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Statutory Rules of Northern Ireland |
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You are here: BAILII >> Databases >> Statutory Rules of Northern Ireland >> The Contaminants in Food Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2004 No. 487 URL: http://www.bailii.org/nie/legis/num_reg/2004/20040487.html |
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Made | 25th November 2004 | ||
Coming into operation | 20th December 2004 |
(2) Other expressions used in these Regulations and in the Commission Regulation have the same meaning as in the Commission Regulation.
Offences and penalties
3.
Subject to regulations 6, 10 and 11, a person shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale if -
(b) on or after 1st January 2005 -
(c) he knowingly contravenes or fails to comply with the requirements of a notice given under Article 8(2)(a) of the Order as applied for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 7(2).
Enforcement
4.
Each district council shall enforce and execute these Regulations within its district.
Modification of Article 29 of the Food Safety (Northern Ireland) Order 1991 (procurement of samples) and analysis of samples
5.
- (1) In its application to the taking of a sample of any food specified in Sections 1 to 6 of Annex I to the Commission Regulation, Article 29 of the Order shall be modified so as to require the power to take samples under paragraph (b) and (d) of that Article to be exercised in accordance with the methods of taking samples described or referred to -
(2) Where, pursuant to Article 29(b) or (d) of the Order as modified by paragraph (1), an authorised officer has taken a sample of food of the description referred to in sub-paragraph (b) of that paragraph, and he has submitted that sample to be analysed pursuant to Article 30(1)(a) of the Order the person who analyses the sample shall ensure that -
(b) any analysis of the sample is carried out in accordance with methods of analysis which -
(c) any analysis of the sample is carried out by a laboratory which complies with Directive 93/99/EEC; and
(d) the reporting of the results of the analysis of that sample -
(3) Where, pursuant to Article 29(b) or (d) of the Order as modified by paragraph (1), an authorised officer has taken a sample of food of the description referred to in sub-paragraph (c) of that paragraph, and he has submitted that sample to be analysed pursuant to Article 30(1)(a) of the Order the person who analyses the sample shall ensure that -
(c) any analysis of the sample is carried out by a laboratory which complies with Directive 93/99/EEC;
(d) any analysis of the sample is carried out in such a way as to comply with the first and second sub-paragraphs of paragraph 3.4 of Annex II to Directive 2001/22/EC as read in the case of the second sub-paragraph with the note to that sub-paragraph; and
(e) the reporting of the results of the analysis of that sample -
(4) Where, pursuant to Article 29(b) or (d) of the Order as modified by paragraph (1), an authorised officer has taken a sample of food of the description referred to in sub-paragraph (d) of that paragraph, and he has submitted that sample to be analysed pursuant to Article 30(1)(a) of the Order the person who analyses the sample shall ensure that -
(c) any analysis of the sample is carried out by a laboratory which complies with Directive 93/99/EEC; and
(d) the reporting of the results of the analysis of that sample -
(5) Where, pursuant to Article 29(b) or (d) of the Order as modified by paragraph (1), an authorised officer has taken a sample of food of the description referred to in sub-paragraph (e) of that paragraph, and he has submitted that sample to be analysed pursuant to Article 30(1)(a) of the Order the person who analyses the sample shall ensure that -
(c) the reporting of the results of the analysis of that sample is in accordance with paragraph 8 of Annex II to Directive 2002/69/EC.
(6) Where, pursuant to Article 29(b) or (d) of the Order as modified by paragraph (1), an authorised officer has taken a sample of food of the description referred to in sub-paragraph (f) of that paragraph, and he has submitted that sample to be analysed pursuant to Article 30(1)(a) of the Order the person who analyses the sample shall ensure that -
(c) any analysis of the sample is carried out by a laboratory which complies with Directive 93/99/EEC; and
(d) the reporting of the results of the analysis of that sample -
(7) Where, pursuant to Article 29(b) or (d) of the Order as modified by paragraph (1), an authorised officer has taken a sample of food of the description referred to in sub-paragraph (g) of that paragraph, and he has submitted that sample to be analysed pursuant to Article 30(1)(a) of the Order the person who analyses the sample shall ensure that -
(c) any analysis of the sample is carried out by a laboratory which complies with Directive 93/99/EEC and that section of paragraph 4.6 of Annex II to Directive 2004/16/EC headed "Internal Quality control"; and
(d) the reporting of the results of the analysis of that sample -
Defence in relation to exports
6.
In any proceedings for an offence consisting of a contravention of regulation 3 it shall be a defence for the accused to prove that the food in respect of which the offence is alleged to have been committed was intended for export to a country other than a member State which has legislation analogous to these Regulations, and that the food complies with that legislation.
Application of various provisions of the Order
7.
- (1) The following provisions of the Order shall apply for the purposes of these Regulations with the modification that any reference in them to the Order or Part thereof shall be construed as a reference to these Regulations -
(2) Subject to paragraph (3), Article 8 of the Order (inspection and seizure of suspected food) shall apply for the purposes of these Regulations as if it read as follows -
and paragraphs (2) to (7) shall apply where, on such an inspection, it appears to the authorised officer that the placing on the market of any food contravenes regulation 3(a)(i) or (b)(i) of the Contaminants in Food Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2004.
