Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, The University of Reading, UK
(Note: This page is copyright - © D.J.Jukes 2009 - but please see Copyright
notice)
Last updated: 22 July, 2009 (but currently being amended)
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UK Food Regulations - Subject Listing
(compiled by Dr David Jukes)
Note: Incomplete listing
- This page attempts to list the main food regulations presently in force in the UK and their amendments. Expert advice should however be sought before assuming the completeness or accuracy of the information given.
- The Regulations listed are those applying to England. Many of them also
apply to Wales and Scotland. However, before the introduction of the Food
Safety Act in 1990, separate Regulations were issued for Scotland - these
are not listed here. Also, following devolution for Scotland and Wales in
1999, new and amending controls are being introduced using separate controls
- only those relating to England are included in this listing.
- Many of the Regulations listed have also been amended by certain administrative Regulations (e.g. relating to penalties or enforcement bodies). These amendments have not been included.
- The list is by subject - find the required subject in the Index list and then click on the topic required to move directly to the relevant point on the page.
- The numbers in brackets after the name of a Regulation provide the reference
number for the Statutory Instrument (S.I.) in which the Regulation was published.
When the regulation is available on the official HMSO website, a link is
provided.
Index
- 1. A - Z compositional requirements
- 2. Additives
- 3. Contaminants
- 4. Processing and packaging
- 5. Labelling
- 6. Hygiene and health
- 7. Weights and measures
- 8. Administration, Enforcement, etc
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1. A - Z compositional requirements
Bread
Regulation:
Amendments:
- 2005 No 2626 - Official Feed and Food Controls (England) Regulations 2005
Butter
See 'Spreadable fats'
Caseins and caseinates
Regulation:
Amendments:
- 2005 No 2626 - Official Feed and Food Controls (England) Regulations 2005
Cocoa and chocolate products
Regulations:
- 2003 No 1659 - Cocoa and Chocolate Products (England) Regulations 2003
Amendments:
- 2005 No 2626 - Official Feed and Food Controls (England) Regulations 2005
Coffee products
Regulations:
- 2000 No 3323 - Coffee Extracts and Chicory Extracts (England) Regulations 2000
Amendments:
- 2005 No 2626 - Official Feed and Food Controls (England) Regulations 2005
Fish (preserved)
A Sardines
Regulations:
B Tuna and bonito
Regulations:
Flour
Regulation:
Amendments:
- 2005 No 2626 - Official Feed and Food Controls (England) Regulations 2005
Fortified foods (addition of nutrients)
Regulations:
- 2007 No 1631 - Addition of Vitamins, Minerals and Other Substances (England) Regulations 2007
Fruit juices and nectars
Regulation:
- 2003 No 1564 - Fruit Juices and Fruit Nectars (England) Regulations 2003
Amendments:
- 2005 No 2626 - Official Feed and Food Controls (England) Regulations 2005
Honey
Regulations:
Amendments:
- 2005 No 920 - Honey (Amendment) ( England ) Regulations 2005
- 2005 No 2626 - Official Feed and Food Controls (England) Regulations 2005
Jam (and similar products)
Regulations:
- 2003 No 3120 - Jam and Similar Products (England) Regulations 2003
Amendments:
- 2005 No 2626 - Official Feed and Food Controls (England) Regulations 2005
Margarine
See 'Spreadable fats'
Meat
A. Specified bovine material
- A complex set of controls apply in this area and no attempt has been made to list them. Users are recommended to consult an official government web site.
