall did not involve imminent risk of danger to health, and

(b) is satisfied that loss has been occasioned by the emergency order,

the court may order the local authority to pay to that person compensation of such amount as the court thinks proper.

(2) The following are interested persons for the purposes of subsection (1) and section 24(2)—

(a) the person against whom the information was laid;

(b) the owner of the premises or stall;

(c) any person not within paragraph (a) or (b) who at the time when the emergency order was made was carrying on a food business at those premises or on, at or from that stall.

24 Appeals. E+W

(1) Where an application for a closure order is refused or granted—

(a) if the application is refused, the local authority who made the application may appeal to the Crown Court;

(b) if the application is granted, any person to whom notice of the application was given under section 21(2) may appeal as mentioned in paragraph (a).

(2) Where an application for an order under section 23 for the payment of compensation is granted or refused, the following persons may appeal to the Crown Court—

(a) the local authority who made the application for the emergency order in question; or

(b) any interested person who applied for the payment of compensation under that section in respect of that order.

(3) Where a person applies for a certificate under section 21(4)

or 22(6), and the local authority refuses or fails to give it, the applicant may appeal to a magistrates’ court who may, if satisfied that it is proper to do so, direct the authority to give such certificate.

25 Offences against food premises control. E+W

(1) A person who contravenes a closure order or an emergency order is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.

(2) In the application of the provisions of sections 21, 22, 23 and 24, and of subsection (1) of this section, in connection with an offence under any such regulations as are mentioned in section 21(1)—

(a) any expression to which a meaning is given by the regulations in question shall, unless the context otherwise requires, have the same meaning in those provisions as in those regulations; and

(b) those provisions shall have effect as if the references to premises included places which are not premises within the meaning of those regulations.

26 Ships. E+W

In relation to any offence under regulations made under section 13 which includes the carrying on of a food business—

(a) in any insanitary ship, or

(b) in any ship the condition, situation or construction of which is such that food is exposed to the risk of contamination,

the Secretary of State may make regulations containing provisions corresponding to those of sections 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25, with such additions, omissions or other modifications as he thinks fit.

As to regulations under this section—

(i) the penalty provided by any provision of such regulations which corresponds to section 25(1) shall be the same as in that subsection;

(ii) the only provision of Parts VI and VII which applies to the exercise of the power to make such regulations is section 120.

Ice-cream, horseflesh and shellfish E+W

27 Sale of ice-cream from stalls etc. E+W

(1) Every dealer in ice-cream who in a street or other place of public resort sells, or offers or exposes for sales, ice-cream—

(a) from a stall or vehicle, or

(b) from a container used without a stall or vehicle,

shall have his name and address legibly and conspicuously displayed on the stall, vehicle or container, as the case may be, and, if he fails to comply with the requirements of this section, shall be liable to a fine not exceeding level 1 on the standard scale.

(2) A local authority may at any time resolve that, as from such date, not being less than 4 weeks from the date of the passing of the resolution, as may be there specified and until the resolution is revoked, this section shall apply within their district in relation—

(a) to all kinds of food, or

(b) to any kinds of food specified in the resolution,

as it applies in relation to ice-cream, and while any such resolution is in force this section shall apply accordingly.

Nothing in this subsection has effect in relation to milk.

(3) A local authority shall forthwith give notice to the Secretary of State of the passing or revocation of a resolution under this section and shall take such steps as he may direct for publishing notice of the coming into operation, or revocation, of any such resolution.

28 Prevention of spread of disease by ice-cream. E+W

(1) Every manufacturer of, or dealer in, ice-cream shall, upon the occurrence of any disease to which this subsection applies among the persons living or working in or about the premises on which the ice-cream is manufactured, stored or sold, forthwith give notice of the occurrence to the local authority for the district and, if he fails to do so, shall be liable to a fine not exceeding level 1 on the standard scale.

(2) Subsection (1) applies to the diseases specified in Schedule 1 and any other disease which the Secretary of State may by order declare to be a disease to which that subsection applies.

(3) If the proper officer of a local authority has reasonable ground for suspecting that any ice-cream, or substance intended for use in the manufacture of ice-cream, is likely to cause any disease communicable to human beings, he may give notice to the person in charge of it that, until further notice, the ice-cream or substance in question, or any specified portion of it, is not to be used for human consumption and either—

(a) is not to be removed; or

(b) is not to be removed except to some place specified in the notice.

A person who uses or removes any ice-cream or substance in contravention of the requirements of a notice given under this subsection shall be liable to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.

(4) If on further investigation the proper officer of the local authority is satisfied that the ice-cream or substance in question may safely be used for human consumption, he shall forthwith withdraw his notice; but, if he is not so satisfied—

(a) he shall cause it to be destroyed, and

(b) he shall also cause to be destroyed any other ice-cream or such substance as mentioned above then on the premises as to which he is not so satisfied.

(5) Where a notice given under subsection (3) is withdrawn by the proper officer of the local authority, or the proper officer acting under subsection (4) causes any ice-cream or other substance to be destroyed, the local authority shall compensate the owner of the ice-cream or other substance in question for any depreciation in its value resulting from the action taken by the proper officer or, as the case may be, for the loss of its value.

(6) As to compensation under this section—

(a) no compensation shall be payable in respect of the destruction of any ice-cream or substance if the local authority prove that it was likely to cause any disease communicable to human beings;

(b) no compensation shall in any case be payable—

(i) in respect of any ice-cream or substance manufactured on, or brought within, any premises while a notice given under subsection (3) with respect to anything on those premises was operative, or

(ii) in any case where the owner of the ice-cream or substance in question has failed to give a notice which he was required by subsection (1) to give.

For the purposes of this subsection, the value of any ice-cream or other substance shall not be assessed at a sum exceeding the cost incurred by the owner in making or purchasing it.

29 Sale of horseflesh. E+W

(1) A person is guilty of an offence who—

(a) sells, or

(b) offers or exposes for sale, or

(c) has in his possession for the purpose of sale,

any horseflesh for human consumption elsewhere than—

(i) in premises, or

(ii) in a stall, vehicle or place,

over or on which a notice in legible letters stating that horseflesh is sold there is displayed in a conspicuous position so as to be visible whenever horeflesh is being sold, or offered or exposed for sale.

(2) A person is guilty of an offence who supplies horseflesh for human consumption to a purchaser—

(a) who has not asked to be supplied with horseflesh; or

(b) who has asked to be supplied with some compound article of food not ordinarily made of horseflesh.

(3) If any horseflesh is exposed for sale elsewhere than in premises, or in a stall, vehicle or place, distinguished as mentioned above without anything to show that it was not intended for sale for human consumption, the onus of proving that it was not so intended shall rest upon the person exposing it for sale.

(4) In this section “horseflesh” means the flesh of horses, asses and mules, and includes any such flesh—

(a) whether cooked or uncooked, and

(b) whether alone, or accompanied by, or mixed with any other substance,

and “flesh” includes any part of any such animal.

30 Cleansing of shellfish. E+W

(1) A county council or a local authority—

(a) may provide, whether within or without their county or district, tanks or other apparatus for cleansing shell-fish; and

(b) may make charges in respect of the use of any tank or other apparatus so provided.

(2) A county council or a local authority may contribute towards the expenses incurred under this section by any other council or any joint committee, or towards expenses incurred by any other person in providing, and making available to the public, means for cleansing shellfish.

(3) Any expenses incurred by a county council under this section shall, if the Secretary of State by order so directs, be defrayed as expenses for special county purposes chargeable upon such part of the county as may be provided by the order.

(4) In this section “cleansing shellfish” includes the subjection of shellfish to any germicidal treatment.

(5) Nothing in this section authorises the establishment of any tank or other apparatus, or the execution of any other work, on, over or under tidal lands below high-water mark of ordinary spring tides, except in accordance with such plans and sections, and subject to such restrictions and conditions as may before the work is commenced be approved by the Secretary of State.

Food poisoning E+W

31 Inspection and control of infected food. E+W

(1) If the proper officer of a local authority has reasonable ground for suspecting that any food of which he, or any other officer of the local authority of the district, has procured a sample under the provisions of this Act is likely to cause food poisoning, he may give notice to the person in charge of the food that, until his investigations are completed—

(a) the food, or any specified portion of it, is not to be used for human consumption, and

(b) either is not to be removed, or is not to be removed except to some place specified in the notice.

A person who uses or removes any food in contravention of the requirements of a notice given under this subsection is liable to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.

(2) If, as a result of his investigations, the proper officer is satisfied that the food in question, or any portion of it, is likely to cause food poisoning, he may deal with it as food falling within section 9(1) and subsections (2) and (3) of that section shall apply accordingly; but, if he is satisfied that it may be safely used for human consumption, he shall forthwith withdraw his notice.

(3) If a notice given under subsection (1) is withdrawn by the proper officer, or if the justice of the peace before whom any food is brought under this section refuses to condemn it, the local authority shall compensate the owner of the food to which the notice related for any depreciation in its value resulting from the action taken by the proper officer.]

Part II E+W Milk, Dairies and Cream Substitutes

Milk and dairies E+W

32 Meaning of “dairy”, “dairy farm” etc. E+W

(1) In the following provisions of this Act—

(a) “dairy”—

(i) includes any farm, cowshed, milking house, milk store, milk shop or other premises from which milk is supplied on or for sale, or in which milk is kept or used for purposes of sale or for the purposes of manufacture into butter, cheese, dried milk or condensed milk for sale, or in which vessels used for the sale of milk are kept, but

(ii) does not include a shop from which milk is supplied only in the properly closed and unopened vessels in which it is delivered to the shop, or a shop or other place in which milk is sold for consumption on the premises only;

(b) “dairy farm”—

(i) means any premises (being a dairy) on which milk is produced from cows, but

(ii) does not include any part of any such premises on which milk is manufactured into other products unless the milk produced on the premises forms a substantial part of the milk so manufactured;

(c) “dairy farmer” means a dairyman who produces milk from cows; and

(d) “dairyman” includes an occupier of a dairy, a cowkeeper, and a purveyor of milk.

(2) If any question arises under paragraph (b)(ii) of subsection (1) whether the milk produced on a farm or other premises forms a substantial part of the milk that is manufactured into other products on that farm or on those premises, that question shall be determined by the Minister.

33 Milk and Dairies Regulations. E+W

(1) The Ministers may make regulations, called “Milk and Dairies Regulations”, providing—

(a) for the inspection of cattle on dairy farms;

(b) for the inspection of dairies, and of persons in or about dairies who have access to the milk, or to the churns or other milk vessels;

(c) with respect to the lighting. ventilation, cleansing, drainage and water-supply of dairies;

(d) for securing the cleanliness of churns and other milk vessels and appliances and for prohibiting, subject to prescribed exceptions, the use of churns, (whether by the persons to whom they belong or other persons) otherwise than as containers for milk, where the churns are in use for the purposes of the business of a dairyman;

(e) for prescribing the precautions to be taken for protecting milk against infection or contamination;

(f) for preventing danger to health from the sale of infected, contaminated or dirty milk, and in particular for prohibiting the supply or sale of milk suspected of being infected;

(g) for imposing obligations on dairymen and their employees in regard to cases of infectious illness;

(h) for regulating the cooling, storage, conveyance and distribution of milk;

(j) with respect to the labelling, marking or identification, and the sealing or closing, of churns and other vessels used for the conveyance of milk, the labelling of vessels in which milk is sold or offered or exposed for sale or delivered, and the display of the vendor’s name and address on any stall, or any cart, barrow or other vehicle, from which milk is sold or delivered;

(k) in cases were no express provision is made by this Act, for prohibiting or restricting—

(i) the addition of any substance to milk, or the abstraction from milk of fat or any other constituent,

(ii) the sale of milk to which any such addition, or from which any such abstraction, has been made, or which has been otherwise artificially treated;

(l) for prohibiting or restricting, subject to prescribed exceptions, the sale for human consumption, as milk of any specified description, of milk containing less than a specified quantity of any specified normal constituent;

(m) for requiring, subject to prescribed exceptions, cream or separated milk to be subjected to a specified treatment before being sold for human consumption;

(n) for prohibiting, subject to prescribed exceptions, the sale for human consumption of milk obtained from cows milked—

(i) at any stage of a journey to or from a dairy farm,

(ii) at a slaughterhouse or knacker’s yard, or

(iii) in any market or other place where cattle are collected for the purposes of sale or showing, whether or not the market or place is registered in pursuance of Milk and Dairies Regulations as a dairy farm;

(o) for requiring, subject to prescribed exceptions, any milk to which regulations in force under paragraph (n) apply to be stained or otherwise treated for the purposes of identification.

(2) In subsection (1)—

(a) “prescribed exceptions” means such exceptions as may be allowed by or under Milk and Dairies Regulations; and

(b) except in paragraph (o). “milk” means milk intended for sale or sold for human consumption, or intended for manufacture into products for sale for human consumption.

(3) Paragraph (m) of subsection (1), so far as it relates to cream, shall be without prejudice to the power of the Ministers under section 4 to make regulations applying to cream, but regulations made under paragraph (j), paragraph (k) or paragraph (l) of that subsection shall not apply in relation to cream in so far as they are made for any purpose for which regulations relating to cream may be made under section 4.

