Food (Amendment) Regulations 2003

These Regulations amend and supplement the Food Regulations 1985. A number of regulations relating to standards of particular foodstuffs (such as flour, pepper, coffee, tea, dairy products) are amended. The twelfth and the fourteenth schedule are modified too. New fifth A Schedule, laying down conditions for nutrient contents for use of nutrition claims, is inserted. On the other side, several regulations are added. In particular, new regulations 18A, 18B, 18C, 18D and 18E provide on claims on the label, nutrition labelling, nutrient content claims, nutrient comparative claims and nutrient function claims. New regulations 134A to 134C apply to beverage whitener, sweetened creamer and non dairy creamer. New regulations 166A and 166B regard oyster sauce and oyster flavoured sauce; regulation 267A concerns decaffeinated coffee, whilst regulation 269A is concerned with premix coffee.
New regulation 389A lays down detailed rules applicable to follow-up formula. Follow-up formula shall be food intended for use as a liquid part of the weaning diet for an infant from the sixth months on and for children. It is a product prepared from the milk of cows or other animals or other constituents of animal or plant origin, which have been proved to be suitable for infants from the sixth months on and for children. Follow-up formula shall be nutritionally adequate to contribute to normal growth and development when used in accordance with its direction for use. No food additive, other than those specified in column (1) of Table II to the Twenty-First A Schedule, shall be present in follow-up formula as a result of carry over from raw materials or other ingredients. Follow-up formula or the ingredient used in making the formula shall not have been treated by ionizing radiation. Further provisions regard labelling.