(2) The authorised officer may either -
(b) seize the food and remove it in order to have it dealt with by a justice of the peace.
(3) Where the authorised officer exercises the power conferred by paragraph (2)(a), he shall, as soon as is reasonably practicable and in any event within 21 days, determine whether or not he is satisfied that the food complies with the requirements of regulation 3(a)(i) or (b)(i) of the aforesaid Regulations, as appropriate and -
(4) Where an authorised officer exercises the powers conferred by paragraph (2)(b) or (3)(b), he shall inform the person in charge of the food of his intention to have it dealt with by a justice of the peace and -
(5) If it appears to a justice of the peace, on the basis of such evidence as he considers appropriate in the circumstances, that any food falling to be dealt with by him under this Article fails to comply with the requirements of regulation 3(a)(i) or (b)(i) of the aforesaid Regulations he shall condemn the food and order -
(6) If a notice under paragraph (2)(a) is withdrawn, or the justice of the peace by whom any food falls to be dealt with under this Article refuses to condemn it, the district council shall compensate the owner of the food for any depreciation in its value resulting from the action taken by the authorised officer.
(7) Any disputed question as to the right to or the amount of any compensation payable under paragraph (6) shall be determined by a single arbitrator appointed, failing agreement between the parties, by the Department; and the provisions of the Arbitration Act 1996[34] shall apply accordingly
(8) Any person who knowingly contravenes the requirements of a notice under paragraph 2(a) shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.".
(3) The expressions "placing on the market", "Directive 98/53/EC", "Directive 2001/22/EC", "Directive 2002/26/EC", "Directive 2002/69/EC", "Directive 2003/78/EC" and "Directive 2004/16/EC" which are used in Article 8 of the Order so far as it applies for the purposes of these Regulations by virtue of paragraph (2), shall, for those purposes, bear the meanings that those expressions respectively bear in these Regulations.
Re-dispatch or destruction of imported food that does not comply with these Regulations
8.
- (1) If it appears to an authorised officer that any food contravenes regulation 3(a)(i) or (b)(i) and has been imported into Northern Ireland he may after appropriate consultation with a person appearing to him to be the importer of the food serve on that person a notice requiring -
(2) The notice served under paragraph (1) shall state -
(3) Any person who is aggrieved by the decision of an authorised officer to serve a notice under paragraph (1) may appeal to a court of summary jurisdiction, which shall determine whether or not the notice should be upheld or set aside.
(4) The period within which such an appeal as is mentioned in paragraph (3) may be brought shall be 5 days, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays, from the date on which notice of the decision was served.
(5) The procedure on an appeal to a court of summary jurisdiction under paragraph (3) shall be by way of notice under Part VII of the Magistrates' Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1981[35].
(6) If the court allows an appeal brought under paragraph (3) the district council shall compensate the owner of the food concerned for any depreciation in its value resulting from the action taken by the authorised officer.
(7) Any disputed question as to the right to or the amount of any compensation payable under paragraph (6) shall be determined by a single arbitrator appointed, failing agreement between the parties, by the Department; and the provisions of the Arbitration Act 1996 shall apply accordingly.
(8) Any person who breaches the terms of a notice served under paragraph (1) shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or to both.
(9) This regulation is subject to regulation 9.
Secondary treatment of imported food that does not comply with these Regulations
9.
- (1) In relation to any food which is of the type referred to in Article 4.3(a), (b) and (d) of the Commission Regulation and in respect of which an authorised officer may serve a notice in accordance with regulation 8(1), the authorised officer may, after appropriate consultation with a person appearing to him to be the importer of the food, serve on that person a notice requiring him to -
(2) The notice served under paragraph (1) shall state -
(3) Any person who is aggrieved by the decision of an authorised officer to serve a notice under paragraph (1) may appeal to a court of summary jurisdiction, which shall determine whether or not the notice should be upheld or set aside.
(4) The period within which such an appeal as is mentioned in paragraph (3) may be brought shall be 5 days from the date on which the notice was served exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays.
(5) The procedure on an appeal to a court of summary jurisdiction under paragraph (3) shall be by way of notice under Part VII of the Magistrates' Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1981.
(6) If the court allows an appeal brought under paragraph (3) the district council shall compensate the owner of the food concerned for any depreciation in its value resulting from the action taken by the authorised officer.
(7) Any disputed question as to the right to or the amount of any compensation payable under paragraph (6) shall be determined by a single arbitrator appointed, failing agreement between the parties, by the Department; and the provisions of the Arbitration Act 1996 shall apply accordingly.
(8) Any person who fails to comply with any of the requirements specified in a notice served under paragraph (1) shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or to both.
Transitional provisions
10.
Regulation 3(a)(i) and (b)(i) shall not apply in relation to any food -
11.
