UK Food Regulations - Subject Listing

(compiled by Dr David Jukes) Note: Incomplete listing

• This page attempts to list the main food regulations presently in force in the UK and their amendments. Expert advice should however be sought before assuming the completeness or accuracy of the information given.
• The Regulations listed are those applying to England. Many of them also apply to Wales and Scotland. However, before the introduction of the Food Safety Act in 1990, separate Regulations were issued for Scotland - these are not listed here. Also, following devolution for Scotland and Wales in 1999, new and amending controls are being introduced using separate controls - only those relating to England are included in this listing.
• Many of the Regulations listed have also been amended by certain administrative Regulations (e.g. relating to penalties or enforcement bodies). These amendments have not been included.
• The list is by subject - find the required subject in the Index list and then click on the topic required to move directly to the relevant point on the page.
• The numbers in brackets after the name of a Regulation provide the reference number for the Statutory Instrument (S.I.) in which the Regulation was published. When the regulation is available on the official HMSO website, a link is provided.

Index

1. A—Z compositional requirements
   • Bread
   • Butter
   • Caseins and caseinates
   • Cocoa and Chocolate products
   • Coffee products
   • Fish (preserved)
     1. Sardines
     2. Tuna and bonito
   • Flour
   • Fortified foods (addition of nutrients)
   • Fruit juices and nectars
   • Honey
   • Jam (and similar products)
   • Margarine
   • Meat
     1. Specified bovine material
     2. Meat products and spreadable fish products
   • Milk
     1. Fresh liquid milk
     2. Condensed and dried milk
   • Olive oil
   • “Particular nutritional uses” (PARNUTS) Foods
     1. General
     2. Infant formula and follow-on formula
     3. Processed cereal based foods / Baby foods
     4. Medical foods
     5. Slimming food
     6. Supplements
     7. Additional substances
   • Poultry (frozen, water content)
   • Spirits
   • Spreadable fats
   • Sugar products
   • Water (Natural Mineral Water, etc)
   • Wine
2. Additives
   • Colours
   • Flavourings
   • Mineral hydrocarbons
   • Miscellaneous additives
   • Sweeteners
   • Tryptophan
   • Kava-kava
   • Purity criteria
3. Contaminants
   • General
   • Arsenic
   • Chloroform
   • Erucic acid
   • Hormonal substance and other residues in meat
   • Pesticides
   • Radioactive contamination
   • Tin
4. Processing and packaging
   • Frozen foods
   • Extraction solvents
   • Irradiation
   • Materials and articles in contact with food
     1. General
     2. Plastic
   • Novel foods and novel food ingredients
   • Genetically Modified Organisms/Food
5. Labelling
   • General labelling requirements
   • Claims (nutrition and health)
   • Milk and milk products
   • Lot marking
   • Food additives
   • Organic foods
   • Protected food names
   • Beef labelling
   • Fish Labelling
   • Unfair trading/Misleading marketing
6. Hygiene and health
   • General
   • Egg products
   • Poultry meat/game bird meat/rabbit meat
   • Collagen
   • Imports and exports of food (Animal and poultry products)
   • Disease control
   • Ships and aircraft
   • Perishable foods (international)
   • General product safety
   • Emergency controls
7. Weights and measures
   • Prescribed weights and quantities
   • Average weights
   • Units of Measurement
   • Weight and capacity marking
8. Administration, Enforcement, etc
   • General food controls
   • Official controls
   • Meat - offical control charges
   • Fishery products - charges
   • Residues - charges

1. A - Z compositional requirements

Bread

Regulation:

Amendments:

• 2005 No 2626 - Official Feed and Food Controls (England) Regulations 2005

Butter

See “Spreadable fats”

Caseins and caseinates

Regulation:

Amendments:

• 2005 No 2626 - Official Feed and Food Controls (England) Regulations 2005

Cocoa and chocolate products

Regulations:

• 2003 No 1659 - Cocoa and Chocolate Products (England) Regulations 2003

Amendments:

