Made | 30th November 2005 | ||
Laid before the Scottish Parliament | 1st December 2005 | ||
Coming into force | 1st January 2006 |
1. | Citation, commencement and extent |
2. | Interpretation |
3. | Appointment of authorised officers |
4. | Competent authorities |
5. | Exchanging and providing information |
6. | Obtaining information |
7. | Power to issue codes of recommended practice |
8. | Monitoring of enforcement action |
9. | Power to request information relating to enforcement action |
10. | Power of entry for persons monitoring enforcement action |
11. | Meaning of "enforcement authority" and related expressions |
12. | Offences relating to regulations 9 and 10 |
13. | Right of appeal |
14. | Appeal to Court of Session against dismissal of appeal under regulation 13(1) |
15. | Staff of competent authority of another member State |
16. | Commission experts |
17. | Prohibition on disclosure of trade secrets |
18. | Execution and enforcement |
19. | Powers of entry |
20. | Obstruction etc. of officers |
21. | Penalties |
22. | Time limit for commencement of prosecutions |
23. | Interpretation of this Part of these Regulations |
24. | Feed enforcement responsibilities |
25. | Food enforcement responsibilities |
26. | Deferred execution and enforcement |
27. | Prohibition on introduction of certain feed and food |
28. | Checks on products |
29. | Detention, destruction, special treatment, re–dispatch and other appropriate measures and costs |
30. | Notices pursuant to Article 19 of Regulation 882/2004 (imports of feed and food from third countries) |
31. | Right of appeal in respect of notices served under regulation 30 |
32. | Appeal to Court of Session against dismissal of appeal under regulation 31 |
33. | Serious risk to animal or public health |
34. | Liability for charges |
35. | Procurement by authorised officers of samples with regard to food |
36. | Analysis etc. of samples |
37. | Powers of entry of authorised officers of a food authority |
38. | Obstruction etc. of officers (imports) |
39. | Offences and penalties |
40. | Time limit for commencement of prosecutions (imports) |
41. | Amendment of the General Food Regulations 2004 |
42. | Offences due to fault of another person |
43. | Defence of due diligence |
44. | Offences by bodies corporate |
45. | Offences by Scottish partnerships |
46. | Protection of officers acting in good faith |
47. | Service of documents |
48. | Consequential amendment |
49. | Revocations |
SCHEDULE 1 — | DEFINITIONS OF COMMUNITY LEGISLATION |
SCHEDULE 2 — | DEFINITION OF REVELANT FEED LAW |
SCHEDULE 3 — | DEFINITION OF REVELANT FOOD LAW |
SCHEDULE 4 — | COMPETENT AUTHORITIES FOR THE PURPOSES OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF REGULATION 882/2004 IN SO FAR AS THEY APPLY IN RELATION TO REVELANT FEED LAW |
SCHEDULE 5 — | COMPETENT AUTHORITIES FOR THE PURPOSES OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF REGULATION 882/2004 IN SO FAR AS THEY APPLY IN RELATION TO REVELANT FOOD LAW |
SCHEDULE 6 — | REVOCATIONS |
Interpretation
2.
—(1) In these Regulations–
(2) Subject to paragraph (3), any expression other than–
(3) Subject to paragraph (1) and, for the purposes of Part 3 of these Regulations to regulation 23, and unless the contrary intention appears, any expression used both in these Regulations and in Regulation 178/2002 or Regulation 882/2004 has the meaning it bears in Regulation 178/2002 or Regulation 882/2004 as the case may be.
Appointment of authorised officers
3.
—(1) Competent authorities may in writing appoint as authorised officers, either generally or specially, such persons (whether or not officers of those bodies) as they consider necessary to act in matters arising under the Official Control Regulations.
(2) Relevant enforcement authorities may in writing appoint as authorised officers, either generally or specially, such persons (whether or not officers of those bodies) as they consider necessary to act in matters arising under Part 2 of these Regulations.
(2) The competent authority may copy any records made available to it under paragraph (1)(b).
(3) A person who–
is guilty of an offence.
(4) For the purposes of paragraph (1), the term "control body" includes any member, officer or employee of a control body.
Power to issue codes of recommended practice
7.
—(1) For the guidance of feed authorities and food authorities, the Scottish Ministers may issue codes of recommended practice as regards–
and any such code shall be laid before the Scottish Parliament after being issued.
(2) The Agency may, after consulting the Scottish Ministers, give a feed authority or a food authority a direction requiring it to take any specified steps in order to comply with a code issued under this regulation.
(3) In exercise of the functions conferred on it as a competent authority by or under Regulation 882/2004, and in executing and enforcing Part 3 of these Regulations, every feed authority and food authority–
(4) Any direction under paragraph (2) shall, on the application of the Agency, be enforceable by an order of the Court of Session under section 45 of the Court of Session Act 1988[7].
(5) The Agency shall consult the Scottish Ministers before making an application under paragraph (4).
(6) Before issuing any code under this regulation, the Scottish Ministers shall have regard to any relevant advice given by the Agency.
Monitoring of enforcement action
8.
—(1) The Agency has the function of monitoring the performance of enforcement authorities in enforcing relevant audit legislation.
(2) That function includes, in particular, setting standards of performance (whether for enforcement authorities generally or for particular authorities) in relation to the enforcement of any relevant audit legislation.
(3) Each annual report of the Agency shall contain a report on its activities during the year in enforcing any relevant audit legislation for which it is the enforcement authority and its performance in respect of–
(4) The Agency may make a report to any other enforcement authority on their performance in enforcing any relevant audit legislation and such a report may include guidance as to action which the Agency considers would improve that performance.
(5) The Agency may direct an authority to which such a report has been made–
(6) Section 19 of the Food Standards Act 1999 shall apply in relation to information obtained through monitoring under this regulation as if it were information obtained through monitoring under section 12 of that Act.
