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Food Act 1984

1984 c. 30 · Enacted 26 June 1984 · Extends to United Kingdom

Up to date with all changes known to legislation.gov.uk, revised to 18 August 2025.

F1An Act to consolidate the provisions of the Food and Drugs Acts 1955 to 1982, the Sugar Act 1956, the Food and Drugs (Milk) Act 1970, section 7(3) and (4) of the European Communities Act 1972, section 198 of the Local Government Act 1972 and Part IX of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982, and connected provisions.

[26th June 1984]

X1C1C2C3C4I1E1Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

Annotations to the whole text

Textual amendments

F1

Act repealed (S.) (16.6.2025) by Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Act 2024 (asp 11), s. 38(2), sch. 2 Pt. 1; S.S.I. 2025/167, reg. 2, sch.

Modifications

C1

Act: power to modify or exclude Act conferred by Weights and Measures Act 1976 (c. 77, SIF 131), s. 12, Sch. 6 paras. 1, 2 (as amended by Food Act 1984 (c. 30, SIF 53), s. 134 (a), Sch. 10 paras. 29, 30 (which said Sch. 10 was repealed (E.W.S.) by Food Safety Act 1990 (c. 16, SIF 53:1, 2), ss. 54, 59(4), Sch. 5) )

C2

Act restricted by Weights and Measures Act 1985 (c. 72, SIF 131), s. 93 (the restriction being no longer applicable (E.W.S.) by virtue of the amendment of s. 93 by Food Safety Act 1990 (c. 16, SIF 53:1, 2), ss. 54, 59(1), Sch. 3 para. 33)

C3

Act amended (E.W.S) by National Health Service (Amendment) Act 1986 (c. 66, SIF 113:2), s. 1(1)(7)(a)(ii)(8) (which said s. 1 is repealed (1.4.1991) by National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 (c.19, SIF 113:2), s. 66(2), Sch. 10)

C4

Act: functions of the Secretary of State for Social Services under the Act transferred to the Secretary of State for Health by S.I. 1988/1843, art. 2, Sch. 2 Pt. I

Act: transfer of certain functions (W.) (1.7.1999) by S.I. 1999/672, art. 2, Sch. 1

Commencement

I1

Act wholly in force at 26.9.1984, see s. 136(4)

Extent

E1

For extent of Act, see ss. 135, 136

Editorial notes

X1

A Table showing the derivation of the provisions of this consolidation Act will be found at the end of the Act. The Table has no official status.