(4) Milk and Dairies Regulations may be general regulations or regulations limited to a particular area.

34 Registration. E+W

(1) Milk and Dairies Regulations—

(a) may provide for the registration of persons carrying on, or proposing to carry on, the trade of a dairyman and for the registration of dairies, and for prohibiting any person from carrying on that trade unless he and any premises used by him as a dairy are duly registered; and

(b) shall provide for the registration by the Minister of dairy farms and of persons carrying on, or proposing to carry on, the trade of a dairy farmer.

(2) Regulations made for the purposes of this section may make special provision—

(a) for the registration of premises used temporarily as dairies or dairy farms, and of the occupiers of such premises;

(b) for the removal from the register of such premises and occupiers at the expiry of the period for which the registration is effected.

(3) Part I of Schedule 2 has effect, subject to subsection (5), with respect to refusing or cancelling the registration of dairymen.

(4) Subject to subsection (5), regulations made for the purposes of paragraph (b) of subsection (1) shall provide in accordance with Part II of Schedule 2 for dealing with the refusal and cancellation of any such registration as is mentioned in that paragraph.

(5) Schedule 2 does not apply to registration in pursuance of regulations made by virtue of subsection (2), or to persons registered or applying to be registered under them.

35 Sale of milk from diseased cows. E+W

(1) A person is guilty of an offence who—

(a) sells, or offers or exposes for sale, for human consumption, or

(b) uses in the manufacture of products for sale for human consumption,

the milk of any cow which to his knowledge has given tuberculous milk, or is suffering from emaciation due to tuberculosis, or from tuberculosis of the udder or any other disease of cows to which this section applies.

(2) In proceedings under this section, the defendant shall be deemed to have known that a cow had given tuberculous milk, or was suffering as mentioned above, if he could with ordinary care have ascertained the fact.

(3) The diseases of cows to which this section applies are those listed in Schedule 3 and any other disease to which the provisions of this section are extended by Milk and Dairies Regulations.

36 Adulteration. E+W

(1) A person is guilty of an offence—

(a) who adds any water or colouring matter, or any dried or condensed milk or liquid reconstituted from it, to milk intended for sale for human consumption;

(b) who sells, or offers or exposes for sale, or has in his possession for the purpose of sale, for human consumption, any milk to which any addition has been made in contravention of paragraph (a);

(c) who sells, or offers or exposes for sale, under the designation of milk, any liquid in the making of which any dried or condensed milk has been used.

(2) For the purposes of paragraph (b) of subsection (1), a person shall be deemed to retain the possession of milk which is deposited in any place for collection until it is actually collected.

(3) Nothing in subsection (2) shall be taken as prejudicing the defence available under section 81(4) to a person charged with an offence in respect of a sample of milk taken after the milk has left his possession.

(4) The treatment of milk by the application of steam shall not be treated for the purposes of this section as the making of an addition of water to that milk in contravention of the foregoing provisions of this section if—

(a) Milk (Special Designation) Regulations under section 38 are in force prescribing a special designation in relation to milk subjected to that treatment; and

(b) that treatment is carried out in accordance with the conditions prescribed by those regulations as the conditions subject to which licences authorising the use of that special designation are granted; and

(c) those conditions include a condition that both the percentage of the milk consisting of milk fat and the percentage of the milk consisting of milk solids other than milk fat are the same after that treatment as before it.

37 Appointment of veterinary inspectors. E+W

The functions of veterinary inspectors under any enactments relating to milk or to dairies shall, in accordance with directions given by the Minister, be discharged by veterinary inspectors appointed for the purpose by him under section 5 of the M8 Board of Agriculture Act 1889.

Marginal Citations

M8 1889 c. 30.

Special designations of milk, and their use E+W

38 Milk (Special Designation) Regulations. E+W

(1) Provision may be made regulations, to be made by the Ministers and called “Milk (Special Designation) Regulations”—

(a) for prescribing, in relation to milk of any description, such designation (a “special designation”) as the Ministers consider appropriate; and

(b) for the granting of licences to producers and sellers of milk authorising the use of a special designation, and for prescribing the periods for which and the conditions subject to which licences, or licences of any particular class, are to be granted under the regulations.

(2) Provision made by such regulations for the granting of licences authorisisng the use of a special designation shall be for the granting of them by the following—

(a) as respects licences authorising the use of a special designation of raw milk by the producer of the milk, the Minister;

(b) as respects other licences, either the Minister or county councils, food and drugs authorities or local authorities, as may be provided by the regulations.

(3) Part I of Schedule 4 has effect with respect to the provision by such regulations of—

(a) the revocation or suspension of licences authorising the use of a special designation on the ground of a breach of condition of the licence;

(b) procedure in connection with decisions to revoke or suspend such licences or to refuse grants of such licences.

(4) The conditions prescribed by such regulations subject to which licences may be granted may include conditions as to the payment of fees.

39 Restrictions. E+W

(1) A person is guilty of an offence who for the purpose of the sale or advertisement of any milk uses a special designation in any manner calculated to suggest that it refers to that milk, unless he holds a licence authorising the use of that designation in connection with that milk.

For the purpose of a sale or advertisement of milk as, or as part of, a meal or refreshments, a special designation may be used by a person who does not hold a licence authorising the use of that designation in connection with the milk if—

(a) the milk is milk bought by him; and

(b) that designation was used for the purpose of the sale of milk to him.

(2) A person is quilty of an offence who, for the purpose of the sale or advertisement of any milk, refers to that milk by any such description, not being a special designation, as is calculated falsely to suggest—

(a) that there is in force a licence authorising the use of a special designation in connection with that milk; or

(b) that the milk is tested, approved or graded by any competent person; or

(c) that the cows from which the milk is derived are free from the infection of tuberculosis or of any other disease.

(3) In any proceedings taken under subsection (2) it rests on the person charged to prove the truth of any suggestion which, in the court’s opinion, his acts or conduct, as proved by the prosecution, are or is calculated to convey.

(4) Where there has been a breach of a condition subject to which a licence authorising the use of a special designation is granted, but the licence has not been revoked or suspended, the breach shall not be treated as rendering the use of the designation unauthorised for any of the purposes of this section or of any other provision of this Act.

(5) Section 47 applies for the interpretation of the references in this section to selling milk, but as if the definition of milk in that section were omitted.

Compulsory use of special designations in specified areas, and licences for specified areas E+W

40 Special designations: retail sales. E+W

(1) The use of a special designation is obligatory for the purpose of all sales of milk by retail for human consumption (other than catering sales) where the place of sale is in an area in which this subsection is in operation under the following provisions of this Part in that behalf, and subject to this Part.

(2) An area in which subsection (1) is in operation as there mentioned is in this Part, and in Schedule 4, referred to as “a specified area”.

(3) Notwithstanding that the place of sale is not in a specified area, the use of a special designation is obligatory also for the purpose of a sale of milk by retail for human consumption (other than a catering sale) if—

(a) the milk is delivered from an establishment, whether in or outside a specified area; and

(b) there is carried on at that establishment a business of selling milk which includes any sales for the purpose of which the use of a special designation is obligatory under subsection (1).

(4) Subsections (1) and (3) do not apply to the selling of milk as mentioned in those subsections by a producer of milk from cows to persons—

(a) employed by him in or in connection with such production, or

(b) employed by him otherwise in agriculture,

if he does not engage in any other selling of milk as mentioned in those subsections.

(5) A person who sells milk without the use of a special designation under a sale for the purpose of which the use of a special designation is obligatory by virtue of this section is guilty of an offence.

(6) Section 47 applies for the interpretation of this section.

41 Special designations: catering. E+W

(1) This section applies—

(a) to catering sales; and

(b) to sales of milk to a person who carries on a business which consists of or comprises making catering sales (in this section called “a caterer”).

(2) Subject to this Part, a catering sale made in a specified area—

(a) is lawful (unless it is for any reason unlawful apart from this subsection) if the caterer bought the milk under a sale for the purpose of which a special designation was used, or if he holds a licence authorising him to use a special designation in connection with the milk, whether the designation is used for the purpose of the catering sale or not, but

(b) otherwise shall be unlawful.

(3) Subject to this Part, on a sale of milk to a caterer, being a sale for the purpose of which the use of a special designation would be obligatory by section 40 if it were a sale by retail, the use of such a designation is obligatory, except where—

(a) the caterer buys the milk with a view to subjecting it to a process to which milk is required to be subjected as a condition of the use of a special designation in connection with it, and he is the holder of a licence authorising him to use that designation; or

(b) the caterer buys the milk for the purposes of a business of his as a milk dealer or a manufacturer of milk products other than his business as a caterer.

(4) A person is guilty of an offence—

(a) who makes a catering sale which is unlawful under subsection (2); or

(b) who sells milk without the use of a special designation under a sale for the purpose of which the use of a special designation is obligatory under subsection (3).

(5) A person is not guilty of an offence under subsection (3) if at the time of the sale in question he had reasonable cause to believe that the conditions specified in paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) of that subsection were satisfied as to that sale or that the buyer was not a caterer.

(6) Section 47 applies for the interpretation of this section.

42 Special designations: exemption. E+W

(1) Notwithstanding anything in subsection (1) or subsection (3) of section 40, or in section 41(3), selling milk as mentioined in those subsections without the use of a special designation is permissible if done with the Minister’s consent.

(2) The Minister may give consents for the purposes of this section—

(a) either generally as respects selling milk as mentioned in those subsections or restricted to a particular retailer or establishment or otherwise, and

(b) either unconditionally or subject to conditions,

as may appear to him to be requisite to meet any circumstances in which use of a special designation which would be oblligatory under those subsections apart from the consent appears to him to be for the time being not reasonably practicable.

(3) A catering sale made in a specified area is not unlawful under section 41(2) if the milk was sold to the caterer with consent given by the Minister for the purposes of this section.

(4) Section 47 applies for the interpretation of this section.

43 Specified areas. E+W

(1) The Ministers may at any time order that section 40(1) shall come into operation in any area in which it is not then in operation, or shall cease to be in operation in any area in which it is then in operation.

(2) Before making an order under this section the Ministers shall consult with such representative organisations as appear to them substantially to represent the interests concerned with the purposes of the order.

(3) For the purposes of this Part—

(a) if a contract of sale of milk is made in one place and the milk is delivered under the contract in another place, the place of sale shall, except in a case falling within paragraph (b), be taken to be the place where the milk is so delivered;

(b) if a contract of sale of milk is made in one place and the milk is delivered under the contract to a carrier for transport to another place, the place of the sale shall be taken to be that other place.

(4) Part II of Schedule 4 has effect as respects the application of Part I of that Schedule to a licence held by a retailer for a specified area.

(5) Section 47 applies for the interpretation of this section.

44 Milk processing facilities. E+W

(1) The Minister may—

(a) install, maintain and operate apparatus for the subjection of milk to any process to which it is required to be subjected as a condition of the use of a special designation in connection with it, and

(b) provide any other facilities for that purpose,

in any case in which it appears to him as respects—

(i) any area which is a specified area, or

(ii) an area as to which the Ministers propose to make an order bringing section 40(1) into operation.

that facilities for the application of such treatment sufficient to provide for supplies of milk of that designation in that area in requisite quantities are not available and are not likely otherwise to become available.

(2) Where the Minister provides facilities under this section—

(a) he may either buy the milk to be treated and re-sell it, otherwise than by retail or to a caterer for the purposes of his business as such, after treatment; or

(b) apply the treatment to milk of others.

(3) The Minister may arrange with local authorities or other persons for the doing, on his behalf and at his expense, of things which he is authorised by this section to do, and it shall be within the powers of local authorities to carry out arrangements so made.

(4) Section 47 applies for the interpretation of this section; and in this section “local authority” means a local authority within the meaning of the M9 Local Government Act 1972.

Marginal Citations

M9 1972 c. 70.

45 Breach of retailer’s licence. E+W

(1) In the event of a breach of any condition to which this section applies of a licence held by a retailer for a specified area, the holder of the licence shall be guilty of an offence under this section, subject to section 46.

(2) The conditions to which this section applies are conditions as to any such matters as are specified in Schedule 5.

(3) Milk (Special Designation) Regulations shall specify the authorities, whether local authorities or food and drugs authorities, by whom the provisions of this section are to be enforced as respects licences other than licences which authorise the use—

(a) of a special designation in relation to raw milk by its producer; or

(b) of a special designation by a local authority.

(4) Section 47 applies for the interpretation of this section; and in this section “local authoirity” means a local authority within the meaning of the Local Government Act 1972.

46 Restriction on liability under s. 45. E+W

(1) Such a breach of condition as is mentioned in section 45, constituted by an act or omission for which the holder of the licence is liable to any punishment imposed by or under any enactment other than that section, does not render the holder of the licence guilty of an offence under that section.

