Guidance notes for feed and food businesses on the imports provisions for products of non-animal origin
Thursday 26 October 2006
This guidance note, using a question and answer format, explains the legal requirements for import businesses that are set out in Part 3 of the Official Feed and Food Controls (Scotland) Regulations 2005 (The OFFC Regulations), and outlines the arrangements for enforcement of these. It should be read together with the regulations.
Background
From 1 January 2006, the legislation controlling feed and food of non-animal origin imported from non-European Union (non-EU) countries into the UK changed.
The Official Feed and Food Controls (Scotland) Regulations 2005 (and parallel legislation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland) came into force and replaced current UK legislation (principally, the Imported Food Regulations 1997) but the general approach in the new legislation is similar.
It has been necessary to make some minor revisions to the 2005 regulations and the regulations for Scotland have now been amended by the Food Hygiene (Scotland) Regulations 2006 which came into force on 11 January 2006 (the legislation for England, Wales and Northern Ireland has similarly been revised).
The revisions which have been made, however, do not affect the provisions relating to imports.
Important note
Whilst this guidance is not legally binding, it does represent the considered views of the Food Standards Agency. However only the courts can give a definitive view on the law.
Related links
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