S.I. No. 24/1992:

HEALTH (EMULSIFIERS, STABILISERS, THICKENING AND GELLING AGENTS IN FOOD) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS, 1992.

HEALTH (EMULSIFIERS, STABILISERS, THICKENING AND GELLING AGENTS IN FOOD) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS, 1992.

The Minister for Health, in exercise of the powers conferred on her by sections 5 and 59 of the Health Act, 1947 (No. 28 of 1947) and Section 54 of that Act as amended by the European Communities ( Health Act, 1947 Amendment of sections 54 and 61) Regulations, 1991, sub-section (3) of section 38 of the Health Act, 1953 (No. 26 of 1953) and section 6 of the Health Act, 1970 (No. 1 of 1970 ) and, after consultation with the Minister for Industry and Commerce and the Minister for Agriculture and Food, hereby makes the following Regulations:--

1. (1) These Regulations may be cited as the Health (Emulsifiers, Stabilisers, Thickening and Gelling Agents in Food) (Amendment) Regulations, 1992.

(2) These Regulations shall come into operation on 31st January, 1992.

(3) These Regulations and the Health (Emulsifiers, Stabilisers, Thickening and Gelling Agents) Regulations, 1980, the Health (Emulsifiers, Stabilisers, Thickening and Gelling Agents) (Amendment) Regulations, 1982, the Health (Emulsifiers, Stabilisers, Thickening and Gelling Agents) (Amendment) Regulations, 1985, and the Health (Emulsifiers, Stabilisers, Thickening and Gelling Agents) (Amendment) Regulations, 1990, shall be construed as one and may be cited together as the Health (Emulsifiers, Stabilisers, Thickening and Gelling Agents) Regulations, 1980 to 1992.

(4) In these Regulations "the Principal Regulations" means the Health (Emulsifiers, Stabilisers, Thickening and Gelling Agents in Food) Regulations, 1980 ( S.I. No. 35 of 1980 ).

2. The Principal Regulations as amended by the Health (Emulsifiers, Stabilisers, Thickening and Gelling Agents) (Amendment) Regulations, 1982 ( S.I. No. 273 of 1982 ), the Health (Emulsifiers, Stabilisers, Thickening and Gelling Agents in Food) (Amendment) Regulations, 1985 ( S.I. No. 186 of 1985 ), and the Health (Emulsifiers, Stabilisers, Thickening and Gelling Agents) (Amendment) Regulations, 1990 ( S.I. No. 102 of 1990 ), are hereby amended:

(1) by the substitution in sub-article (1) of article 3 in the definition of "authorised officer" of the reference "Part IX" for "Part II";

(2) by the substitution in sub-article (1) of article 5 of the words "Health (Official Control of Food) Regulations, 1991 ( S.I. No. 332 of 1991 )" for "Health (Sampling of Food) Regulations, 1970, ( S.I. No. 50 of 1970 )";

(3) by the substitution of the following article for article 7--

"In any proceedings for an offence under these Regulations, it shall be a defence for the person charged to show that the food in respect of which the offence is alleged to have been committed was intended for export and complied with the domestic food legislation of the importing country relevant to the alleged offence.";

(4) in Part II of Schedule I

(i) by the deletion of the following matter at E407:--

(ii) by the deletion of the following matter at E466: "From about 17,000 to 500,000" which are opposite the words "Molecular weight" and the substitution therefor of the following at E446: "Higher than approximately 17,000 (degree of polymerization approximately 100)."

(iii) by the deletion of the following matter at E473: "No organic solvents shall be used in their preparation other than dimethylformamide, ethyl acetate and isopronanol" which are opposite the words "Chemical description" and the substitution therefor of the following at E473:

"No organic solvent other than dimethylsulphoxide, dimethylformamide, ethyl acetate, isopropanol and isobutanol may be used for their preparation." and

(iv) addition of the following to the matter set out under E473--

( a ) of the following matter after the text of entry relating to Sulphated ash:

"Dimethylsulphoxide content: Not more than 2mg/kg.".

( b ) of the following matter after the text of entry relating to Methanol content:

"Isobutanol content: Not more than 10mg/kg.".

GIVEN under the Official Seal of the Minister for Health, this 30thday of January, 1992.

MARY O'ROURKE,

Minister for Health.

EXPLANATORY NOTE.

The Regulations, which come into operation on 31 January, 1992 prescribe specific purity criteria for emulsifiers, stabilisers, thickeners and gelling agents for use in foodstuffs. The Regulations implement Commission Directive (90/612/EEC).