Contents

  1. Part I: Food Generally
  2. Composition and labelling of food Repealed
  3. 1Offences as to preparation and sale of injurious foods. Repealed
  4. 2General protection for purchasers of food. Repealed
  5. 3Defences in proceedings under s. 2. Repealed
  6. 4Regulations as to composition of food etc. Repealed
  7. 5Ministers’ power to obtain particulars of ingredients. Repealed
  8. 6Food falsely described. Repealed
  9. 7Regulations as to describing food. Repealed
  10. Food unfit for human consumption Repealed
  11. 8Sale etc. of unfit food. Repealed
  12. 9Examination and seizure of suspected food. Repealed
  13. 10Food as prizes etc. Repealed
  14. 11Food in transit. Repealed
  15. 12Products of knackers’ yards. Repealed
  16. Hygiene Repealed
  17. 13Regulations as to food hygiene. Repealed
  18. 14Court’s power to disqualify caterer. Repealed
  19. 15Byelaws as to food. Repealed
  20. Registration of premises and licensing of vehicles Repealed
  21. 16Registration: ice-cream, sausages etc. Repealed
  22. 17Extension of s. 16 to other businesses. Repealed
  23. 18Application for registration. Repealed
  24. 19Refusal or cancellation of registration. Repealed
  25. 20Regulations for licensing vehicles, stalls etc. Repealed
  26. Control of food premises Repealed
  27. 21Closure order. Repealed
  28. 22Emergency order. Repealed
  29. 23Compensation. Repealed
  30. 24Appeals. Repealed
  31. 25Offences against food premises control. Repealed
  32. 26Ships. Repealed
  33. Ice-cream, horseflesh and shellfish Repealed
  34. 27Sale of ice-cream from stalls etc. Repealed
  35. 28Prevention of spread of disease by ice-cream. Repealed
  36. 29Sale of horseflesh. Repealed
  37. 30Cleansing of shellfish. Repealed
  38. Food poisoning Repealed
  39. 31Inspection and control of infected food. Repealed
  40. Part II: Milk, Dairies and Cream Substitutes Repealed
  41. Milk and dairies Repealed
  42. 32Meaning of “dairy”, “dairy farm” etc. Repealed
  43. 33Milk and Dairies Regulations. Repealed
  44. 34Registration. Repealed
  45. 35Sale of milk from diseased cows. Repealed
  46. 36Adulteration. Repealed
  47. 37Appointment of veterinary inspectors. Repealed
  48. Special designations of milk, and their use Repealed
  49. 38Milk (Special Designation) Regulations. Repealed
  50. 39Restrictions. Repealed
  51. Compulsory use of special designations in specified areas, and licences for specified areas Repealed
  52. 40Special designations: retail sales. Repealed
  53. 41Special designations: catering. Repealed
  54. 42Special designations: exemption. Repealed
  55. 43Specified areas. Repealed
  56. 44Milk processing facilities. Repealed
  57. 45Breach of retailer’s licence. Repealed
  58. 46Restriction on liability under s. 45. Repealed
  59. 47Interpretation of ss. 39 to 46. Repealed
  60. Cream substitutes Repealed
  61. 48Misuse of designation “cream”. Repealed
  62. 49Reconstituted cream. Repealed
  63. Part III: Markets
  64. 50Establishment or acquisition.
  65. 51Power to sell to local authority.
  66. 52Market days and hours.
  67. 53Charges.
  68. 54Time for payment of charges.
  69. 55Recovery of charges.
  70. 56Prohibited sales in market hours.
  71. 57Weighing machines and scales.
  72. 57AProvision of cold stores.
  73. 58Section 58 Repealed
  74. 59Information for market officer.
  75. 60Market byelaws.
  76. 61Interpretation of Part III, and exclusion of City of London.
  77. Part IV
  78. 62. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  79. 63. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  80. 64. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  81. 65. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  82. 66. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  83. 67. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  84. Part V: Sugar Beet and Cold Storage
  85. Ministerial functions as to sugar beet
  86. 68Research and education. Repealed
  87. 69Crop price.
  88. 69AInformation.
  89. Cold storage
  90. 70Provision of cold storage. Repealed
  91. Part VI: Administration, Enforcement and Legal Proceedings
  92. Administration
  93. 71Food and drugs authorities. Repealed
  94. 72Local authorities for purposes of this Act. Repealed
  95. 73Meaning of “authorised officer”. Repealed
  96. 74Duty to enforce. Repealed
  97. 75Joint boards. Repealed
  98. Sampling and analysis
  99. 76Public analysts. Repealed
  100. 77Facilities for examination. Repealed
  101. 78Powers of sampling. Repealed
  102. 79Right to have samples analysed. Repealed
  103. 80Samples taken for analysis. Repealed
  104. 81Sampling of milk. Repealed
  105. 82Sampling powers of Minister’s inspectors. Repealed
  106. 83Minister’s power of direction. Repealed
  107. 84Where division not practicable. Repealed
  108. 85Examination of food not for sale. Repealed
  109. 86Quarterly reports of analysts. Repealed