(2) Such a breach of condition as is mentioned in section 45 does not render the holder of the licence guilty of an offence under that section unless it was the later, or a later, of two or more such breaches, occurring within a period of 12 months, of conditions either of that licence or of that licence and a former licence by way of renewal of which that licence was granted, and was committed either—

(a) after the licensing authority had given him notice in writing as to an earlier of those two or more breaches informing him of his being alleged to have committed it, and warning him of the liability to prosecution imposed by section 45; or

(b) after he had been convicted of an offence under that section because of an earlier of those two or more breaches.

(3) In the case of any prosecution in respect of such a breach of condition as is mentioned in section 45 which would otherwise render the holder of the licence guilty of an offence under that section, it is a defence for him to prove the following matters (either as to that breach, or as to the earlier breach relied on for the purpose of subsection (2) of this section, unless it is one under which he has been convicted of such an offence)—

(a) that neither he nor any servant or agent of his

(i) did or knew of the doing of, any act that constituted the breach or can reasonably be regarded as having been the cause or among the causes of it, or

(ii) omitted to do, or knew of an omission to do, any act the omission of which constituted the breach, or the doing of which can reasonably be regarded as a precaution that would have prevented it; and

(b) if the breach was in connection with milk that had been sold to him, or had been delivered to him after being subjected to a process to which it was required to be subjected as a condition of the use of the special designation to which his licence related, that that designation—

(i) was used for the purpose of the sale to him or in connection with the delivery to him, as the case may be, and

(ii) was so used without any breach, discoverable by the exercise of reasonable diligence on the part of himself or any servant or agent of his, of any condition, relating to receptacles, to closing, to fastening or to marking, of a licence to use that designation held by the person who sold the milk to him or subjected it to the process, as the case may be.

(4) Section 47 applies for the interpretation of this section.

47 Interpretation of ss. 39 to 46. E+W

In sections 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45 and 46, in this section, and in Schedules 4 and 5, except where the context otherwise requires—

• “business” includes the business of a hospital, school or other institution the selling of milk by which is incidental only to the rendering of the health, education or other services rendered by the institution;

• “catering sale” means a sale of milk, or of things made from milk or of which milk is an ingredient, as, or as part of, a meal or refreshments;

• “licence held by a retailer for a specified area” means a licence authorising the use of a special designation held by a person carrying on a business which includes any sales which are sales for the purpose of which the use of a special designation is obligatory by virtue of this Part and are of milk in relation to which that licence authorises the use of a special designation;

• “licensing authority” means, in relation to a grant of a licence authorising the use of a special designation, the authority having power to grant the licence by virtue of Milk (Special Designation) Regulations, and, in relation to such a licence which has been granted, the authority who would for the time being have power by virtue of such regulations as mentioned above to grant a licence by way of its renewal if it had expired;

• “milk” means cows’ milk, excluding not only condensed milk and dried milk, but also cream and separated, skimmed and evaporated milk, and butter milk;

• “selling” means selling in the course of a business and includes, in relation to milk, supplying it under arrangements for free supply, and, in relation to milk and things made from milk or of which milk is an ingredient, supplying it or them, in the course of any business otherwise than under such arrangements; and references to sales and contracts of sale and sellers shall be construed accordingly;

• “selling milk by retail” means selling it—

(a) to any person other than a milk dealer (that is, a person who carries on a business which consists of or comprises the selling of milk) or a manufacturer of milk products (that is, a person who carries on a business which consists of or comprises the making of things made from milk or of which milk is an ingredient), or

(b) to such a dealer or manufacturer otherwise than for the purposes of his business as such;

• “specified area” has the meaning given by section 40(2);

• “supplying under arrangements for free supply” means, in relation to any milk, supplying it, free from any payments made or to be made by the person to whom it is supplied, under arrangements made in exercise of powers in that behalf conferred by section 78(2) of the M10 Education Act 1944, or section 22 of the M11 Education Act 1980, or any regulation under the M12 Emergency Laws (Re-enactments and Repeals) Act 1964; and references to a person’s buying milk include references to his having it supplied to him under such arrangements.

Marginal Citations

M10 1944 c. 31.

M11 1980 c. 20.

M12 1964 c. 60.

Cream substitutes E+W

48 Misuse of designation “cream”. E+W

(1) A person is guilty of an offence who sells, or offers or exposes for sale, for human consumption—

(a) any substance which resembles cream in appearance, but is not cream, or

(b) any article of food containing such a substance,

under a description or designation which includes the word “cream” (whether or not as part of a composite word).

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to the sale, or offer or exposure for sale—

(a) of any substance being reconstituted or imitation cream as defined by this section, or of any article containing such a substance, under a description or designation which identifies the substance as such; or

(b) of any substance under a description or designation which indicates that the substance is not for use as or as a substitute for, cream.

(3) In this section “reconstituted cream” means a substance which, not being cream, resembles cream in appearance and contains no ingredient not derived from milk, except—

(a) water, or

(b) ingredients (not added fraudulently to increase bulk, weight or measure, or conceal inferior quality) which may lawfully be contained in a substance sold for human consumption as cream,

and “imitation cream” means a substance which, not being cream or reconstituted cream, resembles cream in appearance and is produced by emulsifying edible oils or fats with water, either by themselves or with other substances which are neither prohibited by regulations made for the purposes of this section under section 4, nor added in quantities so prohibited.

(4) For the purposes of this section, the description or designation under which a substance or article is sold, or offered or exposed for sale, shall be deemed to include the word “cream” if it includes any other word (composite or otherwise) which is calculated to lead a purchaser to suppose that the substance is or, as the case may be, the article contains either cream or a substance for use as cream.

49 Reconstituted cream. E+W

Such of the following provisions as apply in relation to cream—

(a) any provision of this Part,

(b) any provisions of Milk and Dairies Regulations, other than provisions relating to the registration of dairymen and dairies, and

(c) any provision of Milk (Special Designation) Regulations,

also apply in relation to reconstituted cream as defined by section 48, save as otherwise expressly provided.

Part III E+W Markets

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Pt. III applied (30.1.2004) by Hereford Markets Act 2003 (c. iv), ss. 1, 3(2)

C2 Pt. III applied (2.10.2004) by Ipswich Market Act 2004 (c. iii), ss. 1, 6

50 Establishment or acquisition. E+W

(1) [F16 A local authority] may—

(a) establish a market within [F16 their area];

(b) acquire by agreement (but not otherwise), either by purchase or on lease, the whole or any part of an existing market undertaking within [F16 their area], and any rights enjoyed by any person within [F16 their area] in respect of a market and of tolls,

and, in either case, may provide—

(i) a market place with convenient approaches to it;

(ii) a market house and other buildings convenient for the holding of a market.

(2) A market shall not be established in pursuance of this section so as to interfere with any rights, powers or privileges enjoyed within [F17 the authority’s area] in respect of a market by any person, without that person’s consent.

[F18 (3) For the purposes of subsection (2), a local authority shall not be regarded as enjoying any rights, powers or privileges within another local authority’s area by reason only of the fact that they maintain within their own area a market which has been established under paragraph (a) of subsection (1) or under the corresponding provision of any earlier enactment]

Textual Amendments

F16 Words substituted by Food Safety Act 1990 (c. 16, SIF 53:1, 2), ss. 52, 54, Sch. 2 para. 2(1)

F17 Words substituted by Food Safety Act 1990 (c. 16, SIF 53:1, 2), ss. 52, 54, Sch. 2 para. 2(2)

F18 S. 50(3) substituted by Food Safety Act 1990 (c. 16, SIF 53:1, 2), ss. 52, 54, Sch. 2 para. 2(3)

51 Power to sell to local authority. E+W

(1) The owner of a market undertaking, or of any rights in respect of a market and of tolls, whether established under, or enjoyed by virtue of, statutory powers or not, may sell or lease to a local authority the whole or any part of his market undertaking or rights, but subject to all attached liabilities.

(2) A sale by a . . . F19 company under this section must be authorised—

(a) if the company is a company within the meaning of the Companies Act [F20 1985], [F21 by special resolution];

(b) if the company is not such a company, by a resolution passed by three-fourths in number and value of the members present, either personally or by proxy, at a meeting specially convened for the purpose with notice of the business to be transacted.

Textual Amendments

F19 Word repealed by Food Safety Act 1990 (c. 16, SIF 53:1, 2), ss. 52, 54, 59(4), Sch. 2 para. 3, Sch. 5

F20 Figure substituted by the Companies Consolidation (Consequential Provisions) Act 1985 (c. 9, SIF 27), s. 30, Sch. 2

F21 Words in s. 51(2)(a) substituted (1.10.2007) by Companies Act 2006 (Commencement No.3, Consequential Amendments, Transitional Provisions and Savings) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/2194), art. 1(3)(a), Sch. 4 para. 37 (with art. 12)

52 Market days and hours. E+W

A market authority may appoint the days on which, and the hours during which, markets are to be held.

53 Charges. E+W

(1) A market authority may demand in respect of the market, . . . F22 , such charges as they may from time to time determine.

[F23 (2) A market authority who provide—

(a) a weighing machine for weighing cattle, sheep or swine; or

(b) a cold air store or refrigerator for the storage and preservation of meat and other articles of food,

may demand in respect of the weighing of such animals or, as the case may be, the use of the store or refrigerator such charges as they may from time to time determine.]

(3) The authority—

(a) shall keep exhibited in conspicuous places in the market place, and in any market house, tables stating in large and legibly printed characters the several charges payable under this Part; and

(b) shall keep so much of the tables as relates to charges payable . . . F24 in respect of the weighing of animals, conspicuously exhibited at every weighing machine provided by them in connection with the market for the purpose.

(4) A person who demands or accepts a charge greater than that for the time being authorised shall be liable to a fine not exceeding level 2 on the standard scale.

(5) Nothing in this section applies in relation to rents charged by a market authority in respect of the letting of accommodation within their market for any period longer than one week.

Textual Amendments

F22 Words repealed by Food Safety Act 1990 (c. 16, SIF 53:1, 2), ss. 52, 54, 59(4), Sch. 2 para. 4, Sch. 5

F23 S. 53(2) substituted by Food Safety Act 1990 (c. 16, SIF 53:1, 2), ss. 52, 54, Sch. 2 para. 4(2)

F24 Words repealed by Food Safety Act 1990 (c. 16, SIF 53:1, 2), ss. 52, 54, 59(4), Sch. 2 para. 4(3), Sch. 5

54 Time for payment of charges. E+W

(1) Charges payable in respect of the market shall be paid from time to time on demand to an authorised market officer.

[F25 (2) Charges payable in respect of the weighing of cattle, sheep or swine shall be paid in advance to an authorised market officer by the person bringing the animals to be weighed.]

(3) Charges payable in respect of animals brought to the market for sale shall be payable, and may be demanded by an authorised market officer—

(a) as soon as the animals in respect of which they are payable are brought into the market place, and

(b) before they are put into any pen, or tied up in the market place,

but further charges shall be payable and may be demanded in respect of any of the animals which are not removed within one hour after the close of the market.

Textual Amendments

F25 S. 54(2) substituted by Food Safety Act 1990 (c. 16, SIF 53:1, 2), ss. 52, 54, Sch. 2 para. 5

55 Recovery of charges. E+W

If a person liable to pay any charge authorised under this Part does not pay it when lawfully demanded, the market authority may, by any authorised market officer, levy it by distress—

(a) of all or any of the animals, poultry or other articles in respect of which the charge is payable, or

(b) of any other animals, poultry or articles in the market belonging to, or in the charge of, the person liable,

and any such charge may also be recovered either summarily as a civil debt or in any court of competent jurisdiction.

56 Prohibited sales in market hours. E+W

(1) A person (other than a pedlar holding a certificate under the M13 Pedlars Act 1871) who on a market day and during market hours sells or exposes for sale any articles—

(a) which are specified in a byelaw made by the market authority, and

(b) which are commonly sold in the market,

and such sale or exposure for sale—

(i) is in any place within the authority’s [F26 area], and

(ii) is within such distance from the market as the authority may by byelaw declare,

is liable to a fine not exceeding level 2 on the standard scale.

This subsection does not apply to a sale or exposure for sale in a person’s own dwelling place or shop, or in, or at the door of, any premises to a person resident in those premises.

(2) The market authority shall keep exhibited in conspicuous positions in the vicinity of the market notices stating the effect of any byelaw made under this section.

Textual Amendments

F26 Word substituted by Food Safety Act 1990 (c. 16, SIF 53:1, 2), ss. 52, 54, Sch. 2 para. 6

Marginal Citations

M13 1871 c. 96.

57 Weighing machines and scales. E+W

(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F27

(2) A market authority in whose market cattle, sheep or swine are sold shall, unless there is in force an order of the Minister declaring that the circumstances are such as to render compliance with this subsection unnecessary—

(a) provide to that Minister’s satisfaction one or more weighing machines adapted for weighing such animals; and

(b) appoint officers to attend to the weighing of such animals.

A weighing machine provided under this subsection shall for the purposes of section 1 of the M14 Markets and Fairs (Weighing of Cattle) Act 1926, be deemed to have been provided for the purpose of complying with the provisions of the principal Act referred to in that Act of 1926.

Textual Amendments

F27 S. 57(1) repealed by Food Safety Act 1990 (c. 16, SIF 53:1, 2), ss. 52, 54, 59(4), Sch. 2 para. 7, Sch. 5

Marginal Citations

M14 1926 c. 21.