Power to request information relating to enforcement action
9.
—(1) For the purpose of carrying out its function under regulation 8 in relation to any enforcement authority the Agency may require a person mentioned in paragraph (2)–
(2) A requirement under paragraph (1) may be imposed on–
(3) The Agency may copy any records made available to it in pursuance of a requirement under paragraph (1)(b).
Power of entry for persons monitoring enforcement action
10.
—(1) The Agency may authorise any individual (whether a member of its staff or otherwise) to exercise the powers specified in paragraph (4) for the purpose of carrying out its function under regulation 8 in relation to any enforcement authority.
(2) No authorisation under this regulation shall be issued except in pursuance of a decision taken by the Agency itself or by a committee, sub committee or member of the Agency acting on behalf of the Agency.
(3) An authorisation under this regulation shall be in writing and may be given subject to any limitations or conditions specified in the authorisation (including conditions relating to hygienic precautions to be taken while exercising powers in pursuance of the authorisation).
(4) An authorised person may–
(5) The premises which may be entered by an authorised person are–
(6) An authorised person entering premises by virtue of the power of entry conferred by this regulation may be accompanied by any other person the authorised person may consider appropriate.
(7) An authorised person shall on request–
(8) If a person who enters any premises by virtue of this regulation discloses to any person any information obtained on the premises with regard to any trade secret the person making the disclosure is, unless the disclosure is made in the performance of that person's duty, guilty of an offence.
(9) Where the Agency is the enforcement authority in relation to relevant audit legislation this regulation applies in relation to the Agency in respect of its performance in enforcing those provisions, with the omission of paragraph (5)(a).
(10) In this regulation "authorised person" means a person authorised under this regulation.
Meaning of "enforcement authority" and related expressions
11.
—(1) In regulations 8 to 10 "relevant audit legislation" means relevant feed law and relevant food law in respect of which the Agency is designated as a competent authority under regulation 4(1) or (3) but does not include "relevant legislation" as defined in section 15 of the Food Standards Act 1999.
(2) In regulations 8 to 10 "enforcement authority" means the authority by whom relevant audit legislation is to be enforced and includes the Agency itself, if by virtue of that legislation it is the enforcement authority in relation to it, but does not include the European Commission; and "enforcement" in relation to relevant audit legislation includes the execution of any provisions of that legislation.
(3) Any reference in regulations 8 to 10 (however expressed) to the performance of an enforcement authority in enforcing any relevant audit legislation includes a reference to the capacity of that authority to enforce it.
Offences relating to regulations 9 and 10
12.
A person who–
is guilty of an offence.
Right of appeal
13.
—(1) Any person who is aggrieved by a decision of the competent authority taken in respect of an establishment subject to approval under Article 4(2) of Regulation 853/2004 pursuant to–
may appeal to the sheriff.
(2) An appeal to the sheriff under paragraph (1) shall be by way of summary application.
(3) The period within which an appeal under paragraph (1) may be brought shall be 1 month from the date on which notice of the decision was served on the person desiring to appeal.
(4) Where on an appeal under paragraph (1) the sheriff determines that the decision of the competent authority is incorrect, the authority shall give effect to that determination.
(5) Where an approval is withdrawn, the food business operator who, immediately before such withdrawal, had been using the establishment concerned may continue to use it, subject to any conditions imposed by the competent authority for the protection of public health, unless–
(6) Nothing in paragraph (5) shall permit an establishment to be used for a food business if–
(7) In this Regulation each of the terms "hygiene prohibition order", "hygiene emergency prohibition notice", "hygiene emergency prohibition order" and "remedial action notice" has the same meaning as it has in the Food Hygiene (Scotland) Regulations 2005.
Appeal to Court of Session against dismissal of appeal under regulation 13(1)
14.
A person who is aggrieved by the sheriff's dismissal of an appeal under regulation 13(1) may appeal to the Court of Session.
Staff of competent authority of another member State
15.
An authorised officer of a competent authority may be accompanied by the staff of the competent authority of another member State for the purpose of conducting an administrative enquiry under Article 36 of Regulation 882/2004.
Commission experts
16.
—(1) When an enforcing officer enters premises for the purposes of executing and enforcing official controls that officer may be accompanied by a Commission expert to enable that expert to carry out functions under Article 45 of Regulation 882/2004.
(2) In this regulation "enforcing officer" means an authorised officer of any authority which is responsible for executing and enforcing official controls for the verification of compliance with relevant feed law or relevant food law.
Prohibition on disclosure of trade secrets
17.
If a person enters any premises by virtue of regulation 15 or 16 and discloses to any person any information obtained on the premises with regard to any trade secret the person making the disclosure is, unless the disclosure is made in the performance of that person's duty, guilty of an offence.
Execution and enforcement
18.
—(1) The authority responsible for executing and enforcing regulation 6(3) shall be the competent authority that imposed the requirement on the control body concerned under regulation 6(1).
(2) The authority responsible for executing and enforcing regulations 10(8) and 12 shall be the Agency.
(3) The authority responsible for executing and enforcing regulation 17 shall be the authority whose officer took the person who made the disclosure on to the premises concerned.
(4) The authority responsible for executing and enforcing regulation 19(8) shall be the authority exercising powers of entry under or in accordance with that regulation.
(5) The authority responsible for executing and enforcing regulation 20 shall be the authority who appointed the officer acting under regulation 15, 16 or 19 respectively.
Powers of entry
19.
—(1) An authorised officer of a relevant enforcement authority other than the Agency shall, on producing, if so required, some duly authenticated document showing that officer's authority, have a right at all reasonable hours–
but admission to any premises used only as a private dwelling–house shall not be demanded as of right unless 24 hours' notice of the intended entry has been given to the occupier.