• 2005 No 2626 - Official Feed and Food Controls (England) Regulations 2005

Coffee products

Regulations:

• 2000 No 3323 - Coffee Extracts and Chicory Extracts (England) Regulations 2000

Amendments:

• 2005 No 2626 - Official Feed and Food Controls (England) Regulations 2005

Fish (preserved)

1. Sardines

   Regulations:

2. Tuna and bonito

   Regulations:
   

Flour

Regulation:

Amendments:

• 2005 No 2626 - Official Feed and Food Controls (England) Regulations 2005

Fortified foods (addition of nutrients)

Regulations:

• 2007 No 1631 - Addition of Vitamins, Minerals and Other Substances (England) Regulations 2007

Fruit juices and nectars

Regulation:

• 2003 No 1564 - Fruit Juices and Fruit Nectars (England) Regulations 2003

Amendments:

• 2005 No 2626 - Official Feed and Food Controls (England) Regulations 2005

Honey

Regulations:

• 2003 No 2243 - Honey (England) Regulations 2003

Amendments:

• 2005 No 920 - Honey (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2005
• 2005 No 2626 - Official Feed and Food Controls (England) Regulations 2005

Jam (and similar products)

Regulations:

• 2003 No 3120 - Jam and Similar Products (England) Regulations 2003

Amendments:

• 2005 No 2626 - Official Feed and Food Controls (England) Regulations 2005

Margarine

See “Spreadable fats”

Meat

1. Specified bovine material

   A complex set of controls apply in this area and no attempt has been made to list them. Users are recommended to consult an official government web site.

2. Meat products

   Regulations:

   • 2003 No 2075 - Meat Products (England) Regulations 2003

   Amendments:

   • 2005 No 2626 - Official Feed and Food Controls (England) Regulations 2005
   • 2008 No 517 - Meat Products (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2008

Milk

1. A Fresh liquid milk

   Regulations:

   • 2008 No 1317 - Drinking Milk (England) Regulations 2008
     
2. Condensed and dried milk

   Regulations:

   • 2003 No 1596 - Condensed Milk and Dried Milk (England) Regulations 2003

   Amendments:

   • 2004 No 2145 - Food Safety (Act of Accession concerning the Czech Republic and other States) (Consequential Amendments) (England) Regulations 2004
   • 2005 No 2626 - Official Feed and Food Controls (England) Regulations 2005
   • 2008 No 85 - Condensed Milk and Dried Milk (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2008

Olive oil

Regulation:

Amendments:

• 2004 No 2661 - Olive Oil (Marketing Standards) (Amendment) Regulations 2004
• 2006 No 3367 - Olive Oil (Marketing Standards) (Amendment) Regulations 2006

“Particular nutritional uses” (PARNUTS) foods

1. General

   Regulations:

   • 2007 No 181 - Notification of Marketing of Food for Particular Nutritional Uses (England) Regulations 2007
2. Infant formula and follow-on formula

   Regulations:

   • 2007 No 3521 - Infant Formula and Follow-on Formula (England) Regulations 2007

   Amendments:

   • 2008 No 2445 - Infant Formula and Follow-on Formula (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2008
3. Processed cereal based foods / Baby foods

   Regulations:

   • 2003 No 3207 - Processed Cereal-based Foods and Baby Foods for Infants and Young Children (England) Regulations 2003

   Amendments:

   • 2005 No 2626 - Official Feed and Food Controls (England) Regulations 2005
   • 2005 No 2630 - Tryptophan in Food (England) Regulations 2005
4. Medical foods

   Regulation:

   • 2000 No 845 - Medical Food (England) Regulations 2000

   Amendments:

   • 2004 No 2145 - Food Safety (Act of Accession concerning the Czech Republic and other States) (Consequential Amendments) (England) Regulations 2004
   • 2005 No 2626 - Official Feed and Food Controls (England) Regulations 2005
   • 2007 No 3521 - Infant Formula and Follow-on Formula (England) Regulations 2007
   • 2007 No 2591 - Food for Particular Nutritional Uses (Miscellaneous Amendments) (England) Regulations 2007
5. Weight reduction diets foods