[F28 57A Provision of cold stores. E+W

(1) A market authority may provide a cold air store or refrigerator for the storage and preservation of meat and other articles of food.

(2) Any proposal by a market authority to provide under this section a cold air store or refrigerator within the area of another local authority requires the consent of that other authority, which shall not be unreasonably withheld.

(3) Any question whether or not such a consent is unreasonably withheld shall be referred to and determined by the Ministers.

(4) Subsections (1) to (5) of section 250 of the M15 Local Government Act 1972 (which relate to local inquiries) shall apply for the purposes of this section as if any reference in those subsections to that Act included a reference to this section.]

Textual Amendments

F28 S. 57A inserted by Food Safety Act 1990 (c. 16, SIF 53:1, 2), ss. 52, 54, Sch. 2 para. 8

Marginal Citations

M15 1972 c.70(81:1).

58 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F29 E+W

Textual Amendments

F29 S. 58 repealed by Food Safety Act 1990 (c. 16, SIF 53:1, 2), ss. 52, 54, 59(4), Sch. 2 para. 9, Sch. 5

59 Information for market officer. E+W

The person in charge of any vehicle in which, and any other person by whom, animals, poultry or other articles are brought for sale in the market shall give to any authorised market officer such information—

(a) as to their number and kind, or

(b) in the case of articles on which charges are made by reference to weight, as to their weight,

as that officer may require.

60 Market byelaws. E+W

A local authority who maintain a market, whether or not they are a market authority within the meaning of this Act, may make byelaws—

(a) for regulating the use of the market place, and the buildings, stalls, pens and standings in that market place;

(b) for preventing nuisances or obstructions in the market place, or in the immediate approaches to it;

(c) for regulating porters and carriers resorting to the market, and fixing the charges to be made for carrying articles from the market within the district.

[F30 (d) after consulting the [F31 fire and rescue authority] F32 ..., for preventing the spread of fires in the market.]

Textual Amendments

F30 S. 60(d) inserted by Food Safety Act 1990 (c. 16, SIF 53:1, 2), ss. 52, 54, Sch. 2 para. 10

F31 Words in s. 60(d) substituted (1.10.2004 except in relation to W., 10.11.2004 for W.) by Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 (c. 21), s. 61, Sch. 1 para. 56(2); S.I. 2004/2304, art. 2; S.I. 2004/2917, art. 2

F32 Words in s. 60(d) repealed (1.10.2006) by Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/1541), art. 1(3), Sch. 2 para. 32(2), Sch. 4 (with art. 49) (as amended by The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Subordinate Provisions Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/484), arts. 1(1), 2)

61 Interpretation of Part III, and exclusion of City of London. E+W

In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires—

• “authorised market officer” means an officer of a market authority specially authorised by them to collect charges in their market,

• “charges” includes stallage or tolls,

• [F33 [F34 “fire and rescue authority” in relation to a market, means—

  (a)

  where the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies to the market, the enforcing authority within the meaning given by article 25 of that Order; or

  (b)

  in any other case, the fire and rescue authority under the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 for the area in which the market is situated.]

• “food” has the same meaning as in the Food Safety Act 1990;

• “local authority” means a district council, a London borough council or a parish [F35 council but, in relation to Wales, means a county council, county borough council] or community council;

• “market authority” means a local authority who maintain a market which has been established or acquired under section 50(1) or under the corresponding provisions of any earlier enactment.]

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F36

Textual Amendments

F33 Words in s. 61 substituted by Food Safety Act 1990 (c. 16, SIF 53:1, 2), ss. 52, 54, Sch. 2 para. 11

F34 Words in s. 61 substituted (1.10.2006) by Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/1541), art. 1(3), Sch. 2 para. 32(3) (with art. 49) (as amended by The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Subordinate Provisions Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/484), arts. 1(1), 2)

F35 Words in s. 61 inserted (1.4.1996) by 1994 c. 19, s. 22(3), Sch. 9 para. 14 (with ss. 54(5)(7), 55(5), Sch. 17 paras. 22(1), 23(2)); S.I. 1996/396, art. 3, Sch. 1

F36 Words repealed by Food Safety Act 1990 (c. 16, SIF 53:1, 2), ss. 52, 54, 59(4), Sch. 2 para. 11, Sch. 5

F37 Part IV E+W

Textual Amendments

F37 Pt. IV (ss. 62–67) repealed (3.4.1992) by Food Safety Act 1990 (c. 16, SIF 53:1, 2), ss. 54, 60(3), Sch. 5; S.I. 1992/57, art. 2

F38 62 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E+W

Textual Amendments

F38 S. 62 repealed (3.4.1992) by Food Safety Act 1990 (c. 16), s. 59(4), Sch. 5; S.I. 1992/57, art. 2

F39 63 . E+W

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F39 S. 63 repealed (3.4.1992) by Food Safety Act 1990 (c. 16), s. 59(4), Sch. 5; S.I. 1992/57, art. 2

F40 64 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E+W

Textual Amendments

F40 S. 64 repealed (3.4.1992) by Food Safety Act 1990 (c. 16), s. 59(4), Sch. 5; S.I. 1992/57, art. 2

F41 65 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E+W

Textual Amendments

F41 S. 65 repealed (3.4.1992) by Food Safety Act 1990 (c. 16), s. 59(4), Sch. 5; S.I. 1992/57, art.2

F42 66 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E+W

Textual Amendments

F42 S. 66 repealed (3.4.1992) by Food Safety Act 1990 (c. 16), s. 59(4), Sch. 5; S.I. 1992/57, art. 2

F43 67 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E+W

Textual Amendments

F43 S. 67 repealed (3.4.1992) by Food Safety Act 1990 (c. 16), s. 59(4), Sch. 5; S.I. 1992/57, art. 2

Part V E+W+S Sugar Beet and Cold Storage

Ministerial functions as to sugar beet E+W+S

68 Research and education. U.K.

[F44 (1) The appropriate Minister, after consultation with the [F45 processors of home-grown beet] and with any body which in that Minister’s opinion is substantially representative of growers of home-grown beet—

(a) shall prepare for each year a programme for carrying out research and education in matters affecting the growing of home-grown beet; and

(b) may by order provide for carrying any such programme into effect.

(2) Any such programme for any year shall contain an estimate of the amount of the expenditure to be incurred in carrying it out; and any order made for carrying such a programme into effect shall, in particular, provide—

(a) for assessing the contributions towards defraying such expenditure to be made by the [F45 processors of home-grown beet] and by every grower of home-grown beet who delivers beet to the [F45 processors of home-grown beet] in that year; and

(b) for the collection of such contributions and the recovery of unpaid contributions by the appropriate Minister.

(3) All contributions paid in accordance with an order under subsection (1) shall be paid into a research and education fund.

(4) All expenditure certified by the appropriate Minister to have been properly incurred in carrying out any programme prepared under this section (including expenditure incurred by him or on his behalf) shall be defrayed out of the fund mentioned in subsection (3).

(5) That fund shall be under the Minister’s control; and an account showing the revenue and expenditure of the fund for any year shall, not later than 30th November in the year following that to which it relates, be transmitted by the Minister to the Comptroller and Auditor General, who shall examine and certify the account and lay copies of it, together with his report on it, before Parliament.

[F46 (5A) An order under this section shall be made by statutory instrument which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.]

(6) In this section—

• “the appropriate Minister”—

(a) in relation to a programme or order extending to the whole of Great Britain, means the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Secretary of State for Wales, acting jointly,

(b) in relation to a programme or order extending only to England and Wales, means the Minister and the Secretary of State, acting jointly,

(c) in relation to a programme or order extending only to Scotland, means the Secretary of State;

• [F47 “ year ” means a period of 12 months beginning with 1st April;

and in this section and sections 69 and 69A “ home-grown beet ” means sugar beet grown in Great Britain ]]

Subordinate Legislation Made

P1 S. 68: for exercises of power see Index to Government Orders

S. 68 power exercised by S.I.1991/393

Textual Amendments

F44 S. 68 repealed (E.W.) (9.5.2003) by Regulatory Reform (Sugar Beet Research and Education) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/1281), arts. 1(1), 3

F45 Words substituted by Food Safety Act 1990 (c. 16, SIF 53:1, 2), ss. 52, 54, Sch. 2 para. 13

F46 S. 68(5A) inserted by Food Safety Act 1990 (c. 16, SIF 53:1, 2), ss. 52, 54, Sch. 2 para. 13(2)

F47 Definitions substituted by Food Safety Act 1990 (c. 16, SIF 53:1, 2), ss. 52, 54, Sch. 2 para. 13(3)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C3 S. 68: transfer of functions (27.12.1999) by S.I. 1999/3141, art. 2(1), Sch. (with art. 2(5)(7))

69 Crop price. E+W+S

(1) If as regards the home-grown beet crop for any year it is made to appear to the Ministers—

(a) by the processors of home-grown beet, or

(b) by a body which is in their opinion substantially representative of the groers of home-grown beet,

that the processors and that body are unable to agree on the prices and other terms and conditions for the purchase of home-grown beet by the processors, the Ministers may determine or designate a person to determine those prices, terms and conditions.

(2) Any purchase by processors for which prices, terms and conditions have been so determined, or contract for such a purchase, shall take effect as a purchase or contract for purchase at those prices and on those terms and conditions.

(3) In this section [F48 and section 69A] [F49 -“home-grown beet” means sugar beet grown in Great Britain; and] “the Ministers” means the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Secretary of State for Wales, acting jointly.

Textual Amendments

F48 Words substituted by Food Safety Act 1990 (c. 16, SIF 53:1, 2), ss. 52, 54, Sch. 2 para. 14

F49 Words in s. 69(3) inserted (E.W.) (9.5.2003) by Regulatory Reform (Sugar Beet Research and Education) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/1281), arts. 1(1), 4

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C4 S. 69: transfer of functions (27.12.1999) by S.I. 1999/3141, art. 2(1), Sch. (with art. 2(5)(7))

[F50 69A Information. E+W

(1) For the purpose of facilitating—

(a) the making of a determination under section 69(1); or

(b) the preparation or conduct of discussions concerning Community arrangements for or relating to the regulation of the market for sugar,

the appropriate Minister may serve on any processor of home-grown beet a notice requiring him to furnish in writing, within such period as is specified in the notice, such information as is so specified.

(2) Subject to subsection (3), information obtained under subsection (1) shall not be disclosed without the previous consent in writing of the person by whom the information was furnished; and a person who discloses any information so obtained in contravention of this subsection shall be liable—

(a) on conviction on indictment, to a fine or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to both;

(b) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or to both.

(3) Nothing in subsection (2) shall restrict the disclosure of information to any of the Ministers or the disclosure—

(a) of information obtained under subsection (1)(a)—

(i) to a person designated to make a determination under section 69(1); or

(ii) to a body which substantially represents the growers of home-grown beet; or

(b) of information obtained under subsection (1)(b), to the [F3 EU] institution concerned.

(4) In this section “ the appropriate Minister ” means—

(a) in relation to England, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food; and

(b) in relation to Scotland or Wales, the Secretary of State]

Textual Amendments

F3 Words in Act substituted (22.4.2011) by The Treaty of Lisbon (Changes in Terminology) Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/1043), arts. 3, 6 (with arts. 3(2)(3), 4(2), 6(4)(5))

F50 S. 69A inserted by Food Safety Act 1990 (c. 16, SIF 53:1, 2), ss. 52, 54, Sch. 2 para. 15

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C5 S. 69A: transfer of functions (27.12.1999) by S.I. 1999/3141, art. 2(1), Sch. (with art. 2(5)(7))

C6 S. 69A functions made exercisable concurrently or jointly with the Welsh Ministers by 2006 c. 32, Sch. 3A para. 1 (as inserted (1.4.2018) by Wales Act 2017 (c. 4), s. 71(4), Sch. 4 para. 1 (with Sch. 7 paras. 1, 6); S.I. 2017/1179, reg. 3(p))

[F51 Cold storage E+W+N.I.

Textual Amendments

F51 Ss. 70–92 repealed (E.W.) by Food Safety Act 1990 (c. 16, SIF 53:1, 2), ss. 52, 54, 59(4), Sch. 2 para. 16, Sch. 5 ((prosp.) as to ss. 76(2) and 79(5) except in so far as they relate to the Public Analysts (Scotland) Regulations 1956 or the Public Analysts Regulations 1957 and (3.4.1992) as to s. 92 in so far as it relates to s. 16(2) of this Act: S.I. 1990/2372, art. 2); S.I. 1992/57, art.2

70 Provision of cold storage. E+W

(1) A local authority who have provided or are about to provide a market may—

(a) provide a cold air store or refrigerator for the storage and preservation of meat and other articles of food; and

(b) make charges in respect of the use of any such store or refrigerator.

(2) Any proposal by a local authority to provide under this section a cold air store or refrigerator within the district of another local authority requires the consent of that other authority.

(3) Such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld and any question whether or not the consent of an authority for the purposes of subsection (2) is unreasonably withheld shall be referred to and determined by the Minister.