B. Meat products
Regulations:
Amendments:
- 2005 No 2626 - Official Feed and Food Controls (England) Regulations 2005
- 2008 No 517 - Meat Products (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2008
Milk
A Fresh liquid milk
Regulations:
B Condensed and dried milk
Regulations:
- 2003 No 1596 - Condensed Milk and Dried Milk (England) Regulations 2003
Amendments:
- 2004 No 2145 - Food Safety (Act of Accession concerning the Czech Republic and other States) (Consequential Amendments) (England) Regulations 2004
- 2005 No 2626 - Official Feed and Food Controls (England) Regulations 2005
- 2008 No 85 - Condensed Milk and Dried Milk (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2008
Olive oil
Regulation:
Amendments:
- 2004 No 2661 - Olive Oil (Marketing Standards) (Amendment) Regulations 2004
- 2006 No 3367 - Olive Oil (Marketing Standards) (Amendment) Regulations 2006
'Particular nutritional uses' (PARNUTS) foods
1. General
Regulations:
- 2007 No 181 - Notification of Marketing of Food for Particular Nutritional Uses (England) Regulations 2007
2. Infant formula and follow-on formula
Regulations:
- 2007 No 3521 - Infant Formula and Follow-on Formula (England) Regulations 2007
Amendments:
- 2008 No 2445 - Infant Formula and Follow-on Formula (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2008
3. Processed cereal based foods / Baby foods
Regulations:
- 2003 No 3207 - Processed Cereal-based Foods and Baby Foods for Infants and Young Children (England) Regulations 2003
Amendments:
- 2005 No 2626 - Official Feed and Food Controls (England) Regulations 2005
- 2005 No 2630 - Tryptophan in Food (England) Regulations 2005
4. Medical foods
Regulation:
Amendments:
- 2004 No 2145 - Food Safety (Act of Accession concerning the Czech Republic and other States) (Consequential Amendments) (England) Regulations 2004
- 2005 No 2626 - Official Feed and Food Controls (England) Regulations 2005
- 2007 No 3521 - Infant Formula and Follow-on Formula (England) Regulations 2007
- 2007 No 2591 - Food for Particular Nutritional Uses (Miscellaneous Amendments) (England) Regulations 2007
5. Weight reduction diets foods
Regulation:
Amendments:
- 2005 No 2626 - Official Feed and Food Controls (England) Regulations 2005
- 2007 No 2591 - Food for Particular Nutritional Uses (Miscellaneous Amendments) (England) Regulations 2007
6. Supplements
Regulations:
Amendments:
- 2005 No 2626 - Official Feed and Food Controls (England) Regulations 2005
- 2007 No 330 - Food Supplements (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2007
7. Additional Substances
Regulations:
- 2002 No 1817 - Food for Particular Nutritional Uses (Addition of Substances for Specific Nutritional Purposes) (England) Regulations 2002
Amendments:
- 2004 No 649 - Food for Particular Nutritional Uses (Addition of Substances for Specific Nutritional Purposes) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2004
- 2005 No 2626 - Official Feed and Food Controls (England) Regulations 2005
- 2005 No 2630 - Tryptophan in Food (England) Regulations 2005
- 2006 No 3116 - Food for Particular Nutritional Uses (Addition of Substances for Specific Nutritional Purposes) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2006
- 2007 No 2591 - Food for Particular Nutritional Uses (Miscellaneous Amendments) (England) Regulations 2007
Poultry (frozen, water content)
Regulations:
Amendments:
Spirits
Regulations:
Spreadable fats
Regulations:
- 2008 No 1287 - Spreadable Fats (Marketing Standards) and the Milk and Milk Products (Protection of Designations) (England) Regulations 2008
Sugar products
Regulations:
- 2003 No 1563 - Specified Sugar Products (England) Regulations 2003
Amendments:
- 2005 No 2626 - Official Feed and Food Controls (England) Regulations 2005
Water (Natural Mineral Water, etc)
Regulations:
- 2007 No 2785 - Natural Mineral Water, Spring Water and Bottled Drinking Water (England) Regulations 2007
Amendments:
- 2009 No 1598 - Natural Mineral Water, Spring Water and Bottled Drinking Water (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2009
Wine
Regulations
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2. Additives
Colours
Regulations:
- 2007 No 2266 - Food (Suspension of the Use of E128 Red 2G as Food Colour) (England) Regulations 2007
Amendments:
- 2000 No 481 - Colours in Food (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2000