   Regulation:

   Amendments:

   • 2005 No 2626 - Official Feed and Food Controls (England) Regulations 2005
   • 2007 No 2591 - Food for Particular Nutritional Uses (Miscellaneous Amendments) (England) Regulations 2007
6. Supplements

   Regulations:

   • 2003 No 1387 - Food Supplements (England) Regulations 2003

   Amendments:

   • 2005 No 2626 - Official Feed and Food Controls (England) Regulations 2005
   • 2007 No 330 - Food Supplements (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2007
7. Additional Substances

   Regulations:

   • 2002 No 1817 - Food for Particular Nutritional Uses (Addition of Substances for Specific Nutritional Purposes) (England) Regulations 2002

   Amendments:

   • 2004 No 649 - Food for Particular Nutritional Uses (Addition of Substances for Specific Nutritional Purposes) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2004
   • 2005 No 2626 - Official Feed and Food Controls (England) Regulations 2005
   • 2005 No 2630 - Tryptophan in Food (England) Regulations 2005
   • 2006 No 3116 - Food for Particular Nutritional Uses (Addition of Substances for Specific Nutritional Purposes) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2006
   • 2007 No 2591 - Food for Particular Nutritional Uses (Miscellaneous Amendments) (England) Regulations 2007

Poultry (frozen, water content)

Regulations:

Amendments:

Spirits

Regulations:

• 2008 No 3206 - Spirit Drinks Regulations 2008
  

Spreadable fats

Regulations:

• 2008 No 1287 - Spreadable Fats (Marketing Standards) and the Milk and Milk Products (Protection of Designations) (England) Regulations 2008

Sugar products

Regulations:

• 2003 No 1563 - Specified Sugar Products (England) Regulations 2003

Amendments:

• 2005 No 2626 - Official Feed and Food Controls (England) Regulations 2005

Water (Natural Mineral Water, etc)

Regulations:

• 2007 No 2785 - Natural Mineral Water, Spring Water and Bottled Drinking Water (England) Regulations 2007

Amendments:

• 2009 No 1598 - Natural Mineral Water, Spring Water and Bottled Drinking Water (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2009

Wine

Regulations

• 2009 No 386 - Wine Regulations 2009

2. Additives

Colours

Regulations:

• 2007 No 2266 - Food (Suspension of the Use of E128 Red 2G as Food Colour) (England) Regulations 2007

Amendments:

• 2000 No 481 - Colours in Food (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2000
• 2001 No 3442 - Colours in Food (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2001
• 2005 No 519 - Colours in Food (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2005
• 2005 No 2626 - Official Feed and Food Controls (England) Regulations 2005
• 2007 No 453 - Colours in Food (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2007

Flavourings

Regulations:

• 2005 No 464 - Smoke Flavourings (England) Regulations 2005

Amendment:

• 2005 No 2626 - Official Feed and Food Controls (England) Regulations 2005

Mineral hydrocarbons

Regulations:

Amendment:

• 2005 No 2626 - Official Feed and Food Controls (England) Regulations 2005

Miscellaneous Additives

Regulations:

Amendments:

• 2001 No 60 - Miscellaneous Food Additives (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2001
• 2002 No 3775 - Miscellaneous Food Additives (Amendment) (England) (No. 2) Regulations 2001
• 2003 No 1008 - Miscellaneous Food Additives (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2003
• 2003 No 3295 - Miscellaneous Food Additives (Amendment) (England) (No. 2) Regulations 2003
• 2004 No 2601 - Miscellaneous Food Additives (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2004
• 2005 No 1099 - Miscellaneous Food Additives (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2005
• 2005 No 2626 - Official Feed and Food Controls (England) Regulations 2005
• 2007 No 1778 - Miscellaneous Food Additives and the Sweeteners in Food (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2007
• 2008 No 42 - Miscellaneous Food Additives (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2008

Sweeteners

Regulations:

Amendments:

