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Statutory Instruments made by the National Assembly for Wales |
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You are here: BAILII >> Databases >> Statutory Instruments made by the National Assembly for Wales >> The Contaminants in Food (Wales) Regulations 2005 No. 364 (W.31) URL: http://www.bailii.org/wales/legis/num_reg/2005/20050364e.html |
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Made | 22 February 2005 | ||
Coming into force | 1 March 2005 |
(2) Other expressions used in these Regulations and in the Commission Regulation have the same meaning as in the Commission Regulation.
Offences and penalties
3.
Subject to regulations 6, 10 and 11, a person is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale if -
Enforcement
4.
- (1) Subject to paragraph (2), it is the duty of each port health authority to execute and enforce these Regulations within its district.
(2) In relation to any place which is not situated in the district of a port health authority, these Regulations are to be executed and enforced by the food authority for the area in which that place is situated.
Modification of section 29 of the Food Safety Act 1990 (procurement of samples) and analysis of samples
5.
- (1) In its application to the taking of a sample of any food specified in sections 1 to 6 of Annex I to the Commission Regulation, section 29 of the Act is modified so as to require the power to take samples under subsection (b) and (d) of that section to be exercised in accordance with the methods of taking samples described or referred to -
(2) Where, pursuant to section 29(b) or (d) of the Act as modified by paragraph (1), an authorised officer has taken a sample of food of the description referred to in sub-paragraph (b) of that paragraph, and he or she has submitted that sample to be analysed pursuant to section 30(1)(a) of the Act the person who analyses the sample is to ensure that -
(b) any analysis of the sample is carried out in accordance with methods of analysis which -
(c) any analysis of the sample is carried out by a laboratory which complies with Directive 93/99/EEC; and
(d) the reporting of the results of the analysis of that sample -
(3) Where, pursuant to section 29(b) or (d) of the Act as modified by paragraph (1), an authorised officer has taken a sample of food of the description referred to in sub-paragraph (c) of that paragraph, and he or she has submitted that sample to be analysed pursuant to section 30(1)(a) of the Act the person who analyses the sample is to ensure that -
(c) any analysis of the sample is carried out by a laboratory which complies with Directive 93/99/EEC;
(d) any analysis of the sample is carried out in such a way as to comply with the first and second sub-paragraphs of paragraph 3.4 of Annex II to Directive 2001/22/EC as read in the case of the second sub-paragraph with the note to that sub-paragraph; and
(e) the reporting of the results of the analysis of that sample -
(4) Where, pursuant to section 29(b) or (d) of the Act as modified by paragraph (1), an authorised officer has taken a sample of food of the description referred to in sub-paragraph (d) of that paragraph, and he or she has submitted that sample to be analysed pursuant to section 30(1)(a) of the Act the person who analyses the sample is to ensure that -
(c) any analysis of the sample is carried out by a laboratory which complies with Directive 93/99/EEC; and
(d) the reporting of the results of the analysis of that sample -
(5) Where, pursuant to section 29(b) or (d) of the Act as modified by paragraph (1), an authorised officer has taken a sample of food of the description referred to in sub-paragraph (e) of that paragraph, and he or she has submitted that sample to be analysed pursuant to section 30(1)(a) of the Act the person who analyses the sample is to ensure that -
(c) the reporting of the results of the analysis of that sample is in accordance with paragraph 8 of Annex II to Directive 2002/69/EC.
(6) Where, pursuant to section 29(b) or (d) of the Act as modified by paragraph (1), an authorised officer has taken a sample of food of the description referred to in sub-paragraph (f) of that paragraph, and he or she has submitted that sample to be analysed pursuant to section 30(1)(a) of the Act the person who analyses the sample is to ensure that -
(c) any analysis of the sample is carried out by a laboratory which complies with Directive 93/99/EEC; and
(d) the reporting of the results of the analysis of that sample -
(7) Where, pursuant to section 29(b) or (d) of the Act as modified by paragraph (1), an authorised officer has taken a sample of food of the description referred to in sub-paragraph (g) of that paragraph, and he or she has submitted that sample to be analysed pursuant to section 30(1)(a) of the Act the person who analyses the sample is to ensure that -
(c) any analysis of the sample is carried out by a laboratory which complies with Directive 93/99/EEC and that section of paragraph 4.6 of Annex II to Directive 2004/16/EC headed "Internal Quality Control"; and
(d) the reporting of the results of the analysis of that sample -
Defence in relation to exports
6.