(4) Subsections (1) to (5) of section 250 of the M16 Local Government Act 1972 (which relate to local inquiries) shall apply for the purposes of this section as if any reference in those subsections to that Act included a reference to this section.]

Marginal Citations

M16 1972 c. 70.

Part VI E+W+N.I. Administration, Enforcement and Legal Proceedings

Administration E+W+N.I.

71 Food and drugs authorities. E+W

The food and drugs authority shall continue to be—

(a) in England, for each county and London borough, the council of that county or borough, and for the City of London and the Inner Temple and the Middle Temple, the Common Council of the City of London;

(b) in Wales, the county council.

72 Local authorities for purposes of this Act. E+W

In this Act, except in sections 44 and 45, “local authority” means—

(a) as respects the City of London, the Common Council;

(b) as respects the Inner Temple and the Middle Temple, the Sub-Treasurer and the Under Treasurer respectively; and

(c) as respects any district or London borough, the council of the district or borough.

73 Meaning of “authorised officer”. E+W

(1) “Authorised officer”, where used in this Act in relation to a council—

(a) means an officer of the council authorised by them in writing, either generally or specially, to act in matters of any specified kind or in any specified matter; and

(b) for the purposes of any provision of this Act relating to the taking of samples, includes a police constable so authorised with the approval of the police authority concerned.

(2) No officer of a council shall be authorised under this Act to act in relation to the examination and seizure of meat unless he is a person having such qualifications as may be prescribed by regulations made by the Ministers.

74 Duty to enforce. E+W+N.I.

(1) The Minister shall enforce and execute the provisions of the sections, orders and regulations specified in paragraph 1 of Schedule 6, and the food and drugs authorities shall enforce and execute the provisions of the sections and regulations specified in paragraph 2 of that Schedule.

(2) It is the duty of every local authority to enforce and execute in their district the provisions of any section of this Act with respect to which the duty is not expressly, or by necessary implication, imposed on some other authority.

(3) Regulations made under Part I, Milk and Dairies Regulations and Milk (Special Designation) Regulations shall specify the authorities by whom they are to be enforced and executed, being—

(a) in the case of regulations made under Part I, county councils, local authorities, food and drugs authorities, port health authorities, or the Commissioners of Customs and Excise,

(b) in the case of Milk and Dairies Regulations and Milk (Special Designation) Regulations, county councils, local authorities, food and drugs authorities, or port health authorities,

and any regulations to which this subsection applies may provide for the giving of assistance and information, by any authority concerned in the administration of the regulations, or of this Act, to any other authority so concerned, for the purposes of their respective duties under them.

This subsection does not apply to the enforcement and execution of so much of any regulations made under Part II as is, by virtue of subsection (1), enforceable by the Minister.

[F52 (4) Subsection (3) applies to Northern Ireland so far as it relates—

(a) to those regulations and orders made under Part I which apply to Northern Ireland; and

(b) to the enforcement and execution of those regulations and orders,

and accordingly that subsection is modified—

(i) by the substitution in paragraph (a) of the words “district councils” for “county councils, local authorities, food and drugs authorities, port health authorities”; and

(ii) by the construction of the reference to any authority concerned in the administration of this Act as a reference to any authority concerned in the administration of any corresponding Northern Ireland enactment.]

Textual Amendments

F52 S. 74(4) repealed (N.I.) ( 4.11.1991) by S.I. 1991/762, art. 51(4), Sch.4; S.R. 1991/175, art. 2(2).

75 Joint boards. E+W

An order made by the Secretary of State under section 6 of the M17 Public Health Act 1936 may constitute a united district for the purposes of any functions under this Act which are functions of a local authority, whether as a food and drugs authority or otherwise.

Marginal Citations

M17 1936 c. 49.

Sampling and analysis E+W

76 Public analysts. E+W

(1) Every food and drugs authority shall appoint in accordance with this section one or more persons (in this Act called “public analysts”) to be analysts of food and drugs within their area.

(2) No person shall be appointed a public analyst unless he possesses either—

(a) the qualifications prescribed by regulations made by the Ministers, or

(b) such other qualifications as the Ministers may approve,

and no person shall be appointed public analyst for any area who is engaged directly or indirectly in any trade or business connected with the sale of food or drugs in that area.

(3) A food and drugs authority shall pay to a public analyst such remuneration as may be agreed, which may be expressed to be payable either—

(a) in addition to any fees received by him under this Part; or

(b) on condition that any fees so received by him are paid over by him to the authority.

(4) A food and drugs authority who appoint only one public analyst may appoint also a deputy to act during any vacancy in the office of public analyst, or during the absence or incapacity of the holder of the office, and—

(a) the provisions of this section with respect to the qualifications, appointment, removal and remuneration of a public analyst shall apply also in relation to a deputy public analyst; and

(b) any reference in the following provisions of this Act to a public analyst shall be construed as including a reference to a deputy public analyst appointed under this subsection.

77 Facilities for examination. E+W

A county council or local authority may provide facilities for bacteriological and other examinations of samples of food and drugs.

78 Powers of sampling. E+W

(1) An authorised officer of a council may exercise such powers of procuring samples for analysis, or for bacteriological or other examination, as are conferred upon him by this section, and any such officer is in this Act called a “sampling officer”.

(2) A sampling officer may purchase samples of any food or of any substance capable of being used in the preparation of food.

(3) A sampling officer may take a sample of any food, or of any substance capable of being used in the preparation of food, which—

(a) appears to him to be intended for sale, or to have been sold, for human consumption; or

(b) is found by him on or in any premises, stall, vehicle, ship, aircraft or place which he is authorised to enter for the purposes of the execution of this Act.

(4) Without prejudice to subsection (3), a sampling officer—

(a) may take a sample of milk while at any dairy, or while deposited for collection, or at any time before it is delivered to a consumer in pursuance of a sale by retail;

(b) may, at the request of a person to whom any food or substance is, or is to be, delivered in pursuance of a contract of sale, take a sample of that food or substance in the course of delivery, or at the place of delivery.

(5) A sampling officer who under this section takes a sample of the milk of any cows at a dairy may take such steps at the dairy as may be necessary to satisfy himself that the sample is a fair sample of the milk of the cows when properly and fully milked.

(6) Except as provided by subsection (4), or with the purchaser’s consent, a sampling officer shall not take a sample of any food or substance which appears to him to have been sold by retail, either—

(a) while the food or substance is in the course of delivery to the purchaser, or

(b) at any time after such delivery,

and nothing in this section shall authorise a sampling officer to take a sample of any food or substance in a ship (not being a home-going ship) or in any aircraft, other than food imported as part of the cargo of that ship or aircraft.

(7) The powers of taking samples of milk which are conferred on a sampling officer by subsections (3) to (6) shall be exercisable throughout any county by an authorised officer of the county council, whether or not the council is the food and drugs authority for the whole county.

(8) Any power of an authorised officer in respect of procuring samples of milk may be exercised at a place outside the area of the council whose officer he is, if the food and drugs authority of the area within which that place is situated have consented to samples of milk being procured within their areas by officers of the first-mentioned council, and, for the purposes of this Act, any samples so procured shall be deemed to have been procured within the area for which the officer in question acts.

A food and drugs authority shall not unreasonably withhold their consent for the purposes of this subsection; and any question whether or not such consent is unreasonably withheld shall be referred to and determined by the Secretary of State.

79 Right to have samples analysed. E+W

(1) If a sampling officer who has procured a sample of any food or substance considers that it should be analysed, he shall submit it to be analysed by the public analyst for the area in which the sample was, or is deemed to have been, procured.

(2) A person, other than a sampling officer, who has purchased any food, or any substance capable of being used in the preparation of food, may submit a sample of it to be analysed by the public analyst for the area in which the purchase was made.

(3) The public analyst shall analyse as soon as practicable any sample submitted to him in pursuance of this section, but may, in the case of a sample submitted by a person not being an officer of the food and drugs authority, demand in advance the payment of such fee as may be fixed by the authority.

(4) If—

(a) the office of public analyst for the area in question is vacant, or

(b) the public analyst determines that he is for any reason unable to perform an effective analysis,

the sample shall be submitted or, as the case may be, sent by the public analyst to whom it was originally submitted, to the public analyst for some other area, and he shall, upon payment to him of such sum as may be agreed, analyse the sample.

(5) A public analyst who has analysed a sample shall give to the person by whom it was originally submitted a certificate specifying the result of the analysis; and any such certificate shall be in a form prescribed by regulations made by the Ministers.

(6) Any certificate of the results of an analysis given by a public analyst in pursuance of this section shall be signed by the public analyst, but the analysis may be made by any person acting under the direction of the analyst.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C7 S. 79 modified by S.I. 1984/1918, reg. 8

80 Samples taken for analysis. E+W

(1) A sampling officer who purchases or takes a sample of any food or substance for the purpose of analysis by a public analyst shall deal with the sample in accordance with Part I of Schedule 7.

(2) Part I of that Schedule applies to the purchase of samples by any person who is neither a sampling officer nor a person having the powers of a sampling officer as it applies in relation to the purchase of samples by a sampling officer; and references in that Part to a sampling officer shall be construed accordingly.

(3) If it appears to a sampling officer that any food or substance, of which he has procured a sample for the purpose of analysis by a public analyst, was manufactured or put into its wrapper or container by a person (not being a person to whom one part of the sample is required to be given under Part I of Schedule 7) having his name and an address in the United Kingdom displayed on the wrapper or container, the officer shall, unless he decides not to have an analysis made, within three days of procuring the sample send to that person a notice informing him—

(a) that the sample has been procured by the officer; and

(b) where the sample was taken or, as the case may be, from whom it was purchased.

(4) Where a sample taken or purchased by a sampling officer has been analysed by a public analyst, any person to whom a part of the sample was given under Part I of Schedule 7 shall be entitled, on payment to the authority by whose officer the sample was procured of a fee of 5p to be supplied with a copy of the certificate given by the public analyst under section 79(5).

81 Sampling of milk. E+W

(1) The provisions of this Act relating—

(a) to the procuring of samples by a sampling officer, and

(b) to connected proceedings,

have in relation to milk effect subject to Part II of Schedule 7.

(2) Where milk sold or exposed for sale within the area of any council is obtained from a dairy outside that area—

(a) the proper officer or any other authorised officer of the council may by written notice to the proper officer or other authorised officer of a food and drugs authority within whose area the dairy is situated, or through whose area the milk is transported, request him to procure samples of the milk, and

(b) it is the duty of an officer who receives such a notice to procure, as soon as is practicable, samples of the milk in question and to forward those samples to the officer who gave the notice, or to such person as that officer may direct,

and for the purposes of this Act samples so procured shall be deemed to have been procured within the area for which the officer who gave the notice acts.

(3) So much of any contract as requires a purveyor of milk, on a sample of milk being procured under this Act—

(a) to send to the person from whom he obtained the milk any part of that sample, or

(b) to give to that person notice that a sample has been so procured,

shall be void.

(4) It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under this Act, or regulations made under this Act, in respect of a sample of milk taken after the milk has left his possession, to prove—

(a) that the churn or other vessel in which the milk was contained was effectively closed and sealed at the time when it left his possession; and

(b) that it had been opened before the person by whom the sample was taken had access to it.

82 Sampling powers of Minister’s inspectors. E+W

The powers of sampling officers to take samples under section 78 may be exercised also, in relation to milk—

(a) in any case, by an inspector of the Minister, and

(b) for purposes connected with the enforcement of any provisions which, by virtue of section 74, are enforceable by the Minister, by an authorised officer of his,

and references to a sampling officer in section 78(6), in section 80, and in Part I of Schedule 7, shall be construed accordingly.

83 Minister’s power of direction. E+W

(1) The Minister may, in relation to any matter appearing to him to affect the general interests of consumers or the general interests of agriculture in the United Kingdom, direct an officer of his department to procure samples of any specified food, and upon that direction the officer shall have all the powers of a sampling officer, and this Act shall apply as if he were a sampling officer, except that—

(a) if he intends to submit any sample procured by him to be analysed, he shall divide it into four parts, and shall deal with three of those parts in the manner directed by Part I of Schedule 7, and send the fourth part to the Minister; and

(b) any fee for analysis shall be payable to the analyst by the food and drugs authority of the area in which the sample is procured.

(2) The Minister shall communicate the result of the analysis of any such sample to the food and drugs authority, and upon that communication the authority shall have the like duty to cause proceedings to be taken as if one of their officers had procured the sample and sent it to be analysed.

84 Where division not practicable. E+W

Where a person procures a sample consisting of a food or substance contained in unopened containers, and the division into parts of the food or substance contained in those containers—

(a) is not reasonably practicable, or

(b) might affect the composition, or impede the proper analysis, of the contents,

the provisions of Part I of Schedule 7, or of section 83, as the case may be, with respect to the division of samples into parts shall be deemed to be complied with if the person procuring the sample divides the containers into the requisite number of lots and deals with each lot as if it were a part in the manner provided by those provisions; and references in this Act to a part of a sample shall be construed accordingly.

