Explanatory note

These Regulations amend the Bread and Flour Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1998 (“the 1998 Regulations”).

Regulation 3(2) introduces definitions of “common wheat” and “wholemeal flour” to the 1998 Regulations.

Regulation 3(4) and (8) and Schedule 1 make changes to the essential ingredients of flour in Schedule 1 of the 1998 Regulations to provide for the mandatory addition of folic acid and changes to the required quantities of calcium carbonate, iron and niacin. There are exemptions provided for wholemeal flour and flour produced by a small mill.

Regulation 3(5), (6), (7) and (9) and Schedule 2 revoke regulation 7 and substitute regulation 10 of the 1998 Regulations in relation to offences and penalties and the application and modification of certain Articles of the Food Safety (Northern Ireland) Order 1991. It is replaced by the application and modification of certain Articles of the Food Safety (Northern Ireland) Order 1991 as set out in a new Schedule 5 to the 1998 Regulations to provide for enforcement by way of improvement notices and the offence of failing to comply with an improvement notice.

Regulation 3(7) makes transitional provision.

A full impact assessment of the effect that these Regulations will have on the costs to business and food authorities is available with these Regulations at www.legislation.gov.uk.

The British Pharmacopeia 1973 and 2023, referred to in Schedule 1, may be inspected at the Biomedical Library, Medical Biology Centre, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL Tel 028 9097 2710.