(2) An authorised officer of the Agency shall, on producing if so required some duly authenticated document showing that officer's authority, have a right at all reasonable hours to enter any premises for the purpose of–
but admission to any premises used only as a private dwelling–house shall not be demanded as of right unless 24 hours' notice of the intended entry has been given to the occupier.
(3) If a sheriff, a magistrate or a justice of the peace, on sworn information in writing, is satisfied that there is reasonable ground for entry onto any premises for any such purpose as is mentioned in paragraph (1) or (2) and either–
the sheriff, magistrate or justice may by signed warrant authorise the authorised officer to enter the premises, if need be by reasonable force.
(4) Every warrant granted under this regulation shall continue in force for a period of 1 month.
(5) An authorised officer entering any premises by virtue of this regulation, or of a warrant issued under it, may be accompanied by such other persons as the officer considers necessary, and on leaving any unoccupied premises which that officer has entered by virtue of such a warrant shall leave them as effectively secured against unauthorised entry as they were found.
(6) An authorised officer entering premises by virtue of this regulation, or of a warrant issued under it, may inspect any records (in whatever form they are held) and, where any such records are stored in any electronic form–
(7) Any officer exercising any power conferred by paragraph (6) may–
(8) If any person who enters any premises by virtue of this regulation, or of a warrant issued under it, discloses to any person any information obtained on the premises with regard to any trade secret, that person is, unless the disclosure is made in the performance of that person's duty, guilty of an offence.
(9) Nothing in this regulation authorises any person, except with the permission of the local authority under the Animal Health Act 1981[9], to enter any premises–
Obstruction etc. of officers
20.
—(1) Any person who–
is guilty of an offence.
(2) Any person who, in purported compliance with any such requirement as is mentioned in paragraph (1)(b)–
is guilty of an offence.
(3) Nothing in paragraph (1)(b) shall be construed as requiring any person to answer any question or give any information if to do so might incriminate that person.
Penalties
21.
—(1) A person guilty of an offence under regulation 19(8) is liable–
(2) A person guilty of an offence under regulation 6(3), 10(8), 12 or 17 is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.
(3) A person guilty of an offence under regulation 20 is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months or to both.
Time limit for commencement of prosecutions
22.
—(1) No prosecution for an offence under this Part of these Regulations which is punishable under regulation 21(1) shall be begun after the expiry of–
whichever is the earlier.
(2) For the purposes of this regulation, a certificate signed by or on behalf of the prosecutor and stating the date on which evidence sufficient in the prosecutor's opinion to warrant the proceedings came to the knowledge of the prosecutor, shall be conclusive evidence of that fact.
(3) A certificate stating that matter and purporting to be so signed shall be deemed to be so signed unless the contrary is proved.
(b) any premixture within the meaning given in Article 2(2)(e) of Regulation 1831/2003 consisting solely of a combination of such additives;
Feed enforcement responsibilities
24.
—(1) Each feed authority shall execute and enforce the Import Provisions in its area in relation to feed.
(2) Feed authorities may in writing appoint as authorised officers, either generally or specially, such persons (whether or not officers of the feed authority concerned) as they consider necessary to act in matters arising under the Import Provisions in relation to feed.
Food enforcement responsibilities
25.
—(1) Each food authority shall execute and enforce the Import Provisions in its area in relation to food.
(2) Food authorities may in writing appoint as authorised officers, either generally or specially, such persons (whether or not officers of the food authority concerned) as they consider necessary to act in matters arising under the Import Provisions in relation to food.
Deferred execution and enforcement
26.
—(1) Where–
(d) the person importing the product gives that authorised officer an undertaking in writing as to the matters specified in paragraph (2),
the enforcement authority for the place in which the destination is located, if in Scotland, shall become responsible for enforcing and executing the Import Provisions with respect to that product once it arrives there.
(2) The undertaking shall–
(3) Where an authorised officer of an enforcement authority issues an authorisation pursuant to paragraph (1)(c), that officer shall–
(b) send the relevant authority a copy of any undertaking given pursuant to paragraph (1)(d).
(4) Where the product has been sent to a destination in Scotland from another part of the British Islands and examination of that product has been deferred under legislation with respect to imported products in force there, the enforcement authority for the place of destination shall become responsible for enforcing and executing the Import Provisions with respect to that product once it arrives in Scotland.
(5) No person shall breach an undertaking given under paragraph (1)(d).
Prohibition on introduction of certain feed and food
27.
—(1) No person shall–
(2) No person shall–
(b) introduce into Scotland from elsewhere in the relevant territories specified food originating in a third country which fails to comply with–
(3) In this regulation–
Checks on products
28.
—(1) The person responsible for introducing any product into Scotland shall permit an authorised officer of an enforcement authority to carry out checks in relation to the product pursuant to Article 16 of Regulation 882/2004.
(2) When an authorised officer is carrying out checks in relation to a product pursuant to Article 16 of Regulation 882/2004, the person introducing the product shall provide the facilities and assistance which the authorised officer reasonably requires to carry them out.
(3) When an authorised officer of an enforcement authority is carrying out an identity check or a physical check on a product in accordance with Article 16 of Regulation 882/2004 that officer shall be entitled to require that the check takes place at a specified place.
Detention, destruction, special treatment, re–dispatch and other appropriate measures and costs
29.
—(1) An enforcement authority shall have the power to do anything that a competent authority may do under Articles 18 to 21 and 24(3) of Regulation 882/2004 if the conditions set out in those Articles are fulfilled.
(2) The enforcement authority shall be the competent authority for the purposes of Article 22 of Regulation 882/2004.
Notices pursuant to Article 19 of Regulation 882/2004 (imports of feed and food from third countries)
30.