  110. Enforcement
  111. 87Power to enter premises. Repealed
  112. 88Additional power of entry. Repealed
  113. 89Powers of entry of Ministers’ officers. Repealed
  114. 90Movement of imported food. Repealed
  115. 91Obstruction. Repealed
  116. Legal proceedings
  117. 92Offences triable either way. Repealed
  118. 93Summary offences.
  119. 94Offences by corporations.
  120. 95Prosecutions.
  121. 96. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  122. 97Evidence of analysis. Repealed
  123. 98–109. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  124. Part VII: General and Supplemental
  125. Acquisition of land, and order to permit works
  126. 110Compulsory purchase of land.
  127. 111Order to occupier to permit works. Repealed
  128. Inquiries, and default
  129. 112Local Inquiries. Repealed
  130. 113Default: local authorities etc. Repealed
  131. 114Default: food and drugs authorities. Repealed
  132. 115Expenses under ss. 113 and 114. Repealed
  133. Protection
  134. 116Officer acting in good faith. Repealed
  135. 117Liability to rates no disqualification. Repealed
  136. Subordinate legislation
  137. 118Certain regulations and orders. Repealed
  138. 119Community provisions. Repealed
  139. 120Statutory instruments. Repealed
  140. 121Byelaws.
  141. 122–130. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  142. Interpretation and operation
  143. 131. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  144. 132Interpretation: further provision.
  145. 133Application to Crown. Repealed
  146. 134. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  147. 135Northern Ireland. Repealed
  148. 136Citation, extent and commencement.
  149. Schedule S 1–8Schedule S 1–8
  150. Schedule 9: Transitional and Saving Provisions
  151. Time running Repealed
  152. 1Paragraph 1 Repealed
  153. Section 41(1) Food and Drugs Act1955 c. 16. (4 & 5 Eliz. 2) Repealed
  154. 2Paragraph 2 Repealed
  155. Local Acts Repealed
  156. 3Paragraph 3 Repealed
  157. Public Health (Shell-Fish) Regulations S.R. & O. 1934/1342 Repealed
  158. 4Paragraph 4 Repealed
  159. Orders under Defence (Sale of Food) Regulations S.R. & O. 1943/1553 Repealed
  160. 5Paragraph 5 Repealed
  161. Sugar Act 1956 Repealed
  162. 6Paragraph 6 Repealed
  163. Sections 252 and 254 Local Government Act 1972 Repealed
  164. 7Paragraph 7 Repealed
  165. Schedule 10: Consequential Amendments
  166. City of London (Various Powers) Act 1959 Repealed
  167. 1Paragraph 1 Repealed
  168. London County Council (General Powers) Act 1959 Repealed
  169. 2Paragraph 2 Repealed
  170. Public Health Act 1961 Repealed
  171. 3Paragraph 3 Repealed
  172. Weights and Measures Act 1963 Repealed
  173. 4Paragraph 4 Repealed
  174. 5Paragraph 5 Repealed
  175. London Government Act 1963 Repealed
  176. 6Paragraph 6 Repealed
  177. Agriculture Act 1967 Repealed
  178. 7Paragraph 7 Repealed
  179. 8Paragraph 8 Repealed
  180. 9Paragraph 9 Repealed
  181. Farm and Garden Chemicals Act 1967 Repealed
  182. 10Paragraph 10 Repealed
  183. Trade Descriptions Act 1968 Repealed
  184. 11Paragraph 11 Repealed
  185. 12Paragraph 12 Repealed
  186. Health Services and Public Health Act 1968 Repealed
  187. 13Paragraph 13 Repealed
  188. Medicines Act 1968 Repealed
  189. 14Paragraph 14 Repealed
  190. 15Paragraph 15 Repealed
  191. Transport Act 1968 Repealed
  192. 16Paragraph 16 Repealed
  193. Agriculture Act 1970
  194. 17Paragraph 17 Repealed
  195. Tribunals and Inquiries Act 1971 Repealed
  196. 18Paragraph 18 Repealed
  197. Road Traffic Act 1972 Repealed
  198. 19Paragraph 19 Repealed
  199. Greater London Council (General Powers) Act 1972 Repealed
  200. 20Paragraph 20 Repealed
  201. Poisons Act 1972 Repealed
  202. 21Paragraph 21 Repealed
  203. Local Government Act 1972 Repealed
  204. 22Paragraph 22 Repealed
  205. 23Paragraph 23 Repealed
  206. Greater London Council (General Powers) Act 1973 Repealed
  207. 24Paragraph 24 Repealed
  208. 25Paragraph 25 Repealed
  209. 26Paragraph 26 Repealed
  210. National Health Service Reorganisation Act 1973 Repealed
  211. 27Paragraph 27 Repealed
  212. Slaughterhouses Act 1974 Repealed
  213. 28Paragraph 28 Repealed
  214. Weights and Measures etc. Act 1976 Repealed
  215. 29Paragraph 29 Repealed
  216. 30Paragraph 30 Repealed
  217. City of London (Various Powers) Act 1977 Repealed
  218. 31Paragraph 31 Repealed
  219. Consumer Safety Act 1978 Repealed
  220. 32Paragraph 32 Repealed
  221. Hydrocarbon Oil Duties Act 1979 Repealed
  222. 33Paragraph 33 Repealed
  223. Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 Repealed
  224. 34Paragraph 34 Repealed
  225. Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984 Repealed
  226. 35Paragraph 35 Repealed
  227. 36Paragraph 36 Repealed
  228. 37Paragraph 37 Repealed
  229. Schedule 11Repeals and Revocations
  230. Schedule TABLE OF DERIVATIONSSchedule TABLE OF DERIVATIONS