Regulation 3(a)(ii) and (b)(ii) shall not apply in relation to any contravention of Article 2.3 of the Commission Regulation, to the extent that the contravention consists in the use as a food ingredient, for the production of a compound foodstuff, of -
Revocations
12.
The Tin in Food Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1992[36] and the Contaminants in Food Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003[37] are hereby revoked.
Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety on
25th November 2004.
L.S.
Jim F. Livingstone
A senior officer of the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety
2.
These Regulations -
(b) specify the enforcement authorities (regulation 4);
(c) prescribe requirements in relation to the analysis of samples of foods subject to the Commission Regulation, and in doing so modify Article 29 of the Food Safety (Northern Ireland) Order 1991 in its application to the taking of samples of the foods concerned (regulation 5);
(d) provide a defence in relation to exports in implementation of Articles 2 and 3 of Council Directive 89/397/EEC on the official control of foodstuffs, as read with the ninth recital to that Directive (O.J. No. L186, 30.6.89, p. 23) (regulation 6);
(e) provide for the application of specified provisions of the Food Safety (Northern Ireland) Order 1991 for the purposes thereof (regulation 7);
(f) subject to regulation 9, provide for the re-dispatch to non-member States of imported food that fails to comply with certain requirements of regulation 3 but does not pose a serious risk to human health and the destruction of such food where it does pose such a risk (regulation 8);
(g) establish a process by which food that would otherwise have to be re-dispatched or destroyed under regulation 8 can nevertheless be placed on the market (regulation 9); and
(h) include transitional provisions (regulations 10 and 11).
3.
These Regulations also revoke the Tin in Food Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1992 (regulation 12).
[2] S.I. 1991/762 (N.I. 7) as amended by S.I.1996/1663 (N.I. 12) and paragraphs 26 to 42 of Schedule 5 and Schedule 6 to the Food Standards Act 1999 c. 28back
[3] O.J. No. L31, 1.2.2002, p. 1back
[4] O.J. No. L77, 16.3.2001, p. 1, as adopted by EEA Joint Committee Decision No. 81/2002 (O.J. No. L266, 3.10.2002, p. 30 EEA supplement No. 49, 3.10.2002)back
[5] O.J. No. L313, 30.11.2001, p. 60, as adopted by EEA Joint Committee Decision No. 81/2002back
[6] O.J. No. L321, 6.12.2001, p. 1, as adopted by EEA Joint Committee Decision No. 81/2002back
[7] O.J. No. L37, 7.2.2002, p. 4, as adopted by EEA Joint Committee Decision No. 139/2002 (O.J. No. L19, 23.1.2003, p.3 and EEA supplement No. 5, 23.1.2003)back
[8] O.J. No. L41, 13.2.2002, p. 12, as adopted by EEA Joint Committee Decision No. 100/2002 (O.J. No. L298, 31.10.2002, p.13 and EEA supplement No. 54, 31.10.2002, p. 11)back
[9] O.J. No. L75, 16.3.2002, p. 18, as adopted by EEA Joint Committee Decision No. 161/2002 (O.J. No. L38, 13.2.2003, p. 16 and EEA supplement No. 9, 13.2.2003, p. 13)back
[10] O.J. No. L80, 23.3.2002, p. 42back
[11] O.J. No. L86, 3.4.2002, p. 5, as adopted by EEA Joint Committee Decision No. 161/2002back
[12] O.J. No. L155, 14.6.2002, p. 63, as adopted by EEA Joint Committee Decision No. 161/2002back
[13] O.J. No. L203, 12.8.2003, p. 1back
[14] O.J. No. L326, 13.12.2003, p. 12back
[15] O.J. No. L42, 13.2.2004, p. 3back
[16] O.J. No. L74, 12.3.2004, p. 11back
[17] O.J. No. L106, 15.4.2004, p. 6back
[18] O.J. No. L372, 31.12.1985, p. 50back
[19] O.J. No. L290, 24.11.1993, p. 14back
[20] O.J. No. L201, 17.7.1998, p. 93, as adopted by EEA Joint Committee Decision No. 93/1999 (O.J. No. L296, 23.11.2000, p. 58)back
[21] O.J. No. L75, 16.3.2002, p. 44, as adopted by EEA Joint Committee Decision No. 161/2002back
[22] O.J. No. L332, 19.12.2003, p. 38back
[23] O.J. No. L113, 20.4.2004, p. 14back
[24] O.J. No. L77, 16.3.2001, p. 14back
[25] O.J. No. L325, 8.12.2001, p. 34back
[26] O.J. No. L75, 16.3.2002, p. 38back
[27] O.J. No. L209, 6.8.2002, p. 5back
[28] O.J. No. L252, 20.9.2002, p. 40back
[29] O.J. No. L113, 20.4.2004, p. 17back
[30] O.J. No. L203, 12.8.2003, p. 40back
[31] O.J. No. L42, 13.2.2004, p. 16back
[32] The requirement is that the minimum number of units required for a laboratory sample in such circumstances is 10back
[33] O.J. No. L187, 16.7.2002, p. 30back
[35] S.I. 1981/1675 (N.I. 26)back