—(1) If an authorised officer of an enforcement authority wishes to take any of the measures referred to in Article 19(1)(a) and (b) of Regulation 882/2004 in respect of feed or food the officer shall serve a notice to that effect on the feed or food business operator, as the case may be, responsible for it after that feed or food business operator has been heard as provided in Article 19.
(2) If an authorised officer of an enforcement authority wishes to exercise any of the powers referred to in Article 19(2) of Regulation 882/2004 in respect of feed or food the officer shall serve a notice to that effect on the feed or food business operator, as the case may be, responsible for it.
Right of appeal in respect of notices served under regulation 30
31.
—(1) Any person who is aggrieved by a decision of an authorised officer of an enforcement authority to serve a notice under regulation 30 may appeal to the sheriff.
(2) An appeal to the sheriff under paragraph (1) shall be by way of summary application.
(3) The period within which an appeal under paragraph (1) may be brought shall be 1 month from the date on which the notice was served on the person desiring to appeal.
(4) Where on an appeal under paragraph (1) the sheriff determines that the decision of the authorised officer of the enforcement authority is incorrect, the authority shall give effect to that determination.
Appeal to Court of Session against dismissal of appeal under regulation 31
32.
A person who is aggrieved by the sheriff's dismissal of an appeal under regulation 31(1) may appeal to the Court of Session.
Serious risk to animal or public health
33.
—(1) Where the Scottish Ministers or the Agency learns, or has reasonable grounds to suspect, that food or feed that has been or may be introduced into Scotland from a third country is likely to constitute a serious risk to animal or public health, the Scottish Ministers or the Agency, as the case may be, may by written declaration suspend, or impose conditions on, the introduction into Scotland of any product from the whole or any part of that third country.
(2) Such a declaration shall be published in such manner as the Scottish Ministers or the Agency, as the case may be, thinks fit and shall specify the product and the third country or part thereof concerned.
(3) A declaration which imposes conditions on the introduction of any product from a third country or part thereof shall specify those conditions.
(4) Where a declaration is in force suspending the introduction of any product, no person shall introduce that product into Scotland if it originates in the third country or part thereof specified in the declaration.
(5) Where a declaration is in force imposing conditions on the introduction of any product, no person shall introduce that product into Scotland if it originates in the third country or part thereof specified in the declaration unless the product complies with the conditions specified in the declaration.
(6) A declaration may be modified, suspended or revoked by a further written declaration published, so far as is practicable, in the same manner and to the same extent as the original declaration.
Liability for charges
34.
—(1) The enforcement authority shall notify the person responsible for a consignment of the charge falling to be paid for the controls carried out on it by the authority.
(2) Any charge notified to a person by the enforcement authority under paragraph (1) shall be payable by that person to the enforcement authority on demand.
(3) The charge referred to in paragraph (1) is the aggregate of the costs incurred in relation to the consignment by the enforcement authority acting as the competent authority for the purposes of Article 22 of Regulation 882/2004 by virtue of regulation 29(2).
Procurement by authorised officers of samples with regard to food
35.
An authorised officer of a food authority may, for the purposes of the execution and enforcement by that authority of the Import Provisions–
(c) take a sample from any food source, or a sample of any contact material, which is found by the officer on or in any such premises; and
(d) take a sample of any article or substance which is found on or in any such premises and which the officer has reason to believe may be required as evidence in proceedings under any of the provisions of the Import Provisions.
Analysis etc. of samples
36.
—(1) An authorised officer of a food authority who has procured a sample under regulation 35 shall–
(2) A person, other than such an officer, who has purchased any food, or any substance capable of being used in the preparation of food, may submit a sample of it–
(3) If, in any case where a sample is proposed to be submitted for analysis under this regulation, the office of public analyst for the area in question is vacant, the sample shall be submitted to the public analyst for some other area.
(4) If, in any case where a sample is proposed to be or is submitted for analysis or examination under this regulation, the food analyst or examiner is for any reason unable to perform the analysis or examination, the sample shall be submitted or, as the case may be, sent by the food analyst or examiner to such other food analyst or examiner as that person may determine.
(5) A food analyst or examiner shall analyse or examine as soon as practicable any sample submitted or sent to that food analyst or examiner under this regulation, but may, except where–
demand in advance the payment of such reasonable fee as the food analyst or examiner may require.
(6) Any food analyst or examiner who has analysed or examined a sample shall give to the person by whom it was submitted a certificate specifying the result of the analysis or examination.
(7) Any certificate given by a food analyst or examiner under paragraph (6) shall be signed by the food analyst or examiner, but the analysis or examination may be made by any person acting under the direction of the food analyst or examiner.
(8) In any proceedings under the Import Provisions, the production by one of the parties–
shall be sufficient evidence of the facts stated in it unless, in a case falling within sub paragraph (a), the other party requires that the food analyst or examiner shall be called as a witness.
(9) Any reference in this regulation to a public analyst for a given area shall, where 2 or more public analysts have been appointed for that area, be construed as a reference to either or any of them.
(10) The Food Safety (Sampling and Qualifications) Regulations 1990[11] shall apply in relation to a sample procured by an authorised officer of a food authority under regulation 35 as if it were a sample procured by an authorised officer under section 29 of the Act.
(11) The certificate given by a food analyst or examiner under paragraph (6) shall be in the form set out in Schedule 3 to the Food Safety (Sampling and Qualifications) Regulations 1990.
Powers of entry of authorised officers of a food authority
37.
—(1) An authorised officer of a food authority shall, on producing if so required, some duly authenticated document showing the officer's authority, have a right at all reasonable hours–
but admission to any premises used only as a private dwelling–house shall not be demanded as of right unless 24 hours' notice of the intended entry has been given to the occupier.
