Explanatory note

These Regulations amend the Food Hygiene (Docks, Carriers etc.) Regulations 1960 and the Food Hygiene (General) Regulations 1970 by modifying the duty imposed by those Regulations to prevent infestation of areas where food is kept, by pests (regulations 2(b) and 4(c)).

The Food Hygiene (Markets, Stalls and Delivery Vehicles) Regulations 1966 and the 1970 Regulations are amended by the insertion of new regulations on storage temperatures for food (regulation 3(b) and Schedule 1 inserting a new regulation 12 in the case of the 1966 Regulations and regulation 4(d) and Schedule 2 inserting a new regulation 27 in the case of the 1970 Regulations). These amendments provide a more comprehensive scheme of temperature controls than those which apply at present, and introduce a requirement that relevant food be kept either below 8°C or above 63°C. With effect from 1st April 1993 certain foods will be required to be kept below 5°C instead of 8°C (the new regulation 12(9) of the 1966 Regulations, and the new regulation 27(8) of the 1970 Regulations impose the lower temperature).

The requirements imposed in relation to premises subject to the 1966 Regulations will also apply to delivery vehicles, but will not apply to small delivery vehicles until 1st April 1992 (regulation 1(1)), and food in those vehicles will not be subject to the lower temperature requirements if it is in the vehicle for not longer than twelve hours, (regulation 3(b) and Schedule 1, in so far as they insert the new regulation 12(5) and (6) into the 1966 Regulations).

The new regulation 12 of the 1966 Regulations and the new regulation 27 of the 1970 Regulations do not apply to certain classes of food, notably fresh, uncooked foods and cooked foods which have been subjected to processes intended to prevent the growth of pathogenic micro-organisms at ambient temperatures (regulation 12(2) of the 1966 Regulations, and regulation 27(2) of the 1970 Regulations).

The 1960, 1966 and 1970 Regulations are all modified by the removal of the requirement to keep antiseptic among the first-aid equipment on premises to which they apply (regulation 2(a), 3(c) and 4(b)). Certain basic terms used in the 1966 and 1970 Regulations are defined (regulation 3(a) and 4(a)).