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United Kingdom Statutory Instruments


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URL: http://www.bailii.org/uk/legis/num_reg/2003/20032253.html

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2003 No. 2253

PRICES

The Price Marking (Food and Drink Services) Order 2003

  Made 1st September 2003 
  Laid before Parliament 4th September 2003 
  Coming into force 2nd March 2004 

Whereas the Secretary of State, in accordance with the provisions of section 2(6) of the Prices Act 1974, as applied by section 4(3) of that Act[1] has consulted, in such a manner as appeared to her to be appropriate having regard to the subject-matter and urgency of this Order, with such organisations representative of interests substantially affected by this Order as appeared to her, having regard to those matters, to be appropriate:

     Now, therefore, the Secretary of State in exercise of the powers under the said section 4, hereby makes the following Order - 

Citation, commencement and interpretation
     1.  - (1) This Order may be cited as the Price Marking (Food and Drink Services) Order 2003 and shall come into force on 2nd March 2004.

    (2) In this Order - 

Revocation
    
2. The Price Marking (Food and Drink on Premises) Order 1979[2] is hereby revoked.

When the Order applies
     3.  - (1) This Order applies where a person indicates that food is or may be for sale by him by retail for consumption on any premises (other than premises to which paragraph (2) applies) or in a take-away area.

    (2) This Order does not apply to premises on which food is ordinarily supplied - 

Obligations to indicate prices for food and other charges
    
4.  - (1) A person who indicates that food is or may be for sale by him shall, subject to the other provisions of this Order, give an indication of - 

    (2) A single indication of price is required by paragraph (1)(b) above where a food is sold in more than one quantity or weight if the quantity or weight to which that price applies is indicated and the prices of other quantities or weights are proportionate to the indicated price.

    (3) Where foods of different descriptions are or may be for sale together (other than foods supplied as a fixed price meal) and the total price for the foods is the sum of the prices of the individual foods, only an indication of the price of the individual foods is required.

    (4) An indication of the price of food or of a charge payable in addition to the price of any food which is subject to value added tax shall be inclusive of the tax.

    
5.  - (1) Indications of the price of food are required to be given in accordance with the table set out below:

Descriptions of food which are or may be for sale Indications of price required
Not more than thirty descriptions of food (other than wine) For all
More than thirty descriptions of food (other than wine) For thirty which must, if soft drinks are or may be for sale, include five soft drinks or the actual number if less than five
More than thirty descriptions of food (other than wine) divided in any way into categories For a minimum of thirty which must include five per category or the actual number in a category if less than five. If soft drinks are or may be for sale indications must be given for five or the actual number if less than five
Wine for consumption with other foods in an eating or supply area For five or the actual number if less than five
Foods of different descriptions for sale together as a fixed price meal For each fixed price meal. The preceding rules in this table shall not apply to the foods contained in the meal unless they are or may be available separately

    
6.  - (1) Where an indication is given that food of a particular description is or may be for sale generally (as opposed to only in an indicated period of a day) an indication of the price of that food shall be withdrawn as soon as is reasonably practicable if the food ceases to be available.

    (2) Where an indication is given that food of a particular description is or may be for sale only in an indicated period of a day an indication of the price of that food shall be withdrawn before the next such period if the food ceases to be available.

Manner of indication of prices and charges
    
7.  - (1) an indication of price shall be unambiguous, easily identifiable and clearly legible by an intending purchaser and shall comply with such of the following provisions of this article as may be applicable.

    (2) In the case of an eating area, the indication shall be given at or near the entrance to the eating area so that an intending purchaser can see it before entering that area or, in the case of an eating area in a railway carriage where an intending purchaser requests the supply of food at the place at which it is to be consumed, at that place.

    (3) In the case of a supply area, the indication shall be given at the place where an intending purchaser chooses the food and, if that indication cannot be seen by an intending purchaser before entering the supply area, a further indication shall be given at or near the entrance to the supply area.

    (4) In the case of a take-away area the indication shall be given at the place where an intending purchaser chooses the food.

    (5) Any additional charge or minimum charge payable shall be indicated at least as prominently as the price of any food to which it relates.

    (6) An indication of price or charge shall be in sterling.

    (7) If a person indicates his willingness to accept foreign currency in payment for the sale of food, he shall, in addition to the price indication in sterling, either - 

Savings for other enactments
    
8. Nothing in article 7 above shall require anything to be done if it would be a contravention by any person of a regulation made under, or having effect as if made under, sections 220, 221 or 224 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990(a) or sections 182, 183 or 186 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997(b).


Gerry Sutcliffe,
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Employment Relations, Competition and Consumers,Department of Trade and Industry

1st September 2003



EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)


This Order requires prices of food and drink to be indicated at premises where food and drink is offered for consumption on the premises. Article 3 defines the premises to which the Order applies with exceptions for certain premises such as members' clubs and staff canteens. The Order also requires prices to be indicated at premises selling take-away food. Article 4 contains detailed provisions as to the prices and charges that must be indicated with article 5 specifying how many prices must be indicated. Article 7 provides for the manner in which prices and charges must be indicated.

A full regulatory impact assessment of the effect that this Order will have on the costs of business is available from the Consumer and Competition Policy Directorate, Department of Trade and Industry, 1 Victoria Street, London SW1H 0ET or at
www.dti.gov.uk/ccp/. Copies of the regulatory impact assessment have also been placed in the libraries of both Houses of Parliament.


Notes:

[1] 1974 c. 24; section 4 was amended by section 16 of the Price Commission Act 1977 (c. 33).back

[2] S.I. 1979/361.back



ISBN 0 11 047453 8


  Prepared 8 September 2003


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