85 Examination of food not for sale. E+W

A local authority may, at the request of a person who has in his possession any food which has not been sold and is not intended for sale, and on payment by that person of such fee, if any, as may be fixed by the authority, arrange to have the food examined.

86 Quarterly reports of analysts. E+W

Every public analyst shall, as soon as may be after the last day of March, of June, of September and of December in every year, report to the authority by whom he was appointed the number of articles which have been analysed by him under this Act in his capacity of public analyst for their area during the preceding quarter of a year and the result of each analysis.

Enforcement E+W

87 Power to enter premises. E+W

(1) An authorised officer of a council shall, on producing, if so required, some duly authenticated document showing his authority, have a right to enter any premises at all reasonable hours—

(a) for the purpose of ascertaining whether there is or has been on, or in connection with, the premises any contravention of the provisions of this Act or of any regulations or byelaws made under it, being provisions which the council are required or empowered to enforce, and

(b) generally for the purpose of the performance by the council of their functions under this Act or any such regulations or byelaws,

but admission to any premises used only as a private dwelling-house shall not be demanded as of right unless 24 hours’ notice of the intended entry has been given to the occupier.

(2) If a justice of the peace, on sworn information in writing—

(a) is satisfied that there is reasonable ground for entry into any premises for any such purpose as is mentioned above, and

(b) is also satisfied either—

(i) that admission to the premises has been refused, or a refusal is apprehended and that notice of the intention to apply for a warrant has been given to the occupier, or

(ii) that an application for admission, or the giving of such a notice, would defeat the object of the entry, or that the case is one of urgency, or that the premises are unoccupied or the occupier temporarily absent,

the justice may by warrant sisgned by him authorise the council by any authorised officer to enter the premises, if need be by force.

(3) An authorised officer entering any premises by virtue of this section, or of a warrant issued under it, may take with him such other persons as may be necessary, and on leaving any unoccupied premises which he has entered by virtue of such a warrant shall leave them as effectively secured against trespassers as he found them.

(4) Every warrant granted under this section shall continue in force for a period of one month.

(5) If any person who, in compliance with this section, or of a warrant issued under it, is admitted into a factory or workplace discloses to any person any information obtained by him in the factory of workplace with regard to any manufacturing process or trade secret, he shall, unless the disclosure was made in the performance of his duty, be liable to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months.

(6) Nothing in this section authorises any person, except with the permission of the local authority under the M18 Animal Health Act 1981, to enter any cowshed or other place—

(a) in which an animal affected with any disease to which that Act applies is kept; and

(b) which is situated in a place declared under that Act to be infected with such a disease.

Marginal Citations

M18 1981 c. 22.

88 Additional power of entry. E+W

(1) An authorised officer of a council shall, on producing, if so required, some duly authenticated document showing his authority, have a right at all reasonable hours—

(a) to enter any ship or aircraft for the purpose of ascertaining whether there is in the ship or aircraft any food imported as part of the cargo in contravention of the provisions of regulations made under Part I, being provisions which the council are required or empowered to enforce; and

(b) to enter any vehicle, stall or place other than premises, or any home-going ship, for any purpose for which he is empowered under section 87 to enter premises.

(2) Subsections (2), (3)

and (4) of section 87 apply in relation to any ship, aircraft, vehicle, stall or place which may be entered under the powers conferred by subsection (1) of this section as they apply in relation to premises, and as if any reference to the occupier of premises were a reference to the master, commander or other person in charge of the ship, aircraft, vehicle, stall or place.

89 Powers of entry of Ministers’ officers. E+W

(1) An inspector or authorised officer of the Minister and an authorised officer of the Secretary of State, for the purpose of ascertaining whether there is or has been any contravention of the provisions of this Act or of any regulations or order made under it, being provisions which the Minister in question is required or empowered to enforce—

(a) shall have the powers of entry specified in subsection (2); and

(b) an inspector or authorised officer of the Minister shall have those powers for the purpose of taking any sample of milk under section 82.

(2) The powers of entry referred to in subsection (1) are the like powers of entry as are exercisable under section 87 or section 88 by an authorised officer of a council; and in relation to an inspector of officer to whom the subsection applies; the reference in section 87(2) to the council shall be construed as a reference to the Minister or the Secretary of State, as the case may be.

(3) For the purposes of any regulations made under section 13, this section and section 91(1) and (3) have effect as if the Minister as well as the local authority were empowered to enforce those regulations so far as they apply to slaughterhouses and knackers’ yards.

90 Movement of imported food. E+W

(1) Without prejudice to any power of examining food which may be conferred by regulations made under Part I, an authorised officer of a port health authority into whose district any food has been imported with a view to sale for human consumption may give directions to the person in possession of the food prohibiting or restricting its removal or delivery—

(a) during any period not exceeding 48 hours; and

(b) if within that period the officer so requires, until that person has notified the officer of the name of the person to whom, and the address to or at which, he proposes to send or deliver the food.

(2) The power conferred by subsection (1) on an authorised officer of a port health authority is exercisable also, in relation to an area not forming part of a port health district, by an authorised officer of a local authority or county council.

(3) A person who fails to comply with any direction given under subsection (1), or who in a notification under it knowingly makes any misstatement, is guilty of an offence.

91 Obstruction. E+W

(1) A person who wilfully obstructs any person acting in the execution of this Act, or of any regulation, byelaw, order or warrant made or issued under it, is liable to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.

(2) If—

(a) a sampling officer applies to purchase any food or substance exposed for sale, or on sale by retail, and tenders the price for the quantity which he requires as a sample, and the person exposing the food or substance for sale, or having it for sale, refuses to bring the officer such quantity of it as mentioned above; or

(b) the seller or consignor of any article or substance of which an officer has power to take a sample, or a person having the charge for the time being of such an article or substance, refuses to allow the officer to take the quantity which he requires as a sample,

then, in any of the cases mentioned in those paragraphs, the person concerned shall be treated for the purposes of subsection (1) as having wilfully obstructed the officer; but where any food or substance is exposed for sale in an unopened container duly labelled, no person shall be required to sell it except in the unopened container in which it is contained.

(3) A person who—

(a) fails to give to any person acting in the execution of this Act, or of any regulation, byelaw, order or warrant made or issued under it, any assistance which that person may reasonably request him to give, or

(b) fails to give any information which that person is expressly authorised by this Act to call for or may reasonably require, or

(c) when required to give any such information, knowingly makes any misstatement in respect of it,

is liable to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale, except that nothing in this subsection shall—

(i) apply to section 90(3);

(ii) be construed as requiring a person to answer any question or give any information if to do so might incriminate him.

(4) Subsection (3) is without prejudice to so much of section 118 as enables regulations made under this Act, or an order made under section 5, to contain provisions for imposing penalties on persons offending against the regulations or order.

Legal proceedings E+W+N.I.

[F53 92 Offences triable either way. E+W

(1) A person guilty of an offence to which this section applies is liable—

(a) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum; and

(b) on conviction on indictment, to a fine or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both.

(2) This section applies to any offence under this Act, except an offence—

(a) under section 65, or

(b) under any provision of this Act specified in section 93(3),

but in the case of an offence under section 5(3) the liability under paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of this section includes a term of imprisonment not exceeding 3 months, or both such a term and the fine mentioned in that paragraph.]

Textual Amendments

F53 S. 92 repealed (3.4.1992)(insofar as it relates to section 16(2)) by Food Safety Act 1990 (c. 16), s. 59(4), Sch. 5; S.I. 1992/57, art. 2

93 Summary offences. E+W+N.I.

(1) Any offence to which this section applies is triable summarily.

(2) The offences to which this section applies are—

(a) an offence under any provision of this Act specified in subsection (3);

F54 (b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F54 (c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F54 (d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(3) The provisions of this Act mentioned in paragraph (a) of subsection (2) are—

F55 (a) . . .

F55 (b) . . .

F55 (c) . . .

F55 (d) . . .

F55 (e) . . .

(f) section 53(4);

(g) section 56(1);

F55 (h) . . .

F55 (j) . . .

F55 (k) . . .

F55 (l) . . .

[F56 (4) This section applies to Northern Ireland so far as it relates to those regulations and orders made under Part I which apply to Northern Ireland, and to the enforcement and execution of those regulations and orders.]

Textual Amendments

F54 S. 93(2)(b)–(d) repealed (E.W.) by Food Safety Act 1990 (c. 16, SIF 53:1, 2), ss. 54, 59(4), Sch. 5 (but (3.4.1992) in so far as relating to s. 18(4) of this Act: S.I. 1990/2372, art. 2, and S.I. 1992/57, art. 2)

F55 S. 93(3)(a)–(e)(h)–(l) repealed (E.W.) by Food Safety Act 1990 (c. 16, SIF 53:1, 2), ss. 54, 59(4), Sch. 5 (but (3.4.1992) in so far as relating to s. 18(4) of this Act: S.I. 1990/2372, art. 2, and S.I. 1992/57, art.2)

F56 S. 93(4) repealed (N.I.) (4.11.1991) by S.I. 1991/762, art. 51(4), Sch.4; S.R. 1991/175, art. 2(2).

94 Offences by corporations. E+W

[F57 (1) Where an offence under this Act, or any regulations or order made under this Act, which has been committed by a body corporate is proved to have been committed with the consent or connivance of, or to be attributable to any neglect on the part of—

(a) any director, manager, secretary or other similar officer of the body corporate, or

(b) any person who was purporting to act in any such capacity,

he as well as the body corporate shall be deemed to be guilty of that offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.]

(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F58

Textual Amendments

F57 S. 94(1) except as regards offences under Part III of this Act repealed by Food Safety Act 1990 (c. 16, SIF 53: 1, 2), ss. 54, 59(4), Sch. 5

F58 S. 94(2) repealed by Food Safety Act 1990 (c. 16, SIF 53:1, 2), ss. 54, 59(4), Sch. 5

95 Prosecutions. E+W+N.I.

(1) No prosecution for an offence under this Act or regulations made under this Act which is triable either summarily or on indictment shall be begun after the expiry of—

(a) three years from the commission of the offence, or

(b) one year from its discovery by the prosecutor,

whichever is the earlier.

[F59 (2) Where a sample has been procured under this Act, no prosecution in respect of the article or substance sampled shall be begun after the expiry of—

(a) 28 days, in the case of a sample of milk,

(b) two months, in any other case,

beginning with the date on which the sample was procured.

(3) Subsection (2) does not apply where the justice of the peace before whom the information is laid certifies that he is satisfied on oath that having regard to the circumstances of the particular case it was not practicable to lay the information at an earlier date; but a prosecution in respect of a sample of milk shall not in any case be begun after the expiry of 42 days beginning with the date on which the sample was procured.

(4) Where a sample has been procured under this Act, any proceedings in respect of the article or substance sampled shall be taken before a court having jurisdiction in the place where the sample was procured; but—

(a) where a sample procured within one area is for the purposes of this Act deemed to have been procured within another area, proceedings may, at the prosecutor’s option, be taken either before a court having jurisdiction in the area within which the sample was procured, or before a court having jurisdiction in the area within which it is deemed to have been procured; and

(b) where the article or substance sampled was sold and actually delivered to the purchaser, proceedings may, if the prosecutor so elects, be taken before a court having jurisdiction at the place of delivery.

(5) In any proceedings under this Act in respect of an article or substance sampled—

(a) the summons shall not be made returnable less than 14 days from the day on which it is served; and

(b) a copy of any certificate of analysis obtained on behalf of the prosecutor, and of any certificate given by a justice under subsection (3), shall be served with the summons.

(6) In any proceedings under this Act, where a sample has been procured in such circumstances that its division into parts is required by this Act, the part of the sample retained by the person who procured it shall be produced at the hearing.

F60 (7) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(8) Notwithstanding subsection (1), a person is not liable to be prosecuted for an offence under this Act or regulations made under this Act which was committed before 1st January 1983.]

Textual Amendments

F59 S. 95(2)–(8) repealed (E.W.) by Food Safety Act 1990 (c. 16, SIF 53:1, 2), ss. 54, 59(4), Sch. 5

F60 S. 95(7) repealed (N.I.) ( 4.11.1991) by S.I. 1991/762, art. 51(4), Sch.4; S.R. 1991/175, art. 2(2).

96 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F61 E+W

Textual Amendments

F61 S. 96 repealed by Food Safety Act 1990 (c. 16, SIF 53:1, 2), ss. 54, 59(4), Sch. 5

[F62 97 Evidence of analysis. E+W+N.I.

(1) In any proceedings under this Act, the production by one of the parties—

(a) of a document purporting to be a certificate of a public analyst in the form prescribed under section 79(5), or

(b) of a document supplied to him by the other party as being a copy of such a certificate,

shall be sufficient evidence of the facts stated in it, unless, in the first-mentioned case, the other party requires that the analyst shall be called as a witness.

(2) In any such proceedings, if a sample of milk has been taken by an officer of one authority at the request of an officer of another authority, a document—

(a) which purports to be a certificate signed by the officer who took the sample, and

(b) which states that the provisions of this Act with respect to the manner in which samples are to be dealt with were complied with,

shall, if a copy of it has been served on the defendant with the summons, be sufficient evidence of compliance with those provisions, unless the defendant requires that the officer shall be called for as a witness.