(2) If a sheriff, a magistrate or a justice of the peace on sworn information in writing, is satisfied that there is reasonable ground for entry onto any premises for any such purpose as is mentioned in paragraph (1) and either–
the sheriff, magistrate or justice may by signed warrant authorise the authorised officer to enter the premises, if need be by reasonable force.
(3) Every warrant granted under this regulation shall continue in force for a period of 1 month.
(4) An authorised officer entering any premises by virtue of this regulation, or of a warrant issued under it, may be accompanied by such other persons as the officer considers necessary, and on leaving any unoccupied premises which the officer has entered by virtue of such a warrant shall leave them as effectively secured against unauthorised entry as they were found.
(5) An authorised officer entering premises by virtue of this regulation, or of a warrant issued under it, may inspect any records (in whatever form they are held) relating to a food business and, where any such records are stored in any electronic form–
(6) Any officer exercising any power conferred by paragraph (5) may–
(7) If any person who enters any premises by virtue of this regulation, or of a warrant issued under it, discloses to any person any information obtained on the premises with regard to any trade secret, that person is, unless the disclosure was made in the performance of that person's duty, guilty of an offence.
(8) Nothing in this regulation authorises any person, except with the permission of the local authority under the Animal Health Act 1981[12], to enter any premises–
Obstruction etc. of officers (imports)
38.
—(1) Any person who–
is guilty of an offence.
(2) Any person who, in purported compliance with any such requirement as is mentioned in paragraph (1)(b)–
is guilty of an offence.
(3) Nothing in paragraph (1)(b) shall be construed as requiring any person to answer any question or give any information if to do so might incriminate that person.
Offences and penalties
39.
—(1) Any person who–
is guilty of an offence.
(2) Subject to paragraph (3), a person guilty of an offence under this Part of these Regulations is liable–
(3) A person guilty of an offence under regulation 38 shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months or to both.
Time limit for commencement of prosecutions (imports)
40.
—(1) No prosecution for an offence under this Part of these Regulations which is punishable under regulation 39(2) shall be begun after the expiry of–
whichever is the earlier.
(2) For the purposes of this regulation, a certificate signed by or on behalf of the prosecutor, and stating the date on which evidence sufficient in the prosecutor's opinion to warrant the proceedings came to the knowledge of the prosecutor, shall be conclusive evidence of that fact.
(3) A certificate stating that matter and purporting to be so signed shall be deemed to be so signed unless the contrary is proved.
(3) For regulation 5(2)(a) (punishment of offences) substitute–
(4) For regulation 6(1) (enforcement) substitute–
(5) After regulation 6 (enforcement) insert–
the accused has served on the prosecutor a notice in writing giving such information identifying or assisting in the identification of that other person as was in the accused's possession.
Offences by bodies corporate
44.
—(1) Where an offence under these Regulations which has been committed by a body corporate is proved to have been committed with the consent or connivance of, or to be attributable to any neglect on the part of–
that person as well as the body corporate is to be deemed to be guilty of that offence and is liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.
(2) In paragraph (1)(a) "director", in relation to any body corporate established by or under any enactment for the purpose of carrying on under national ownership any industry or part of an industry or undertaking, being a body corporate whose affairs are managed by its members, means a member of that body corporate.
Offences by Scottish partnerships
45.
Where an offence under these Regulations which has been committed by a Scottish partnership is proved to have been committed with the consent or connivance of, or to be attributable to any neglect on the part of, a partner, that partner as well as the partnership is to be deemed to be guilty of that offence and liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.
Protection of officers acting in good faith
46.
—(1) An officer of a competent authority, a relevant enforcement authority or an enforcement authority within the meaning of regulation 23, is not personally liable in respect of any act done by that officer–
if the officer did that act in the honest belief that the officer's duties under the Official Controls Regulations required or entitled it to be done.
(2) Nothing in paragraph (1) shall be construed as relieving any such authority of any liability in respect of the acts of its officers.
(3) Where an action has been brought against an officer in respect of an act done by that officer outside the scope of the officer's duties referred to in paragraph (1)(a) above, the authority concerned may indemnify the officer against the whole or a part of any damages which the officer has been ordered to pay or any costs which the officer may have incurred if it is satisfied that the officer honestly believed that the act complained of was within the scope of the officer's duties.
(4) A public analyst appointed by a food authority shall be treated for the purposes of this regulation as being an officer of that authority, whether or not that analyst's appointment is a whole–time one.
Service of documents
47.
—(1) Any document which is required or authorised under these Regulations to be served on a person may be served–
(2) Where a document is to be served on the occupier of any premises under these Regulations and it is not reasonably practicable to ascertain the name and address of the person on whom it should be served, or the premises are unoccupied, the document may be served by addressing it to the person concerned in the capacity of "occupier" of the premises (naming them), and–
Consequential amendment
48.
—(1) The Feed (Hygiene and Enforcement) (Scotland) Regulations 2005[14] are amended as provided in paragraph (2).
(2) In Schedule 1 (specified feed law) after the entry for "The Feed (Hygiene and Enforcement) (Scotland) Regulations 2005" insert the entry "The Official Feed and Food Controls (Scotland) Regulations 2005[15]".
Revocations
49.
The instruments specified in Column 1 of Schedule 6 are revoked to the extent specified in Column 3 of that Schedule.
LEWIS MACDONALD
Authorised to sign by the Scottish Ministers
St Andrew's House, Edinburgh
30th November 2005
but excluding the Act and Regulations listed above in so far as they may apply to–
(b) any premixture within the meaning given in Article 2(2)(e) of Regulation 1831/2003 consisting solely of a combination of such additives.
