The Jam and Similar Products (England) Regulations 2003

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations, which apply to England, implement Council Directive 2001/113/EC concerning fruit jams, jellies and marmalades and sweetened chestnut purée intended for human consumption (OJ No. L10, 12.1.2002, p. 67) and also contain national measures. They revoke and replace the Jam and Similar Products Regulations 1981, as amended, in relation to England.

The Regulations—

(a) prescribe definitions and reserved descriptions for certain specified jam products (regulation 2 and Schedules 1 and 2). The products described in the entries numbered 1 to 7 of Schedule 1 are those in relation to which the Directive applies whilst those specified in the entries numbered 8 to 11 in Schedule 1 are included as national measures;

(b) provide for the circumstances in which the Regulations apply (regulation 3);

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

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

(e) make provision as to the manner of marking and labelling specified jam and similar products (regulation 6);

(f) specify a penalty for contraventions of the Regulations, enforcement authorities and, in accordance with Articles 2 and 3 of Council Directive 89/397/EEC on the official control of foodstuffs (OJ No. L186, 30.6.89, p. 23) and the European Economic Area Agreement, a defence in relation to exports (regulations 7 and 8);

(g) apply various provisions of the Food Safety Act 1990 (regulation 9);

(h) revoke the previous Regulations and make consequential amendments and transitional provision (regulations 10 and 11).

A full Regulatory Impact Assessment has been prepared and placed in the Library of each House of Parliament, together with a Transposition Note setting out how the main elements of the European legislation referred to above are transposed in these Regulations. Copies may be obtained from the Food Labelling and Standards Division of the Food Standards Agency, Aviation House, 125 Kingsway, London WC2B 6NH.