• 2001 No 2294 - Sweeteners in Food (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2001
• 2002 No 379 - Sweeteners in Food (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2002
• 2003 No 1182 - Sweeteners in Food (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2003
• 2004 No 3348 - Sweeteners in Food (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2004
• 2005 No 2626 - Official Feed and Food Controls (England) Regulations 2005
• 2007 No 1778 - Miscellaneous Food Additives and the Sweeteners in Food (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2007

Tryptophan

Regulations:

• 2005 No 2630 - Tryptophan in Food (England) Regulations 2005

Kava-kava

Regulations:

• 2002 No 3169 - Kava-kava in Food (England) Regulations 2002

Amendments:

• 2004 No 455 - Kava-kava in Food (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2004

Purity Criteria

Regulations:

• 2009 No 891 - Purity Criteria for Colours, Sweeteners and Miscellaneous Food Additives (England) Regulations 2009

3. Contaminants

General

(Note: This category covers those contaminants controlled by the “Commission Regulation (EC) No. 466/2001 setting maximum levels for certain contaminants in foodstuffs”. This includes: cadmium, dioxin, lead, mercury, mycotoxins (aflatoxin and ochratoxin A), and nitrates and nitrites in vegetables.)

EU Regulations - Directly applicable as UK Law

• See Contaminants - EU Regulations

UK Regulation:

• 2009 No 1223 - Contaminants in Food (England) Regulations 2009

Arsenic

Regulations:

Amendments:

• 2005 No 2626 - Official Feed and Food Controls (England) Regulations 2005

Chloroform

Regulations:

Amendments:

• 2005 No 2626 - Official Feed and Food Controls (England) Regulations 2005

Erucic acid

Regulations:

Amendment:

• 2005 No 2626 - Official Feed and Food Controls (England) Regulations 2005

Hormonal Substances and Other Veterinary Residues in Meat

Regulations:

Amendments:

• 2006 No 755 - Animals and Animal Products (Examination for Residues and Maximum Residue Limits) (Amendment) Regulations 2006
• 2009 No 1925 - Animals and Animal Products (Examination for Residues and Maximum Residue Limits) (Amendment) Regulations 2009

Pesticides

Regulations:

• 2008 No 2570 - Pesticides (Maximum Residue Levels) (England and Wales) Regulations 2008

Radioactive contamination

Regulations:

Amendments:

Tin

Regulation:

4. Processing and packaging

Frozen foods

Regulations:

• 2007 No 191 - Quick-frozen Foodstuffs (England) Regulations 2007

Extraction solvents

Regulations:

Amendment:

• 2005 No 2626 - Official Feed and Food Controls (England) Regulations 2005

Irradiation

Regulations:

• 2009 No 1584 - Food Irradiation (England) Regulations 2009

Materials and articles in contact with food

1. General

   Regulations:

   • 2007 No 2790 - Materials and Articles in Contact with Food (England) Regulations 2007
2. Plastic

   Regulations:

   • 2009 No 205 - Plastic Materials and Articles in Contact with Food (England) Regulations 2009
3. Ceramics

   Regulations

   • 2006 No 1179 - Ceramic Articles in Contact with Food (England) Regulations 2006

Novel foods and novel food ingredients

Regulations:

Amendmenst:

• 2004 No 2335 - Genetically Modified Food (England) Regulations 2004

Genetically Modified Organisms/Food

Regulations:

• 2004 No 2335 - Genetically Modified Food (England) Regulations 2004
• 2004 No 2411 - Genetically Modified Organisms (Deliberate Release) (Amendment) Regulations 2004
• 2004 No 2412 - Genetically Modified Organisms (Traceability and Labelling) (England) Regulations 2004
• 2004 No 2692 - Genetically Modified Organisms (Transboundary Movements) (England) Regulations 2004

Amendments:

• 2008 No 2598 - Genetically Modified Organisms (England) (Amendments) Regulations 2008

5. Labelling

General labelling requirements

Note: For more detailed information on food labelling, see: Food Labelling

Regulations:

Amendments:

• 2003 No 461 - Fish Labelling (England) Regulations 2003
• 2003 No 474 - Food Labelling (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2003
• 2003 No 2647 - Food (Provisions relating to Labelling) (England) Regulations 2003
• 2004 No 1512 - Food Labelling (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2004
• 2004 No 2145 - Food Safety (Act of Accession concerning the Czech Republic and other States) (Consequential Amendments) (England) Regulations 2004
• 2004 No 2335 - Genetically Modified Food (England) Regulations 2004
• 2004 No 2824 - Food Labelling (Amendment) (England) (No. 2) Regulations 2004
• 2005 No 899 - Food Labelling (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2005
• 2005 No 2057 - Food Labelling (Amendment) (England) (No. 2) Regulations 2005
• 2005 No 2626 - Official Feed and Food Controls (England) Regulations 2005
• 2005 No 2969 - Food Labelling (Amendment) (England) (No. 2) (Amendment) Regulations 2005
• 2008 No 1188 - Food Labelling (Declaration of Allergens) (England) Regulations 2008
• 2009 No 2538 - Food Labelling (Nutrition Information) (England) Regulations 2009

Claims (nutrition and health)

Regulations

• 2007 No 2080 - Nutrition and Health Claims (England) Regulations 2007

Milk and Milk Products

Regulations:

Amendment:

Lot Marking

Regulations:

Food Additives

Regulations:

Amendments:

• 2005 No 2626 - Official Feed and Food Controls (England) Regulations 2005

Organic Foods

Regulations:

• 2009 No 842 - Organic Products Regulations 2009

Amendments:

Protected Food Names

Regulations:

Beef and Veal Labelling

Regulations:

• 2008 No 3252 - Beef and Veal Labelling Regulations 2008

Fish Labelling

Regulations:

• 2003 No 461 - Fish Labelling (England) Regulations 2003

Amendments:

• 2006 No 506 - Fish Labelling (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2006

Unfair trading/Misleading marketing

Regulations:

• 2008 No 1277 - Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008
• 2008 No 1276 - Business Protection from Misleading Marketing Regulations 2008

6. Hygiene and health

Note: From 1 January 2006, hygiene controls are largely based upon EU Regulations rather than UK Statutory Instruments.

General

Regulations:

• 2006 No 14 - Food Hygiene (England) Regulations 2006

Amendments:

• 2007 No 56 - Food Hygiene (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2007

Egg products

Regulations:

• 2009 No 2163 - Eggs and Chicks (England) Regulations 2009

Poultry meat/game bird meat/rabbit meat

Regulations:

Amendments:

• 2005209 - Poultry Meat, Farmed Game Bird Meat and Rabbit Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2005

Collagen

Regulations:

• 2003 No 3003 - Collagen and Gelatine (Intra-Community Trade) (England) (No. 2) Regulations 2003
• 2005 No 404 - Production of Bovine Collagen Intended for Human Consumption in the United Kingdom (England) Regulations 2005

Imports and exports of food - Animal and poultry products

Regulations:

• 2006 No 2841 - Products of Animal Origin (Third Country Imports) (England) Regulations 2006
• 2006 No 1471 - Animals and Animal Products (Import and Export) (England) Regulations 2006

Amendments:

• 2006 No 2126 - Animals and Animal Products (Import and Export) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2006
• 2007 No 3 - Animals and Animal Products (Import and Export) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2007
• 2007 No 1605 - Products of Animal Origin (Third Country Imports) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2007
• 2008 No 3203 - Animals and Animal Products (Import and Export) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2008
• 2008 No 3230 - Products of Animal Origin (Third Country Imports) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2008
• 2009 No 875 - Products of Animal Origin (Third Country Imports) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2009

Disease Control

Regulations:

• 2008 No 465 - Products of Animal Origin (Disease Control) (England) Regulations 2008

Amendments:

• 2009 No 1297 - Products of Animal Origin (Disease Control) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2009
  

Ships and Aircraft

Regulations:

• 2003 No 1895 - Food Safety (Ships and Aircraft) (England and Scotland) Order 2003

Amendements:

• 2005 No 2059 - Food Hygiene (England) Regulations 2005

Perishable foods (international)

Regulations:

Amendments (relevant to food):

• 2000 No 3196 - International Carriage of Perishable Foodstuffs (Amendment) Regulations 2000
• 2003 No 1693 - International Carriage of Perishable Foodstuffs (Amendment) Regulations 2003

General product safety

Regulations:

• 2000 No 2771 - Consumer Protection Act 1987 (Product Liability) (Modification) Order 2000

Emergency controls

Regulations

• 2002 No 931 - Food (Jelly Confectionery) (Emergency Control) (England) Regulations 2002
• 2002 No 1614 - Food and Animal Feedingstuffs (Products of Animal Origin from China) (Emergency Control) (England) Regulations 2002
• 2002 No 2350 - The Food (Peanuts from China) (Emergency Control) (England) (No. 2) Regulations 2002
• 2002 No 2351 - Food (Figs, Hazelnuts and Pistachios from Turkey) (Emergency Control) (England) (No. 2) Regulations 2002
• 2003 No 1722 - Food (Brazil Nuts) (Emergency Control) (England) Regulations 2003
• 2003 No 1956 - Food (Pistachios from Iran) (Emergency Control) (England) Regulations 2003
• 2003 No 2074 - Food (Peanuts from Egypt) (Emergency Control) (England) Regulations 2003
• 2005 No 1265 - Feed (Corn Gluten Feed and Brewers Grains) (Emergency Control) (England) Regulations 2005
• 2005 No 1442 - Food (Chilli, Chilli Products, Curcuma and Palm Oil) (Emergency Control) (England) Regulations 2005
• 2008 No 622 - Rice Products from the United States of America (Restriction on First Placing on the Market) (England) Regulations 2008
• 2008 No 1079 - Specified Products from China (Restriction on First Placing on the Market) (England) Regulations 2008

Amendments:

• 2003 No 1957 - Food (Figs, Hazelnuts and Pistachios from Turkey) (Emergency Control) (England) (No. 2) (Amendment) Regulations 2003
• 2003 No 1958 - Food (Peanuts from China) (Emergency Control) (England) (No. 2) (Amendment) Regulations 2003
• 2003 No 2988 - Food (Brazil Nuts) (Emergency Control) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2003
• 2004 No 1151 - Food (Jelly Confectionery) (Emergency Control) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2004
• 2004 No 1265 - Food (Emergency Control) (England) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2004
• 2005 No 208 - Food (Pistachios from Iran) (Emergency Control) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2005
  

7. Weights and measures

Prescribed weights and quantities

Regulations:

• 2009 No 663 - Weights and Measures (Specified Quantities) (Pre-packed Products) Regulations 2009

Average weights

Regulations:

• 2006 No 659 - Weights and Measures (Packaged Goods) Regulations 2006

Units of Measurement

Regulations:

Amendments:

Weight and capacity marking

Regulations:

Amendments:

8. Administration, Enforcement, etc

General Food Controls

Regulations

• 2004 No 2990 - Food Safety Act 1990 (Amendment) Regulations 2004
• 2004 No 3279 - General Food Regulations 2004

Amendments:

• 2005 No 2626 - Official Feed and Food Controls (England) Regulations 2005

Official controls

Regulations

• 2006 No 3472 - Official Controls (Animals, Feed and Food) (England) Regulations 2006
• 2007 No 3185 - Official Feed and Food Controls (England) Regulations 2007

Meat - offical control charges

Regulations:

• 2009 No 1574 - Meat (Official Controls Charges) (England) Regulations 2009

Fishery products - charges

Regulations:

• 2007 No 3392 - Fishery Products (Official Controls Charges) (England) Regulations 2007

Residues - Charges

Regulations:

• 2006 No 2285 - Charges for Residues Surveillance Regulations 2006

Amendments:

• 2007 No 2439 - Charges for Residues Surveillance (Amendment) Regulations 2007
• 2008 No 2999 - Charges for Residues Surveillance (Amendment) Regulations 2008

This page was first provided on 22 July 2007