Explanatory note

These Regulations, which apply to England and Wales only, further amend the Milk (Special Designation) Regulations 1989 by deleting provisions permitting a “sell by” date and introducing provisions requiring a “use by” date in labelling conditions for milk which is microbiologically highly perishable. New offences are introduced for selling milk bearing an expired “use by” date and for anyone other than the person originally responsible for applying the date mark to change it.

These Regulations come into force on 1st January 1991 but there is a transitional provision permitting the continuation of the observance of previous labelling conditions on durability until the end of June 1991.

The Regulations implement provisions of Council Directive No. 79/112/EEC (OJ No. L33, 8.2.79 p.1) on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the labelling, presentation and advertising of foodstuffs as added or varied by Council Directive No. 89/395/EEC (OJ No. L186, 30.6.89, p.17), insofar as they relate to whole milk.