(3) In any such proceedings, if a defendant intends—

(a) to produce a certificate of a public analyst, or

(b) under subsection (1), to require that a public analyst shall be called as a witness, or

(c) under subsection (2), to require that a sampling officer shall be called as a witness,

notice of his intention, together, in the first-mentioned case, with a copy of the certificate, shall be given to the other party at least three clear days before the day on which the summons is returnable, and, if this requirement is not complied with, the court may, if it thinks fit, adjourn the hearing on such terms as it thinks proper.

(4) Regulations made under section 4 or section 7 may prescribe a method of analysis for the purpose of ascertaining the presence in, or absence from, any food of any substance specified in the regulations, or the quantity of any such substance which is present in any food; and in any proceedings under this Act—

(a) for a contravention of any regulations made under either of those sections, or

(b) for an offence under section 2 or section 6,

in respect of any food alleged to contain, or not to contain, any substance specified as mentioned above, or any particular quantity of such a substance, evidence of an analysis carried out by the prescribed method shall be preferred to evidence of any other analysis or test.

F63 (5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .]

Textual Amendments

F62 S. 97 repealed (E.W.) by Food Safety Act 1990 (c. 16, SIF 53:1, 2), ss. 54, 59(4), Sch. 5

F63 S. 97(5) repealed (N.I.) ( 4.11.1991) by S.I. 1991/762, art. 51(4), Sch.4; S.R. 1991/175, art. 2(2).

98–109 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F64 E+W

Textual Amendments

F64 Ss. 98–109 repealed by Food Safety Act 1990 (c. 16, SIF 53:1, 2), ss. 54, 59(4), Sch. 5

Part VII E+W+N.I. General and Supplemental

Acquisition of land, and order to permit works E+W

110 Compulsory purchase of land. E+W

A local authority may be authorised by the responsible Minister to purchase land compulsorily for the purposes of this Act, except for the purposes of paragraph (b) of section 50(1), and in relation to the compulsory purchase of land under this section—

(a) the M19 Aquisition of Land Act 1981 applies; and

(b) “land” includes any interest in land and any easement or right in, to or over land.

In this section “the responsible Minister”, in relation to the purposes of section 70, means the Minister, and in relation to the other purposes of this Act means the Secretary of State.

Marginal Citations

M19 1981 c. 67.

[F65 111 Order to occupier to permit works. E+W

If, on a complaint made by the owner of any premises, it appears to a magistrates’ court that the occupier or those premises prevents the owner from executing any work which he is by or under this Act required to execute, the court may order the occupier to permit the execution of the work.

In this section—

• “owner” means the person for the time being receiving the rackrent of the premises, whether on his own account or as agent or trustee for any other person, or would so receive it if those premises were let at a rackrent;

• “premises” includes messuages, buildings, lands, easements and hereditaments of any tenure;

• “rackrent” means a rent which is not less than two thirds of the rent at which the property might reasonably be expected to let from year to year, free from all usual tenant’s rates and taxes, and deducting fom it the probable average annual cost of the repairs, insurance and other expenses (if any) necessary to maintain the property in a state to command such a rent.]

Textual Amendments

F65 Ss. 111–120 repealed (E.W.) by Food Safety Act 1990 (c. 16, SIF 53:1, 2), ss. 54, 59(4), Sch. 5

Inquiries, and default E+W

112 Local Inquiries. E+W

The appropriate Minister may cause a local inquiry to be held in any case where he is authorised by this Act—

(a) to determine any difference,

(b) to make any order,

(c) to frame any scheme,

(d) to give any consent, confirmation, sanction or approval, or

(e) otherwise to act under this Act,

and in any other case where he deems it advisable that a local inquiry should be held in relation to any matter with which this Act is concerned in any place.

This section does not apply to Parts IV and V; and in this section “the appropriate Minister”, in relation to anything authorised to be done under this Act by the Minister or the Ministers, or the Secretary of State, means that Minister or those Ministers, or the Secretary of State, as the case may be.

113 Default: local authorities etc. E+W

(1) If—

(a) a complaint is made to the appropriate Minister that any council or joint board have failed to discharge their functions under this Act in any case where they ought to have done so, or

(b) the appropriate Minister is of opinion that an investigation should be made as to whether any council or joint board have failed as mentioned in paragraph (a),

the approprate Minister may cause a local inquiry to be held into the matter.

(2) If, after a local inquiry has been held in pursuance of this section, the appropriate Minister is satisfied that there has been such a failure on the part of the council or board in question, he may make an order declaring them to be in default and directing them for the purpose of removing the default to discharge such of their functions, and in such manner and within such time or times, as may be specified in the order.

(3) If a council or board with respect to whom an order has been made under subsection (2) fail to comply with any requirement of the order within the time limited by it for compliance with that requirement, the appropriate Minister, instead of enforcing the order by mandamus or otherwise may—

(a) if the body in default are the council or a joint board whose district lies wholly within one county, or a port health authority whose district (so far as it does not consist of water) lies wholly within one county, make an order transferring to the council of the county such of the functions of the body in default as may be specified in his order;

(b) in any other case, make an order transferring to himself such of the functions of the body in default as may be so specified.

(4) Where under this section the appropriate Minister has made an order transferring to a county council or to himself any functions of a council or joint board—

(a) the appropriate Minister may by a subsequent order vary or revoke that order, but without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under it; and

(b) when any order is so revoked the appropriate Minister may, either by the revoking order or by a subsequent order, provide as seems to him to be desirable with respect to the transfer, vesting and discharge of any property or liabilities acquired or incurred by the county council or by him in discharging any of the functions to which the order so revoked related.

(5) This section does not apply to Part IV; and in this section “the appropriate Minister” means—

(a) the Secretary of State, in relation to functions of councils or joint boards under any of the following provisions—

(i) section 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19,

(ii) sections 27 and 28,

(iii) sections 30 and 31,

(iv) section 74, so far as it relates to the enforcement and execution of sections 8 and 9 (except in their application to milk, or to meat or to meat products while in a slaughterhouse or in the course of importation) and to the enforcement and execution of section 35;

(b) the Secretary of State, in relation to functions of councils of joint boards under Part III;

(c) the Ministers, in relation to functions of councils or joint boards under regulations made under this Act;

(d) the Minister, in relation to any other functions of councils or joint boards.

114 Default: food and drugs authorities. E+W

If the Minister, after communication with a food and drugs authority, is of opinion—

(a) that the authority have failed in relation to any kind of food to execute or enforce any of the provisions of this Act which it is their duty to execute or enforce, and

(b) that their failure affects the general interests of consumers, or the general interests of agriculture in the United Kingdom,

he may by order empower an officer of his department to execute and enforce, or procure the execution and enforcement of, those provisions in relation to that kind of food.

Nothing in this section affects any other power exercisable by the Minister or a county council with respect to defaults of local authorities.

115 Expenses under ss. 113 and 114. E+W

(1) Any expenses—

(a) incurred by the appropriate Minister within the meaning of section 113 in discharging any functions of a council or joint board where he has by order under that section transferred those functions to himself, or

(b) incurred by the Minister or his officer under section 114,

shall be paid in the first instance out of moneys provided by Parliament, but the amount of those expenses as certified by the appropriate Minister or the Minister, as the case may be, shall on demand be paid to him by the body in default, and shall be recoverable by him from them as a debt due to the Crown.

(2) For the purpose of raising the money so required the council or the joint board, or the food and drugs authority, as the case may be, shall have the like power as they have of raising money for defraying expenses incurred directly by them as such a council, board or authority.

(3) The payment of the expenses mentioned in subsection (1) shall to such extent as may be sanctioned by the Minister be a purpose for which a local authority, port health authority or joint board may borrow money in accordance with the statutory provisions relating to borrowing by such an authority or board.

Protection E+W

116 Officer acting in good faith. E+W

(1) An officer of a council is not personally liable in respect of any act done by him—

(a) in the execution or purported execution of this Act, and

(b) within the scope of his employment,

if he did that act in the honest belief that his duty under this Act required or entitled him to do it.

(2) Nothing in subsection (1) shall be construed as relieving a council from any liability in respect of the acts of their officers.

(3) Where—

(a) an action has been brought against an officer of a council in respect of an act done by him in the execution or purported execution of this Act, and

(b) the circumstances are such that he is not legally entitled to require the council to indemnify him,

the council may, nevertheless, indemnify him against the whole or a part of any damages and costs which he may have been ordered to pay or may have incurred, if they are satisfied—

(i) that he honestly believed that the act complained of was within the scope of his employment; and

(ii) that his duty under this Act required or entitled him to do it.

(4) A public analyst appointed by a food and drugs authority shall for the purposes of this section be treated as being an officer of the authority whether or not he is employed whole-time.

117 Liability to rates no disqualification. E+W

A judge of any court or a justice of the peace shall not be disqualified from acting in cases arising under this Act by reason only of his being as one of several ratepayers, or as one of any other class of persons, liable in common with the others to contribute to, or be benefited by, any rate or fund out of which any expenses of a council are to be defrayed.

Subordinate legislation E+W+N.I.

118 Certain regulations and orders. E+W+N.I.

(1) Regulations made under Part I of this Act, Milk and Dairies Regulations and Milk (Special Designation) Regulations, may, without prejudice to the generality of the provisions under which they are made—

(a) modify for the purposes of the regulations any provision of this Act relating to the taking, analysis and examination of samples,

(b) apply, as respects matters to be dealt with by the regulations, any provision in any Act (including this Act) dealing with the like matters, with the necessary modifications and adaptations,

(c) (subject to paragraph 3 of Schedule 4) provide for an appeal to a magistrates’ court against any refusal or other decision of an authority by whom the regulations are to be enforced and executed,

(d) authorise the making of charges for the purposes of the regulations, or for any services performed under them, and provide for the recovery of charges so made,

(e) provide that an offence under the regulations shall be triable either way,

(f) include provisions under which a person guilty of an offence under the regulations which is so triable is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or such less amount as may be specified in the regulations and on conviction on indictment to either or both of the following—

(i) a fine not exceeding an amount specified in the regulations, or of an indefinite amount,

(ii) imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or such shorter term as may be specified in the regulations,

(g) include provisions under which a person guilty of an offence under the regulations which is triable only summarily is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale or such other level as may be specified in the regulations,

(h) make such ancillary and incidental provisions as appear to the Ministers to be necessary or desirable,

and regulations made under Part I, subject to such generality, may require persons carrying on any activity to which the regulations apply to keep and produce records and provide returns.

(2) Subsection (1), other than paragraphs (e) and (f), applies to an order made under section 5 as it applies to regulations made under Part I.

(3) The power conferred by paragraph (b) of subsection (1), in the case of Milk (Special Designation) Regulations, includes power, in dealing with the procuring of samples for the purpose of the enforcement of conditions of licences authorising the use of a special designation, to exclude provisions of Part II of Schedule 7 which may appear not to be appropriate for that purpose.

(4) Regulations made under section 13 or section 20, and any order made under section 17, may be made so as to apply throughout England and Wales or to apply only in such area or areas as may be specified in the regulations or order.

(5) Without prejudice to any other relevant power, any regulations made with respect to slaughterhouses or knackers’ yards under section 13 may include provision for the regulations to come into force on different days fixed by, or by an order to be made under, those regulations in respect of different classes or descriptions of premises and different areas, and for different provisions to come into force on different days.

(6) Before making—

(a) any regulations to which subsection (1) applies, or

(b) an order under section 5 or section 17,

the Ministers shall consult with such organisations as appear to them to be representative of interests substantially affected by the regulations or by the order.

[F66 (7) Subsections (1), (2)

and (6) apply to Northern Ireland so far as they relate—

(a) to those regulations and orders made under Part I which apply to Northern Ireland, or

(b) to the enforcement and execution of those regulations and orders,

and in relation to Northern Ireland subsection (1) has effect subject to the following additional modifications—

(i) in paragraph (a), the reference to this Act includes a reference to any corresponding Northern Ireland enactment,

(ii) in paragraph (b), the reference to any Act includes a reference to any Northern Ireland enactment, and the reference to this Act includes a reference to any corresponding Northern Ireland enactment,

(iii) in paragraph (c), construe the reference to a magistrates’ court as a reference to a court of summary jurisdiction,

and this section applies to Northern Ireland so far as it relates to an Order in Council made under section 133 and extending to Northern Ireland.]

Textual Amendments

F66 S. 118(7) repealed (N.I.) ( 4.11.1991) by S.I. 1991/762, art. 51(4), Sch.4; S.R. 1991/175, art. 2(2).

119 [F3 EU] provisions. E+W

(1) The Ministers, as respects any directly applicable [F3 EU] provision relating to food for which, in their opinion, it is appropriate to provide under this Act—

(a) may by regulations provide as they consider necessary or expedient for the purpose of securing that the [F3 EU] provision is administered, executed and enforced under this Act; and

(b) may apply such of the provisions of this Act as may be specified in the regulations in relation to the [F3 EU] provision with such modifications, if any, as may be so specified.