- 2001 No 3442 - Colours in Food (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2001
- 2005 No 519 - Colours in Food (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2005
- 2005 No 2626 - Official Feed and Food Controls (England) Regulations 2005
- 2007 No 453 - Colours in Food (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2007
Flavourings
Regulations:
- 2005 No 464 - Smoke Flavourings (England) Regulations 2005
Amendment:
- 2005 No 2626 - Official Feed and Food Controls (England) Regulations 2005
Mineral hydrocarbons
Regulations:
Amendment:
- 2005 No 2626 - Official Feed and Food Controls (England) Regulations 2005
Miscellaneous Additives
Regulations:
Amendment:
- 2001 No 60 - Miscellaneous Food Additives (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2001
- 2002 No 3775 - Miscellaneous Food Additives (Amendment) (England) (No. 2) Regulations 2001
- 2003 No 1008 - Miscellaneous Food Additives (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2003
- 2003 No 3295 - Miscellaneous Food Additives (Amendment) (England) (No. 2) Regulations 2003
- 2004 No 2601 - Miscellaneous Food Additives (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2004
- 2005 No 1099 - Miscellaneous Food Additives (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2005
- 2005 No 2626 - Official Feed and Food Controls (England) Regulations 2005
- 2007 No 1778 - Miscellaneous Food Additives and the Sweeteners in Food (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2007
- 2008 No 42 - Miscellaneous Food Additives (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2008
Sweeteners
Regulations:
Amendments:
- 2001 No 2294 - Sweeteners in Food (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2001
- 2002 No 379 - Sweeteners in Food (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2002
- 2003 No 1182 - Sweeteners in Food (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2003
- 2004 No 3348 - Sweeteners in Food (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2004
- 2005 No 2626 - Official Feed and Food Controls (England) Regulations 2005
- 2007 No 1778 - Miscellaneous Food Additives and the Sweeteners in Food (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2007
Tryptophan
Regulations:
- 2005 No 2630 - Tryptophan in Food (England) Regulations 2005
Kava-kava
Regulations:
Amendments:
- 2004 No 455 - Kava-kava in Food (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2004
Purity Criteria
Regulations:
- 2009 No 891 - Purity Criteria for Colours, Sweeteners and Miscellaneous Food Additives (England) Regulations 2009
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3. Contaminants
General
(Note: This category covers those contaminants controlled by the 'Commission Regulation (EC) No. 466/2001 setting maximum levels for certain contaminants in foodstuffs'. This includes: cadmium, dioxin, lead, mercury, mycotoxins (aflatoxin and ochratoxin A), and nitrates and nitrites in vegetables.)
EU Regulations - Directly applicable as UK Law
UK Regulation:
- 2009 No 1223 - Contaminants in Food (England) Regulations 2009
Arsenic
Regulations:
Amendments:
- 2005 No 2626 - Official Feed and Food Controls (England) Regulations 2005
Chloroform
Regulations:
Amendments:
- 2005 No 2626 - Official Feed and Food Controls (England) Regulations 2005
Erucic acid
Regulations:
Amendment:
- 2005 No 2626 - Official Feed and Food Controls (England) Regulations 2005
Hormonal Substances and Other Veterinary Residues in Meat
Regulations:
Amendments:
- 2006 No 755 - Animals and Animal Products (Examination for Residues and Maximum Residue Limits) (Amendment) Regulations 2006
- 2009 No 1925 - Animals and Animal Products (Examination for Residues and Maximum Residue Limits) (Amendment) Regulations 2009
Pesticides
Regulations:
- 2008 No 2570 - Pesticides (Maximum Residue Levels) (England and Wales) Regulations 2008
Radioactive contamination
Regulations:
Amendments:
Tin
Regulation:
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4.. Processing and packaging
Frozen foods
Regulations:
- 2007 No 191 - Quick-frozen Foodstuffs (England) Regulations 2007
Extraction solvents
Regulations:
Amendment:
- 2005 No 2626 - Official Feed and Food Controls (England) Regulations 2005
Irradiation
Regulations:
Materials and articles in contact with food
A General
Regulations:
- 2007 No 2790 - Materials and Articles in Contact with Food (England) Regulations 2007
B Plastic
Regulations:
