The Food Enzymes (Wales) Regulations 2009

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

1.  These Regulations provide for the execution and enforcement in Wales of Regulation (EC) No 1332/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council on food enzymes and amending Council Directive 83/417/EEC, Council Regulation (EC) No 1493/1999, Directive 2000/13/EC, Council Directive 2001/112/EC and Regulation (EC) No 258/97 (OJ No. L354, 31.12.2008, p.7), (“the EC Regulation”).

2.  The Regulations provide that it is an offence—

(a) once the list of food enzymes mentioned in Article 17 of the EC Regulation has been adopted, to place on the market or use as food enzymes any that are not on that list (regulation 3(2)(a));

(b) to place on the market a food enzyme (or any food containing such an enzyme) that is not compliant with the EC Regulation and its implementing measures (regulation 3(2)(b));

(c) to fail to label food enzymes or enzyme preparations in accordance with the relevant requirements for business to business transactions (regulation 3(2)(c)) or for sales to the final consumer (regulation 3(2)(d)); or

(d) to fail to provide certain technical information to the Commission in specified circumstances (regulation 3(2)(e)).

3.  These Regulations also—

(a) designate the authorities having the duty to enforce these Regulations and the EC Regulation (regulation 4);

(b) apply certain specified provisions of the Food Safety Act 1990 for the purpose of these Regulations (regulation 5); and

(c) provide that where food does not comply with these Regulations such that it would be an offence to place it on the market, it may be treated as failing to comply with food safety requirements for the purposes of seizure and destruction under section 9 of the Food Safety Act 1990 (regulation 6).

4.  The Regulations make consequential amendments—

(a) in relation to Wales, to the Food Labelling Regulations 1996 (regulation 7), the Caseins and Caseinates Regulations 1985 (regulation 8) and the Novel Foods and Novel Food Ingredients Regulations 1997 (regulation 10);and

(b) to the Fruit Juices and Fruit Nectars (Wales) Regulations 2003 (regulation 9).

5.  A full regulatory impact assessment has been undertaken in respect of these Regulations and is available from the Food Standards Agency, 11 Floor Southgate House, Cardiff, CF10 1EW.