In any proceedings for an offence consisting of a contravention of regulation 3 it is a defence for the accused to prove that the food in respect of which the offence is alleged to have been committed was intended for export to a country (other than a Member State) which has legislation analogous to these Regulations, and that the food complies with that legislation.
Application of various sections of the Food Safety Act 1990
7.
- (1) The following provisions of the Act apply for the purposes of these Regulations with the modification that any reference in those provisions to the Act or Part thereof is to be construed as a reference to these Regulations -
(2) Subject to paragraph (3), section 9 of the Act (inspection and seizure of suspected food) applies for the purposes of these Regulations as if it read as follows -
and subsections (2) to (7) below apply where, on such an inspection, it appears to the authorised officer that the placing on the market of any food contravenes regulation 3(a) of the Contaminants in Food (Wales) Regulations 2005.
(2) The authorised officer may either -
(b) seize the food and remove it in order to have it dealt with by a justice of the peace.
(3) Where the authorised officer exercises the power conferred by subsection (2)(a) above, he or she, as soon as is reasonably practicable and in any event within 21 days, is to determine whether or not he or she is satisfied that the food complies with the requirements of regulation 3(a) of the above Regulations, as appropriate and -
(4) Where an authorised officer exercises the powers conferred by subsection (2)(b) or (3)(b) above, he or she is to inform the person in charge of the food of his or her intention to have it dealt with by a justice of the peace and -
(5) If it appears to a justice of the peace, on the basis of such evidence as he or she considers appropriate in the circumstances, that any food falling to be dealt with by him or her under this section fails to comply with the requirements of regulation 3(a) of the above Regulations he or she is to condemn the food and order -
(6) If a notice under subsection (2)(a) above is withdrawn, or the justice of the peace by whom any food falls to be dealt with under this section refuses to condemn it, the food authority or, as the case may be, port health authority, is to compensate the owner of the food for any depreciation in its value resulting from the action taken by the authorised officer.
(7) Any disputed question as to the right to or the amount of any compensation payable under subsection (6) above is to be determined by arbitration.
(8) Any person who knowingly contravenes the requirements of a notice under paragraph (a) of subsection (2) above is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.".
(3) The expressions "authorised officer", "food authority", "port health authority", "human consumption", "placing on the market", "Directive 98/53/EC", "Directive 2001/22/EC", "Directive 2002/26/EC", "Directive 2002/69/EC", "Directive 2003/78/EC" and "Directive 2004/16/EC" which are used in section 9 of the Act so far as it applies for the purposes of these Regulations by virtue of paragraph (2), are, for those purposes, to bear the meanings that those English expressions and their corresponding Welsh expressions respectively bear in these Regulations.
Re-export or destruction of food imported into Wales that does not comply with these Regulations
8.
- (1) If it appears to an authorised officer of a port health authority or as the case may be food authority that any food contravenes regulation 3(a) and has been imported into Wales he or she may after appropriate consultation with a person appearing to him or her to be the importer of the food serve on that person a notice requiring -
(2) The notice served under paragraph (1) is to state -
(3) Any person who is aggrieved by the decision of an authorised officer to serve a notice under paragraph (1) may appeal to a magistrates' court, which determines whether or not the notice should be upheld or set aside.
(4) The period within which such an appeal as is mentioned in paragraph (3) may be brought is 6 days from the date on which the notice was served exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays and the making of the complaint is deemed for the purpose of this paragraph to be the bringing of the appeal.