- 2009 No 205 - Plastic Materials and Articles in Contact with Food (England) Regulations 2009
C Ceramics
Regulations
- 2006 No 1179 - Ceramic Articles in Contact with Food (England) Regulations 2006
Novel foods and novel food ingredients
Regulations:
Amendmenst:
- 2004 No 2335 - Genetically Modified Food (England) Regulations 2004
Genetically Modified Organisms/Food
Regulations:
- 2004 No 2335 - Genetically Modified Food (England) Regulations 2004
- 2004 No 2411 - Genetically Modified Organisms (Deliberate Release) (Amendment) Regulations 2004
- 2004 No 2412 - Genetically Modified Organisms (Traceability and Labelling) (England) Regulations 2004
- 2004 No 2692 - Genetically Modified Organisms (Transboundary Movements) (England) Regulations 2004
Amendments:
- 2008 No 2598 - Genetically Modified Organisms (England) (Amendments) Regulations 2008
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5. Labelling
General labelling requirements
- Note: For more detailed information on food labelling, see: Food Labelling
Regulations:
Amendments:
- 2003 No 461 - Fish Labelling (England) Regulations 2003
- 2003 No 474 - Food Labelling (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2003
- 2003 No 2647 - Food (Provisions relating to Labelling) (England) Regulations 2003
- 2004 No 1512 - Food Labelling (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2004
- 2004 No 2145 - Food Safety (Act of Accession concerning the Czech Republic and other States) (Consequential Amendments) (England) Regulations 2004
- 2004 No 2335 - Genetically Modified Food (England) Regulations 2004
- 2004 No 2824 - Food Labelling (Amendment) ( England ) (No. 2) Regulations 2004
- 2005 No 899 - Food Labelling (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2005
- 2005 No 2057 - Food Labelling (Amendment) (England) (No. 2) Regulations 2005
- 2005 No 2626 - Official Feed and Food Controls (England) Regulations 2005
- 2005 No 2969 - Food Labelling (Amendment) (England) (No. 2) (Amendment) Regulations 2005
- 2008 No 1188 - Food Labelling (Declaration of Allergens) (England) Regulations 2008
- 2009 No 2538 - Food Labelling (Nutrition Information) (England) Regulations 2009
Claims (nutrition and health)
Regulations
- 2007 No 2080 - Nutrition and Health Claims (England) Regulations 2007
Milk and Milk Products
Regulations:
Amendment:
Lot Marking
Regulations:
Food Additives
Regulations:
Amendments:
- 2005 No 2626 - Official Feed and Food Controls (England) Regulations 2005
Organic Foods
Regulations:
Amendments:
Protected Food Names
Regulations:
Beef and Veal Labelling
Regulations:
Fish Labelling
Regulations:
- 2003 No 461 - Fish Labelling (England) Regulations 2003
Amendments:
- 2006 No 506 - Fish Labelling (Amendment) (England ) Regulations 2006
Unfair trading/Misleading marketing
Regulations:
- 2008 No 1277 - Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008
- 2008 No 1276 - Business Protection from Misleading Marketing Regulations 2008
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6. Hygiene and health
Note: From 1 January 2006, hygiene controls are largely based upon EU Regulations rather than UK Statutory Instruments.
General
Regulations:
- 2006 No 14 - Food Hygiene (England) Regulations 2006
Amendments:
- 2007 No 56 - Food Hygiene (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2007
Egg products
Regulations:
Poultry meat/game bird meat/rabbit meat
Regulations:
Amendments:
- 2005209 - Poultry Meat, Farmed Game Bird Meat and Rabbit Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2005
Collagen
Regulations:
- 2003 No 3003 - Collagen and Gelatine (Intra-Community Trade) (England) (No. 2) Regulations 2003
- 2005 No 404 - Production of Bovine Collagen Intended for Human Consumption in the United Kingdom (England) Regulations 2005
Imports and exports of food - Animal and poultry products
Regulations:
- 2006 No 2841 - Products of Animal Origin (Third Country Imports) (England) Regulations 2006
- 2006 No 1471 - Animals and Animal Products (Import and Export) (England) Regulations 2006
Amendments:
- 2006 No 2126 - Animals and Animal Products (Import and Export) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2006
- 2007 No 3 - Animals and Animal Products (Import and Export) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2007
- 2007 No 1605 - Products of Animal Origin (Third Country Imports) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2007
