The Flavourings in Food (Amendment) Regulations 1994

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations, which apply to Great Britain, come into force on 30th June 1994.

The Regulations amend the Flavourings in Food Regulations 1992 in implementation of Article 9a, paragraph 2, of Council Directive 88/388/EEC (OJ No. L184, 15.7.88, p.61) as amended by Commission Directive 91/71/EEC (OJ No. L42, 15.2.91, p.25) on the approximation of the laws of Member States relating to flavourings for use in foodstuffs and to source materials for their production.

The Regulations extend to consumer sales of relevant flavourings (as these are defined in the 1992 Regulations) the provisions governing use of the word “natural”, and similar expressions, which hitherto applied only to business sales of such flavourings (regulation 2).

The Regulations also amend the Food Labelling Regulations 1984 and the Food Labelling (Scotland) Regulations 1984, in implementation of the provisions of Council Directive 79/112/EEC (OJ No. L33, 8.2.79, p.1) as amended by Commission Directive 91/72/EEC (OJ No. L42, 15.2.91, p.27) in respect of the designation of flavourings in the list of ingredients on the labels of foodstuffs.

The food labelling amendments lay down in the respective sets of 1984 Regulations the requirements—

(i) for the indication in food labelling of any ingredient functioning as a flavouring,

(ii) for the use of the word “natural” (or of any other word having substantially the same meaning) in relation to such ingredients, including those where reference is also made to an animal or vegetable origin (regulation 3).

A compliance cost assessment has been prepared in relation to these Regulations and deposited in the libraries of both Houses of Parliament. Copies may be obtained from:

Consumer Protection Division

Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

Room 306a, Ergon House

c/o Nobel House

17 Smith Square

London SW1P 3JR