(5) The procedure on an appeal to a magistrates' court under paragraph (3) is to be by way of complaint for an order, and the Magistrates' Courts Act 1980[33] applies to the proceedings.
(6) If the court allows an appeal brought under paragraph (3) the authority concerned is to compensate the owner of the food concerned for any depreciation in its value resulting from the action taken by the authorised officer.
(7) Any disputed question as to the right to or the amount of any compensation payable under paragraph (6) is to be determined by arbitration.
(8) Any person who breaches the terms of a notice served under paragraph (1) is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or to both.
(9) This Regulation is subject to regulation 9.
Secondary treatment of food imported into Wales that does not comply with these Regulations
9.
- (1) In relation to any food which -
the authorised officer may, after appropriate consultation with a person appearing to him or her to be the importer of the food, serve on that person a notice requiring him or her to -
(2) The notice served under paragraph (1) is to state -
(3) Any person who is aggrieved by the decision of an authorised officer to serve a notice under paragraph (1) may appeal to a magistrates' court, which determines whether or not the notice should be upheld or set aside.
(4) The period within which such an appeal as is mentioned in paragraph (3) may be brought is 6 days from the date on which the notice was served exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays and the making of the complaint is deemed for the purpose of this paragraph to be the bringing of the appeal.
(5) The procedure on an appeal to a magistrates' court under paragraph (3) is by way of complaint for an order, and the Magistrates' Court Act 1980 applies to the proceedings.
(6) If the court allows an appeal brought under paragraph (3) the authority concerned is to compensate the owner of the food concerned for any depreciation in its value resulting from the action taken by the authorised officer.
(7) Any disputed question as to the right to or the amount of any compensation payable under paragraph (6) is determined by arbitration.
(8) Any person who fails to comply with any of the requirements specified in a notice served under paragraph (1) is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or to both.
Transitional provisions
10.
Regulation 3(a) does not apply in relation to any food -
11.
Regulation 3(b) is not to apply in relation to any contravention of Article 2.3 of the Commission Regulation, to the extent that the contravention consists in the use as a food ingredient, for the production of a compound foodstuff, of -
Consequential amendments
12.
In Schedule 1 to the Food Safety (Sampling and Qualifications) Regulations 1990[34] in so far as they apply to Wales (provisions to which those Regulations do not apply) for the entry relating to the Contaminants in Food (Wales) Regulations 2003 substitute the following entry -
Revocations
13.
The Tin in Food Regulations 1992[35] insofar as they apply in relation to Wales and the Contaminants in Food (Wales) Regulations 2003[36] are revoked.
Signed on behalf of the National Assembly for Wales under section 66(1) of the Government of Wales Act 1998[37]
D. Elis-Thomas
The Presiding Officer of the National Assembly
22 February 2005
2.
These Regulations -
(b) specify the enforcement authorities (regulation 4);
(c) prescribe requirements in relation to the analysis of samples of foods subject to the Commission Regulation, and in doing so modify section 29 of the Food Safety Act 1990 in its application to the taking of samples of the foods concerned (regulation 5);
(d) provide a defence in relation to exports in implementation of Articles 2 and 3 of Council Directive 89/397/EEC on the official control of foodstuffs, as read with the ninth recital to that Directive (OJ No. L186, 30.6.89, p.23) (regulation 6);
(e) provide for the application of specified provisions of the Food Safety Act 1990 for the purposes thereof (regulation 7);
(f) subject to regulation 9, provide for the re-export to non-member States or in certain cases the destruction of imported food that contravenes certain requirements of regulation 3 (regulation 8);
(g) establish a process by which food that would otherwise have to be re-exported or destroyed under regulation 8 can nevertheless be placed on the market (regulation 9);
(h) include transitional provisions (regulations 10 and 11); and
(i) make consequential amendments to the Food Safety (Sampling and Qualifications) Regulations 1990 in so far as they apply in relation to Wales (regulation 12).