- 2008 No 3203 - Animals and Animal Products (Import and Export) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2008
- 2008 No 3230 - Products of Animal Origin (Third Country Imports) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2008
- 2009 No 875 - Products of Animal Origin (Third Country Imports) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2009
Disease Control
Regulations:
- 2008 No 465 - Products of Animal Origin (Disease Control) (England) Regulations 2008
Amendments:
- 2009 No 1297 - Products of Animal Origin (Disease Control) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2009
Ships and Aircraft
Regulations:
- 2003 No 1895 - Food Safety (Ships and Aircraft) (England and Scotland) Order 2003
Amendements:
Perishable foods (international)
Regulations:
Amendments (relevant to food):
- 2000 No 3196 - International Carriage of Perishable Foodstuffs (Amendment) Regulations 2000
- 2003 No 1693 - International Carriage of Perishable Foodstuffs (Amendment) Regulations 2003
General product safety
Regulations:
- 2000 No 2771 - Consumer Protection Act 1987 (Product Liability) (Modification) Order 2000
Emergency controls
Regulations
- 2002 No 931 - Food (Jelly Confectionery) (Emergency Control) (England) Regulations 2002
- 2002 No 1614 - Food and Animal Feedingstuffs (Products of Animal Origin from China) (Emergency Control) (England) Regulations 2002
- 2002 No 2350 - The Food (Peanuts from China) (Emergency Control) (England) (No. 2) Regulations 2002
- 2002 No 2351 - Food (Figs, Hazelnuts and Pistachios from Turkey) (Emergency Control) (England) (No. 2) Regulations 2002
- 2003 No 1722 - Food (Brazil Nuts) (Emergency Control) (England) Regulations 2003
- 2003 No 1956 - Food (Pistachios from Iran) (Emergency Control) (England) Regulations 2003
- 2003 No 2074 - Food (Peanuts from Egypt) (Emergency Control) (England) Regulations 2003
- 2005 No 1265 - Feed (Corn Gluten Feed and Brewers Grains) (Emergency Control) (England) Regulations 2005
- 2005 No 1442 - Food (Chilli, Chilli Products, Curcuma and Palm Oil) (Emergency Control) (England) Regulations 2005
- 2008 No 622 - Rice Products from the United States of America (Restriction on First Placing on the Market) (England) Regulations 2008
- 2008 No 1079 - Specified Products from China (Restriction on First Placing on the Market) (England) Regulations 2008
Amendments:
- 2003 No 1957 - Food (Figs, Hazelnuts and Pistachios from Turkey) (Emergency Control) (England) (No. 2) (Amendment) Regulations 2003
- 2003 No 1958 - Food (Peanuts from China) (Emergency Control) (England) (No. 2) (Amendment) Regulations 2003
- 2003 No 2988 - Food (Brazil Nuts) (Emergency Control) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2003
- 2004 No 1151 - Food (Jelly Confectionery) (Emergency Control) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2004
- 2004 No 1265 - Food (Emergency Control) (England) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2004
- 2005 No 208 - Food (Pistachios from Iran) (Emergency Control) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2005
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7. Weights and measures
Prescribed weights and quantities
Regulations:
- 2009 No 663 - Weights and Measures (Specified Quantities) (Pre-packed Products) Regulations 2009
Average weights
Regulations:
- 2006 No 659 - Weights and Measures (Packaged Goods) Regulations 2006
Units of Measurement
Regulations:
Amendments:
Weight and capacity marking
Regulations:
Amendments:
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8. Administration, Enforcement, etc
General Food Controls
Regulations
Amendments:
- 2005 No 2626 - Official Feed and Food Controls (England) Regulations 2005
Official controls
Regulations
- 2006 No 3472 - Official Controls (Animals, Feed and Food) (England) Regulations 2006
- 2007 No 3185 - Official Feed and Food Controls (England) Regulations 2007
Meat - offical control charges
Regulations:
- 2009 No 1574 - Meat (Official Controls Charges) (England) Regulations 2009
Fishery products - charges
Regulations:
- 2007 No 3392 - Fishery Products (Official Controls Charges) (England) Regulations 2007
Residues - Charges
Regulations:
- 2006 No 2285 - Charges for Residues Surveillance Regulations 2006
Amendments:
- 2007 No 2439 - Charges for Residues Surveillance (Amendment) Regulations 2007
- 2008 No 2999 - Charges for Residues Surveillance (Amendment) Regulations 2008
This page was first provided on 22 July 2007