(2) For the purpose of complying with any [F3 EU] obligation, or for conformity with any provision made for that purpose, the Ministers may by regulations provide as to—

(a) the manner of sampling any food specified in the regulations, and the manner in which samples are to be dealt with, and

(b) the method to be used in analysing, testing or examining samples of any food so specified,

and regulations made by the Ministers for that purpose, or for conformity with any provision so made, may modify or exclude any provision of this Act relating to the procuring or analysis of, or dealing with, samples or to evidence of the results of an analysis or test.

Textual Amendments

F3 Words in Act substituted (22.4.2011) by The Treaty of Lisbon (Changes in Terminology) Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/1043), arts. 3, 6 (with arts. 3(2)(3), 4(2), 6(4)(5))

120 Statutory instruments. E+W+N.I.

(1) Under this Act—

(a) any power to make regulations or orders, and

(b) the Secretary of State’s power to make a declaration under section 16(5) or section 17(5),

is exercisable by statutory instrument, subject to section 4(2) of the M20 Agriculture Act 1967 in respect of an order made under section 57(2) of this Act.

(2) A statutory instrument containing—

(a) regulations made under Part I or Part II, or section 76(2), or section 119,

(b) an order made under section 5,

(c) an order made under section 43 ordering that section 40(1) shall cease to be in operation in any area, or an order under section 68, or

(d) an Order in Council made under section 133,

is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

(3) No order shall be made under section 17 unless a draft of it has been laid before Parliament and has been approved by resolution of each House.

(4) A draft of any statutory instrument containing an order made under section 43 bringing section 40(1) into operation in any area shall be laid before Parliament.

[F67 (5) In relation to Northern Ireland—

(a) subsection (1), and subsection (2) except paragraph (c), apply so far as they relate to regulations and orders made under Part I which apply to Northern Ireland, or to the enforcement and execution of those regulations and orders; and

(b) this section applies so far as it relates to an Order in Council made under section 133 which extends to Northern Ireland.]

Textual Amendments

F67 S. 120(5) repealed (N.I.) ( 4.11.1991) by S.I. 1991/762, art. 51(4), Sch.4; S.R. 1991/175, art. 2(2).

Marginal Citations

M20 1967 c. 22.

121 Byelaws. E+W

(1) The confirming authority in respect of byelaws made under this Act [F68 by a local authority in England] is the Secretary of State.

[F69 (1A) Subsection (1) does not apply to byelaws of a class prescribed by regulations under section 236A(1) of the Local Government Act 1972.]

(2), (3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F70

Textual Amendments

F68 Words in s. 121(1) inserted (31.3.2015) by Local Government Byelaws (Wales) Act 2012 (anaw 2), s. 22(2), Sch. 2 para. 12; S.I. 2015/1025, art. 2(r) (with art. 3)

F69 S. 121(1A) inserted (3.3.2016) by The Byelaws (Alternative Procedure) (England) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/165), reg. 1(1), Sch. 2 para. 6

F70 S. 121(2)(3) repealed by Food Safety Act 1990 (c. 16, SIF 53:1, 2), ss. 54, 59(4), Sch. 5

122–130 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F71 E+W

Textual Amendments

F71 Ss. 122–131 repealed by Food Safety Act 1990 (c. 16, SIF 53:1, 2), ss. 54, 59(4), Sch. 5

Interpretation and operation E+W+N.I.

131 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F72 E+W

Textual Amendments

F72 Ss. 122–131 repealed by Food Safety Act 1990 (c. 16, SIF 53:1, 2), ss. 54, 59(4), Sch. 5

132 Interpretation: further provision. E+W

[F73 (1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, and without prejudice to section 47—

• “advertisement” includes any notice, circular, label, wrapper, invoice or other document, and any public announcement made orally or by any means of producting or transmitting light or sound, and “advertise” shall be construed accordingly;

• “analysis” includes micro-biological assay but no other form of biological assay, and “analyse” shall be construed accordingly;

• “animal” does not include bird or fish;

• “area”, in relation to a county council and to officers of such a council, means, as the case may require, either the county or that part of the county for which the council are the food and drugs authority, and, in relation to a local authority and to officers of such an authority, means their district;

• “article” does not include a live animal or bird;

• “authorised officer” has the meaning given by section 73(1);

• “business” includes the undertaking of a canteen, club, school, hospital or institution, whether carried on for profit or not, and any undertaking or activity carried on by a public or local authority;

• “catering premises” means premises where, in the course of a business, food is prepared and supplied for immediate consumption on the premises;

• “cheese” means the substance usually known as cheese, containing no fat other than fat derived from milk;

• “closure order” is an order within the meaning of section 21;

• “container” includes any basket, pail, tray, package or receptacle of any kind, whether open or closed;

• “council” includes a port health authority;

• “cream” means that part of milk rich in fat which has been separated by skimming or otherwise;

• “dairy”, “dairy farm”, “dairy farmer” and “dairyman” have the meanings given by section 32;

• “district”, in relation to a local authority, the City of London or the Inner or Middle Temple, and in relation to the officers of such an authority, means the area for which the authority acts;

• “drug” includes medicine for internal or external use;

• “emergency order” is an order within the meaning of section 22;

• “food and drugs authority” has the meaning given by section 71;

• “functions” includes powers and duties;

• “home-going ship” means a ship plying exclusively in inland waters, or engaged exclusively in coastal excursions; and for the purpose of this definition “inland waters” means any canal, river, lake, navigation or estuary, and “coastal excursion” means an excursion lasting not more than one day which starts and ends in Great Britain and does not involve calling at any place outside Great Britain;

• “human consumption” includes use in the preparation of food for human consumption;

• “ice-cream” includes any similar commodity;

• “importation” has the same meaning as it has for the purposes of the M21 Customs and Excise Management Act 1979, and “import” shall be construed accordingly;

• “importer”, in relation to an imported article, includes any person who, whether as owner, consignor, consignee, agent or broker, is in possesion of the article or in any way entitled to the custody or control of it;

• “knacker’s yard” means any premises used in connection with the business of slaughtering, flaying or cutting up animals the flesh of which is not intended for human consumption;

• “local authority”, in sections 44 and 45 has the meaning given by those sections, and elsewhere in this Act has the meaning given by section 72;

• “milk” includes cream and separated milk, but does not include dried milk or condensed milk;

• “Milk and Dairies Regulations” has the meaning given by section 33;

• “Milk (Special Designation) Regulations” has the meaning given by section 38;

• “the Minister” means the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Secretary of State, acting jointly, except in paragraph (a) of section 5(1), section 37 so far as it relates to the Minister’s power to appoint veterinary inspectors, sections 68(5), 83, 101(4), 114 and paragraph (b) of section 115(1), where it means the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food;

• “the Ministers” means the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the [F74 Secretary of State for Health], and the Secretary of State for Wales, acting jointly;

• “officer” includes servant;

• “premises” means a building or part of a building, and any forecourt, yard or place of storage used in connection with a building or part of a building, and includes, in relation to dairies and dairy farms, and the trade of dairyman or dairy farmer, any land other than buildings;

• “preparation”, in relation to food, includes manufacture and any form of treatment and “preparation for sale” includes packaging; and “prepare for sale” shall be construed accordingly;

• “proper officer”, in relation to any purpose and to any council or to any area, means the officer appointed for that purpose by that council or for that area, as the case may be;

• “public analyst” has the meaning given by section 76;

• “purveyor”, in relation to milk, includes any person who sells milk, whether wholesale or by retail;

• “raw milk” means milk which has not been treated by heat;

• “sampling officer” has the meaning given by section 78;

• “sanitary convenience” means a closet, privy or urinal;

• “separated”, in relation to milk, includes skimmed;

• “ship” includes any boat or craft, and a hovercraft within the meaning of the Hovercraft Act 1986, and “master” shall be construed accordingly;

• “shop” has the same meaning as in the M22 Shops Act 1950;

• “slaughterhouse” means a place for slaughtering animals, the flesh of which is intended for sale for human consumption, and includes any place available in connection with such a place for the confinement of animals while awaiting slaughter there or for keeping, or subjecting to any treatment or process, products of the slaughtering of animals there;

• “standard scale” has the meaning given by section 75 of the M23 Criminal Justice Act 1982;

• “statutory maximum” has the meaning given by section 74 of the Criminal Justice Act 1982;

• “substance” includes a liquid;

• “transit” includes all stages of transit from the dairy, place of manufacture or other source of origin, to the consumer;

• “vessel” includes a receptacle of any kind, whether open or closed.]

(2) All powers and duties conferred or imposed by this Act shall be deemed to be in addition to, and not in derogation of, any other powers and duties conferred or imposed by Act of Parliament, law or custom, and, subject to any repeal effected by, or other express provision of, this Act, all such other powers and duties may be exercised and shall be performed in the same manner as if this Act had not been passed.

Textual Amendments

F73 S. 132(1) except the words “In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires” and the definitions of “animal” and “the Minister” repealed by Food Safety Act 1990 (c. 16, SIF 53:1, 2), ss. 54, 59(4), Sch. 5 (but not coming into force so far as it relates to the Food Hygiene (Amendment) Regulations 1990 until either 1.4.1991 or 1.4.1992 as mentioned in S.I. 1990/2372)

F74 Words substituted by S.I. 1988/1843, art. 5(4), Sch. 3 para. 1(g)

Marginal Citations

M21 1979 c. 2.

M22 1950 c. 28.

M23 1982 c. 48.

[F75 133 Application to Crown. E+W+N.I.

(1) Her Majesty may by Order in Council provide for the application to the Crown of such of the provisions of this Act and of any regulations or order made under this Act as may be specified in the Order, with such exceptions, adaptations and modifications as may be so specified.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), an Order under this section may make special provision for the enforcement of any provisions applied by the Order, and, where any such provision imposes a liability on a person by reason that he is—

(a) the occupier or owner of premises, or

(b) the owner of a business, or

(c) the principal on whose behalf any transaction is carried out,

the order may provide for the determination, in a case where the premises are occupied or owned, or the business is owned, by the Crown, or the transaction is carried out on behalf of the Crown, of the person who is to be treated as so liable.

F76 (3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .]

Textual Amendments

F75 S. 133 repealed (E.W.) by Food Safety Act 1990 (c. 16, SIF 53:1, 2), ss. 54, 59(4), Sch. 5

F76 S. 133(3) repealed (N.I.) ( 1. 4.1992) by S.I. 1991/762, art. 51(4), Sch.4; S.R. 1991/175, art. 2(3).

134 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F77 E+W

Textual Amendments

F77 S. 134 repealed by Food Safety Act 1990 (c. 16, SIF 53:1, 2), ss. 54, 59(4), Sch. 5

[135 F78 Northern Ireland. E+W

(1) This Act applies to Northern Ireland as provided by—

(a) section 4(5);

(b) section 5(5);

(c) section 7(3);

(d) section 13(10);

(e) section 74(4);

(f) section 93(4);

(g) section 95(7);

(h) section 97(5);

(j) section 118(7);

(k) section 120(5);

(l) section 133(3); and

(m) Schedules 9, 10 and 11, so far as they relate to provisions which apply to Northern Ireland.

(2) In the application of this Act to Northern Ireland as provided by the provisions mentioned in subsection (1)—

(a) any reference to—

(i) “the Minister” shall be construed as a reference to the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and

(ii) “the Ministers” shall be construed as a reference to the Secretary of State for the Home Department, the [F79 Secretary of State for Health] [F80 and Social Care] and the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, acting jointly; and

(b) any reference to a council shall be construed as, and any reference to a food and drugs authority shall be construed as including, a reference to a district council.

(3) In the following provisions “Northern Ireland enactment” means any enactment for the time being in force in Northern Ireland—

(a) section 4(4);

(b) section 74(4);

(c) section 95(7);

(d) section 118(7); and

(e) section 133(3).]

Textual Amendments

F78 S. 135 repealed (N.I.) ( 4.11.1991) by S.I. 1991/762, art. 51(4), Sch.4; S.R. 1991/175, art. 2(2).

F79 Words substituted by S.I. 1988/1843, art. 5(4), Sch. 3 para. 1(g)

F80 Words in s. 135(2)(a)(ii) inserted (11.4.2018) by The Secretaries of State for Health and Social Care and for Housing, Communities and Local Government and Transfer of Functions (Commonhold Land) Order 2018 (S.I. 2018/378), art. 1(2), Sch. para. 4 (with art. 14)

136 Citation, extent and commencement. U.K.

(1) This Act may be cited as the Food Act 1984.

(2) The following provisions of this Act apply to Scotland—

(a) sections 68 and 69, and paragraph 6 of Schedule 9,

(b ), (c)F81 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F82 (3) This Act applies to Northern Ireland only so far as is provided by section 135.]

(4) This Act comes into force at the end of the period of three months beginning with the day on which it is passed.

Textual Amendments

F81 S. 136(2)(b)(c) repealed (G.B.) by Food Safety Act 1990 (c. 16, SIF 53:1, 2), ss. 54, 59(4), Sch. 5

F82 S. 136(3) repealed (N.I.) ( 4.11.1991) by S.I. 1991/762, art. 51(4), Sch.4; S.R. 1991/175, art. 2(2).