(b) food law in so far as it applies in relation to materials and articles in contact with food except in so far as it involves the regulation of food contact materials under the Ceramic Ware (Safety) Regulations 1988[41]; and
(c) food law in so far as it involves the regulation of primary production and those associated operations listed in paragraph 1 of Part AI of Annex I to Regulation 852/2004 under the Food Hygiene (Scotland) Regulations 2005.
Column 1 | Column 2 |
Competent authority | Provisions of Regulation 882/2004 |
The Agency | Articles 3(6), 4(2) to (6), 5(1) to (3), 6, 7, 8(1) and (3), 9, 10, 11(1) to (3) and (5) to (7), 12, 19(1), (2) and (3), 24, 31(1) and (2)(f), 34, 35(3) and (4), 36, 37(1), 38, 39, 40(2) and (4), 52(1) and 54. |
The feed authority | Articles 3(6), 4(2) to (6), 5(1) to (3), 6, 7, 8(1) and (3), 9, 10, 11(1) to (3) and (5) to (7), 15(1) to (4), 16(1) and (2), 18, 19(1) and (2), 20, 21, 22, 24, 31, 34, 35(3), 36, 37(1), 38, 39, 40(2) and (4) and 54. |
Column 1 | Column 2 |
Competent authority | Provisions of Regulation 882/2004 |
The Agency | Articles 3(6), 4(2) to (6), 5(1) to (3), 6, 7, 8(1) and (3), 9, 10, 11(1) to (3) and (5) to (7), 12, 14, 19(1), (2) and (3), 24, 31, 34, 35(3) and (4), 36, 37(1), 38, 39, 40(2) and (4), 52(1) and 54. |
The food authority | Articles 3(6), 4(2) to (6), 5(1) to (3), 6, 7, 8(1) and (3), 9, 10, 11(1) to (3) and (5) to (7), 15(1) to (4), 16(1) and (2), 18, 19(1) and (2), 20, 21, 22, 24, 31, 34, 35(3), 36, 37(1), 38, 39, 40(2) and (4) and 54. |
Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
Instruments | Reference | Extent of revocation |
The Mineral Hydrocarbons in Food (Scotland) Regulations 1966 | S.I. 1966/1263 | Regulation 10 |
The Erucic Acid in Food (Scotland) Regulations 1977 | S.I. 1977/1028 | Regulation 9 |
The Chloroform in Food (Scotland) Regulations 1980 | S.I. 1980/289 | Regulation 9 |
The Imported Food (Scotland) Regulations 1985 | S.I. 1985/913 | The whole Regulations |
The Caseins and Caseinates (Scotland) Regulations 1986 | S.I. 1986/836 | Regulation 10[42] |
The Food (Control of Irradiation) Regulations 1990 | S.I. 1990/2490 | Regulation 8 |
The Food Safety Act 1990 (Consequential Modifications) (Scotland) Order 1990 | S.I. 1990/2625 | Article 8 |
The Food Safety (Exports) Regulations 1991 | S.I. 1991/1476 | The whole Regulations |
The Flavourings in Food Regulations 1992 | S.I. 1992/1971 | Regulation 8 |
The Food Additives Labelling Regulations 1992 | S.I. 1992/1978 | Regulation 6 |
The Extraction Solvents in Food Regulations 1993 | S.I. 1993/1658 | Regulation 6 |
The Infant Formula and Follow–on Formula Regulations 1995 | S.I. 1995/77 | Regulations 5(2) and 6(2) |
The Sweeteners in Food Regulations 1995 | S.I. 1995/3123 | Regulation 8 |
The Colours in Food Regulations 1995 | S.I. 1995/3124 | Regulation 10 |
The Miscellaneous Food Additives Regulations 1995 | S.I. 1995/3187 | Regulation 8 |
The Food Labelling Regulations 1996 | S.I. 1996/1499 | Regulation 47 |
The Miscellaneous Food Additives (Amendment) Regulations 1997 | S.I. 1997/1413 | Regulation 5 |
The Animals and Animal Products (Examination for Residues and Maximum Residue Limits) Regulations 1997 | S.I. 1997/1729 | Regulation 29 |
The Foods Intended for Use in Energy Restricted Diets for Weight Reduction Regulations 1997 | S.I. 1997/2182 | Regulation 8 |
The Imported Food Regulations 1997 | S.I. 1997/2537 | The whole Regulations |
The Bread and Flour Regulations 1998 | S.I. 1998/141 | Regulation 9 |
The Plastic Materials and Articles in Contact with Food Regulations 1998 | S.I. 1998/1376 | Regulation 3(2) |
The Food Labelling (Amendment) Regulations 1998 | S.I. 1998/1398 | Regulation 12 |
The Drinking Milk Regulations 1998 | S.I. 1998/2424 | Regulation 7 |
The Food Labelling (Amendment) Regulations 1999 | S.I. 1999/747 | Regulation 10 |
The Natural Mineral Water, Spring Water and Bottled Drinking Water Regulations 1999 | S.I. 1999/1540 | Regulation 18(1) and (3) |
The Spreadable Fats (Marketing Standards) (Scotland) Regulations 1999 | S.S.I. 1999/34 | Regulation 7 |
The Food Standards Act 1999 (Transitional and Consequential Provisions and Savings) (Scotland) Regulations 2000 | S.S.I. 2000/62 | Regulation 7(1) and Part I of Schedule 5 |
The Foods for Special Medical Purposes (Scotland) Regulations 2000 | S.S.I. 2000/130 | Regulation 6 |
The Food Irradiation Provisions (Scotland) Regulations 2000 | S.S.I. 2000/309 | Regulation 8 |
The Coffee Extracts and Chicory Extracts (Scotland) Regulations 2001 | S.S.I. 2001/38 | Regulation 9 |
The Food For Particular Nutritional Uses (Addition of Substances for Specific Nutritional Purposes) (Scotland) Regulations 2002 | S.S.I. 2002/397 | Regulation 7 |
The Products of Animal Origin (Third Country Imports) (Scotland) Regulations 2002 | S.S.I. 2002/445 | Schedule 8, paragraph 3 |
The Plastic Materials and Articles in Contact with Food (Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2002 | S.S.I. 2002/498 | Regulation 5(a) in so far as it amends regulation 3(2) of S.I. 1998/1376 |
The Natural Mineral Water, Spring Water and Bottled Drinking Water (Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2003 | S.S.I. 2003/139 | Regulation 13(a) and (c) |
The Food Supplements (Scotland) Regulations 2003 | S.S.I. 2003/278 | Regulation 10 |
The Cocoa and Chocolate Products (Scotland) Regulations 2003 | S.S.I. 2003/291 | Regulation 9 |
