Explanatory note

By the Consumer Protection Act 1961 , the Secretary of State is empowered to make regulations imposing requirements, in respect of any prescribed class of goods, to prevent or reduce risk of death or personal injury.

With effect from 1st April 1973, these Regulations impose such requirements in relation to kitchen utensils in which to cook food, and accordingly under the Act, subject to certain exceptions, no person may sell or have in his possession for sale a utensil not complying with the Regulations.

Regulation 2 restricts the lead content of any tin or other metallic coating used on any surface of the utensil designed to come in contact with the food. Regulation 3 provides that goods shall be subject to the Regulations notwithstanding that they were manufactured before the coming into operation of the Regulations.