Explanatory note
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations amend the Materials and Articles in Contact with Food Regulations 1987 (“the principal Regulations”) to implement both Commission Directive 93/10/EEC (OJ No. L93, 17.4.93, p.47) relating to materials and articles made of regenerated cellulose film intended to come into contact with foodstuffs, as amended by Commission Directive 93/111/EEC (OJ No. L310, 14.12.93, p.41), and Commission Directive 92/15/EEC (OJ No. L102, 16.4.92, p.44) amending Council Directive 83/229/EEC (OJ No. L123, 11.5.83, p.31) on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to materials and articles made of regenerated cellulose film intended to come into contact with foodstuffs.
The Regulations—
substitute in regulation 2(1) of the principal Regulations a definition of “import” to mean import in the course of a business from any place other than a member State of the European Community (regulation 2(a));
amend regulation 6 of the principal Regulations—
to reduce the maximum permissible limit for two substances, the transfer to food in excess of which is prohibited (regulation 2(b)); and
to allow before 1st July 1994 or 1st January 1995, as specified, the sale, importation or use in connection with the storage, preparation, packaging, selling or serving of food, of film manufactured before the coming into force of the Regulations where a substance used in the manufacture of that film does not comply with specified conditions or restrictions as amended (regulation 2(c) and (d));
require materials and articles made of regenerated cellulose film at a marketing stage other than retail to be accompanied by a written declaration (regulation 2(e));
amend regulation 19 of the principal Regulations to provide that a partner of a Scottish partnership may be liable for an offence committed by that partnership (regulation 2(f));
amend Schedule 1 to the principal Regulations—
to permit an additional substance to be used in the manufacture of regenerated cellulose film (regulation 2(g));
to prohibit the use of specified substances in the manufacture of regenerated cellulose film (regulation 2(h));
amend Schedule 1 to the principal Regulations to add conditions and restrictions and amend existing conditions and restrictions in respect of specified substances which may be used in the manufacture of regenerated cellulose film (regulation 2(i), (j), (k) and (l)).
A copy of the Compliance Cost Assessment in relation to these Regulations has been placed in the libraries of both Houses of Parliament and copies can be obtained from the Chemical Safety of Food Division of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food at Ergon House, 17 Smith Square, London SW1P 3JR.