The Fruit Juices and Fruit Nectars (Scotland) Regulations 2003 | S.S.I. 2003/293 | Regulation 8 |
The Condensed Milk and Dried Milk (Scotland) Regulations 2003 | S.S.I. 2003/311 | Regulation 8 |
The Specified Sugar Products (Scotland) Regulations 2003 | S.S.I. 2003/527 | Regulation 8 |
The Honey (Scotland) Regulations 2003 | S.S.I. 2003/569 | Regulation 9 |
The Food Labelling Amendment (Scotland) Regulations 2003 | S.S.I. 2003/578 | In Regulation 4(2), the reference to regulation 47(b) |
The Meat Products (Scotland) Regulations 2004 | S.S.I. 2004/6 | In Regulation 8(a)(iii) "or" and Regulation 8(b) |
The Processed Cereal–based Foods and Baby Foods for Infants and Young Children (Scotland) Regulations 2004 | S.S.I. 2004/8 | Regulation 11 |
The Jam and Similar Products (Scotland) Regulations 2004 | S.S.I. 2004/133 | Regulation 8 |
The Food Safety (Act of Accession concerning the Czech Republic and other States) (Consequential Amendments) (Scotland) Regulations 2004 | S.S.I. 2004/395 | Regulation 7 |
The Food Labelling (Added Phytosterols or Phytostanols) (Scotland) Regulations 2005 | S.S.I. 2005/1 | Regulation 9 |
is guilty of an offence (regulation 6);
(d) enable the Scottish Ministers to issue codes of recommended practice to feed authorities and food authorities as regards their competent authority functions and the execution and enforcement of Part 3 of these Regulations relating to imports of feed and food of non animal origin (regulation 7);
(e) give the Food Standards Agency ("the Agency") the function of monitoring the performance of enforcement authorities in enforcing certain legislation (regulation 8);
(f) give the Agency the power, for the purpose of carrying out the function referred to in sub–paragraph (e) above–
(g) define certain terms used in regulations 8 to 10 (regulation 11);
(h) provide that a person who —
is guilty of an offence (regulation 12);
(i) provide rights of appeal to the sheriff and then to the Court of Session in respect of a decision of the competent authority concerning the approval of certain establishments taken under Article 31 of Regulation 882/2004 (regulations 13 and 14);
(j) provide that an authorised officer of a competent authority may be accompanied by the staff of the competent authority of another member State for the purpose of conducting an administrative enquiry under Article 36 of Regulation 882/2004 (regulation 15);
(k) provide that when an "enforcing officer" (defined in regulation 16(2)) enters premises for the purpose of executing and enforcing official controls that officer may be accompanied by a Commission expert to enable that expert to carry out functions under Article 45 of Regulation 882/2004 (regulation 16);
(l) provide that a person who enters premises under the powers referred to in sub–paragraph (j) or (k) above and discloses any information obtained on the premises with regard to any trade secret is guilty of an offence unless the disclosure is made in the performance of that person's duty (regulation 17);
(m) specify which authorities are responsible for executing and enforcing regulations 6(3), 10(8), 12, 17, 19(8) and 20 (regulation 18);
(n) give powers of entry to authorised officers of the authorities referred to in sub paragraph (m) above (regulation 19);
(o) create the offence of obstructing an officer acting in the execution of regulations 15, 16 or 19 (regulation 20);
(p) provide penalties for offences under Part 2 of these Regulations (regulation 21);
(q) provide a time limit for bringing prosecutions for certain offences under that Part (regulation 22);
(r) make provision for the execution and enforcement of Part 3 of these Regulations and Articles 15 to 24 of Regulation 882/2004, together defined in regulation 22 as "the Import Provisions", relating to imports of feed and food of non animal origin (regulations 24 and 25);
(s) make provision for the execution and enforcement of import controls to be deferred until a product reaches its destination in the United Kingdom (regulation 26);
(t) in the light of Article 11 of Regulation 178/2002 as read with Article 10 of Regulation (EC) No. 852/2004 (as described above) prohibit the introduction into Scotland of certain feed and food unless specified conditions are met (regulation 27);
(u) provide for the checking of products that are introduced into Scotland (regulation 28);
(a)
(v) provide that an enforcement authority, first, has the power to do anything that a competent authority may do under Articles 18 to 21 and 24(3) of Regulation 882/2004 and, second, is the competent authority for the purposes of Article 22 of that Regulation (regulation 29);
(w) provide for the service of notices by an authorised officer of an enforcement authority when that officer wishes to take certain measures or exercise certain powers under Article 19 of Regulation 882/2004 (imports of feed and food from third countries) (regulation 30);
(x) provide rights of appeal to the sheriff and then to the Court of Session in respect of the service of notices under regulation 30 (regulations 31 and 32);
(y) enable the Scottish Ministers or the Agency by written declaration to suspend, or impose conditions on, the introduction into Scotland of any product from a third country where they learn or reasonably suspect that any food or feed that has been or may be so introduced is likely to constitute a serious risk to animal or public health (regulation 33);