3.
These Regulations also revoke the Tin in Food Regulations 1992 in so far as they apply in relation to Wales (regulation 13).
4.
A regulatory appraisal has been prepared for these Regulations and placed in the library of the National Assembly for Wales together with a transposition note setting out how the main elements of the Commission Directives referred to in paragraph 1 above are transposed into domestic law by these Regulations. Copies may be obtained from the Food Standards Agency, 11th Floor, Southgate House, Cardiff, CF10 1EW.
[2] Functions of the Secretary of State under the Food Safety Act 1990, so far as exercisable in relation to Wales, were transferred to the National Assembly for Wales by the National Assembly for Wales (Transfer of Functions) Order 1999 (S.I. 1999/672).back
[3] OJ No. L31, 1.2.2002, p.1.back
[4] OJ No. L77, 16.3.2001, p.1, as adopted by EEA Joint Committee Decision No. 81/2002 (OJ No. L266, 3.10.2002, p.30 EEA supplement No. 49, 3.10.2002).back
[5] OJ No. L313, 30.11.2001, p.60, as adopted by EEA Joint Committee Decision No. 81/2002.back
[6] OJ No. L321, 6.12.2001, p.1, as adopted by EEA Joint Committee Decision No. 81/2002.back
[7] OJ No. L37, 7.2.2002, p.4, as adopted by EEA Joint Committee Decision No. 139/2002 (OJ No. L19, 23.1.2003, p.3 and EEA supplement No. 5, 23.1.2003).back
[8] OJ No. L41, 13.2.2002, p.12, as adopted by EEA Joint Committee Decision No. 100/2002 (OJ No. L298, 31.10.2002, p.13 and EEA supplement No. 54, 31.10.2002, p.11).back
[9] OJ No. L75, 16.3.2002, p.18, as adopted by EEA Joint Committee Decision No. 161/2002 (OJ No. L38, 13.2.2003, p.16 and EEA supplement No. 9, 13.2.2003, p.13).back
[10] OJ No. L80, 23.3.2002, p.42.back
[11] OJ No. L86, 3.4.2002, p.5, as adopted by EEA Joint Committee Decision No. 161/2002.back
[12] OJ No. L155, 14.6.2002, p.63, as adopted by EEA Joint Committee Decision No. 161/2002.back
[13] OJ No. L203, 12.8.2003, p.1.back
[14] OJ No. L326, 13.12.2003, p.12.back
[15] OJ No. L42, 13.2.2004, p.3back
[16] OJ No. L74, 12.3.2004, p.11.back
[17] OJ No. L106, 15.4.2004, p. 6.back
[18] OJ No. L372, 31.12.1985, p.50.back
[19] OJ No. L201, 17.7.1998, p.93, as adopted by EEA Joint Committee Decision No. 93/1999 (OJ No. L296 23.11.2000, p.58)back
[20] OJ No. L290,24.11.1993, p.14.back
[21] OJ No. L75, 16.3.2002, p.44, as adopted by EEA Joint Committee Decision No. 161/2002.back
[22] OJ No. L332, 19.12.2003, p.38.back
[23] OJ No. L77, 16.3.2001, p.14.back
[24] OJ No. L325, 8.12.2001, p.34.back
[25] OJ No. L75, 16.3.2002, p.38.back
[26] OJ No. L209, 6.8.2002, p.5.back
[27] OJ No. L252, 20.9.2002, p.40.back
[28] OJ No. L113, 20.4.2004, p.17.back
[29] OJ No. L203, 12.8.2003, p.40.back
[30] OJ No. L42, 13.2.2004, p.16.back
[31] The requirement is that the minimum number of units required for a laboratory sample in such circumstances is 10.back
[32] OJ No. L187, 16.7.2002, p.30.back
[34] S.I. 1990/2463; relevant amending instruments are S.I. 1999/1603, S.I. 2002/1886 (W.195) and S.I. 2003/1721(W.188).back