3.—(1) Subject to the exceptions specified in regulation 4 below, no person shall sell any food which forms part of a lot unless it is accompanied by a lot marking indication.
(2) For the purposes of this regulation—
(a)a lot shall be determined as a lot to which food in the sales unit belongs by a producer, manufacturer, packager, or the first seller established within the Community, of the food in question; and
(b)a lot marking indication—
(i)shall be determined and affixed under the responsibility of one or other of those operators; and
(ii)shall be preceded by the letter “L”, except in cases where that lot marking indication is clearly distinguishable from the other indications on the packaging of the food or on a label attached to its packaging.
(3) A lot marking indication—
(a)for prepacked food shall appear on, or on a label attached to, the packaging of the food; and
(b)for food which is not prepacked shall appear on the container of the food or on a commercial document which accompanies the food, and
shall in all cases appear in such a way as to be easily visible, clearly legible and indelible.