(z) provide for charges to be payable in relation to controls carried out on consignments (regulation 34);
(aa) provide for the procurement and analysis of samples of food for the purposes of the execution and enforcement of the Import Provisions (regulations 35 and 36);
(bb) provide powers of entry for authorised officers of food authorities in relation to the execution and enforcement of the Import Provisions (regulation 37);
(cc) create the offence of obstructing an officer acting in the execution of the Import Provisions (regulation 38);
(dd) create offences consisting of contravening or failing to comply with specified regulations and failing to comply with a notice served under the Import Provisions and provide penalties for offences under Part 3 (regulation 39);
(ee) provide a time limit for bringing certain prosecutions for offences under Part 3 (regulation 40);
(ff) amend the 2004 Regulations, as described above (regulation 41);
(gg) provide that where the commission of an offence under these Regulations is due to the act or default of some other person that other person is guilty of the offence (regulation 42);
(hh) provide that in proceedings for an offence under these Regulations it is a defence for the accused to prove that all reasonable these Regulations committed by a body corporate is proved to have been committed with the consent or connivance of, or to be attributable to any neglect on the part of, an officer of the body corporate or a person purporting to act as such that officer as well as the body corporate is deemed to be guilty of that offence and may be proceeded against and punished accordingly (regulation 44);
(ii) provide that where an offence under them committed by a Scottish partnership is proved to have been committed with the consent or connivance of, or to be attributable to any neglect on the part of, a partner, that partner as well as the partnership is deemed to be guilty of that offence and may be proceeded against and punished accordingly (regulation 45);
(jj) provide for the protection of officers acting in good faith (regulation 46);
(kk) provide for the service of documents (regulation 47); and
(ll) make a consequential amendment to the Feed (Hygiene and Enforcement) (Scotland) Regulations 2005 (S.S.I. 2005/608) (regulation 48); and
(mm) provide for the revocation of specified instruments to the extent specified (regulation 49).
A full regulatory impact assessment, which includes a compliance cost assessment of the effect which these Regulations will have on business costs has been prepared and placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre. Copies may be obtained from the Food Standards Agency (Scotland), 6th Floor, St Magnus House, 25 Guild Street, Aberdeen, AB11 6NJ
[2] Section 48(4B) was inserted by the 1999 Act, section 40(1) and Schedule 5, paragraph 21.back
[3] 1972 c.68. Section 2(2) was amended by the 1998 Act, Schedule 8, paragraph 15(3). The function conferred on the Minister of the Crown under section 2(2) of the 1972 Act, in so far as exercisable within devolved competence, was transferred to the Scottish Ministers by virtue of section 53 of the 1998 Act. In so far as not so transferred and in so far as relating to food (including drink) including the primary production of food, that function was transferred to the Scottish Ministers by S.I. 2005/849.back
[4] O.J. No. L 31, 1.2.02, p.1 as last amended by Regulation (EC) No. 1642/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council (O.J. No. L 245, 29.9.03, p.4).back
[5] 1994 c.39; section 2 was amended by the Environment Act 1995 (c.25), Schedule 22, paragraph 232.back
[10] O.J. No. L 121, 8.5.02, p.6.back
[11] S.I. 1990/2463, to which there are amendments not relevant to these Regulations.back
[16] O.J. No. L 31, 1.2.02, p.1.back
[17] O.J. No. L 245, 29.9.03, p.4.back
[18] O.J. No. L 268, 18.10.03, p.29. That Regulation was amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No. 378/2005 (O.J. No. L 59, 5.03.05, p.8).back
[19] O.J. No. L 139, 30.4.04, p.1. The revised text of Regulation (EC) No. 852/2004 is now set out in a Corrigendum (O.J. No. L 226, 25.6.04, p.3).back
[20] O.J. No. L 139, 30.4.04, p.55. The revised text of Regulation (EC) No. 853/2004 is now set out in a Corrigendum (O.J. No. L 226, 25.6.04, p.22).back
[21] O.J. No. L 165, 30.4.04, p.1. The revised text of Regulation 882/2004 is now set out in a Corrigendum (O.J. No. L 191, 28.5.04, p.1).back
[22] O.J. No. L 271, 15.10.05, p.17.back
[24] S.I. 1999/1663, as amended by S.I. 1999/1871, S.S.I. 2000/453, 2001/104, 2002/285 and 2003/277.back
[25] S.S.I. 2000/453, as amended by S.S.I. 2001/334, 2002/255 and 285, 2003/101, 312 and 474, 2004/208 and 458 and S.S.I. 2005/605.back
[31] S.I. 1997/1729, amended by S.I. 2001/3590 and S.I. 2004/147.back
[32] S.S.I. 2000/22, as amended by S.S.I. 2001/84, 221 and 435, 2002/271 and 489, 2003/118 and 445, 2004/104, 220 and 399 and 2005/109 and 281.back
[33] O.J. No. L 208, 24.7.92, p.1.back
[34] O.J. No. L 236, 23.9.03, p.33.back
[35] O.J. No. L 208, 24.7.92, p.9.back
[39] S.I. 1996/3124, amended by S.I. 1996/3125, 1997/1181 and 3023, 1998/994, 1999/221 and 683, S.S.I. 2000/62, 171 and 288, 2001/169 and 257, 2002/87, 234 and 445, 2003/299, 405, 466 and 568.back
[40] S.S.I. 2002/445 as amended by S.S.I. 2002/565, 2003/165, 225, 333 and 411 and 2005/323.back
[42] Regulation 10 was inserted by the Food Safety (Exports) Regulations 1991 (S.I. 1991/1476), regulation 2(1).back