Food Regulations, Government Notice no. 142 of 2024

These Regulations, made by the Minister under section 24 of the Food Act 2022, cover the following topics, definitions, standards, guidelines, and regulations related to food safety and management: alcohol; alcoholic beverage; Codex Alimentarius; date of manufacture and expiry date; food additive; genetically modified food; flavouring substance; irradiation; infectious or communicable disease; labelling; industrial trans fatty acids; pre-packed food; potable water; ready-to-eat food. The Regulations provide for ministerial guidelines for an application for a permit, an authorisation, a clearance for any food imported or exported. Part I of the Regulations concerns food composition and labelling and covers the following matters: labelling requirements of pre-packed food, including: nutritional components, allergen information; food for which no standard is prescribed; prohibitions concerning sale of food; measures concerning storage of food; false claims on labels. Part II details measures on food packaging and particularly: prohibitions of using harmful packages, and packages containing polyvinyl chloride, reusing packages and actions against false and misleading advertisement.
Part III concerns application for pre-market approval of food; fees for analysis and examination. Part IV concerns clearance of food by customs; examination and sampling of imported food, and of food for microbiological examination. Part V concerns standards for food hygiene, hazards to public health, prohibition of unhygienic practices in food vending, Food Handler’s Certificate, prohibition of food handling by infected person, food to be kept away from insanitary environment, sanitary requirements for vehicles transporting food, street food vendors to deal with food in hygienic conditions. Part VI concerns food contaminants and covers the following definitions: toxic, noxious or harmful substance present or contained in food; pesticide residue and veterinary drug residue; pesticide. This Part includes the following topics: sale of oyster and shellfish from non-polluted source; prohibition of sale of pesticide and similar products on food premises; special labelling requirements for irradiated food. Part VII concerns chilled and frozen food and related hygienic conditions. Part VIII concerns food additives and provides for: permitted food additive; maximum use level of food additives; flavouring substance; good manufacturing practice.
Further Parts of these Regulations include the following matters: composition and use of salt; conditions of sale of salt and labelling; white flour and white bread, standards for various types of wheat flour; egg and egg products; special purpose food, and particularly: canned food for infant or child, cereal-based food for infant or child, special dietary food, breast milk and specific requirements for infant food; edible oil and fats; mayonnaise; milk and milk products and detailed standards; meat and meat products; fish and fish products, fish unsafe for human consumption; packaged water and natural mineral water; certification for specific types of food establishments; sale of food on premises of educational institutions and related restrictions.