Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

1.  These Regulations, which apply to Wales only, further amend the Sweeteners in Food Regulations 1995 (S.I. 1995/3123, as already amended) (“the 1995 Regulations”), which extend to Great Britain, by —

(a)granting authorisation for the marketing and use as a sweetener the salt of aspartame-acesulfame, as permitted by Article 5 of Directive 89/107/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the member States concerning food additives authorised for use in foodstuffs intended for human consumption (OJ No. L40, 11.2.89, p.27). Article 5 permits member States to authorise for the marketing and use within their own territories sweeteners, pending consideration for inclusion in Directive 94/35/EC on sweeteners for use in foodstuffs (OJ No. L237, 10.9.94, p.3, as amended) (regulations 2(2) and (5));

(b)clarifying the meaning of “maximum usable dose” as used in relation to cyclamic acid and its Na and Ca salts and saccharin and its Na, K and Ca salts (regulation 2(3));

(c)making a consequential change to regulation 3(3) of the 1995 Regulations (regulation 2(4)); and

(d)updating references to the 1995 Regulations in other Regulations to take account of the amendments made to the 1995 Regulations by these Regulations (regulation 3).

2.  Copies of the documents referred to in the new definition of “permitted sweeteners” which is substituted by regulation 2(2) may be obtained from the Stationery Office, PO Box 29, St Crispins House, Norwich NR3 1PD. Alternatively copies may be obtained online from www.tso.com.

3.  No regulatory appraisal has been prepared in relation to these Regulations.