In 2004, the General Food Regulation (GFR) is

being made under the food safety Act 1990, in order to

allow greater flexibility in relation to penalties for offences.

Their main purpose is to provide new enforcement

powers in respect of new obligations relating to food and

food businesses, to apply from January 1 , 2005 underst

Regulation 178/2002. These are:

Article 14 – Food Safety Requirement. This prohibits food

being placed on the market if it is unsafe, and specifies

what this means.

Article 16 – Presentation. This stipulates that the labeling,

advertising and presentation of food shall not mislead

consumers.

Article 18 – Traceability. This requires food businesses to

keep records of their suppliers and businesses they supply

to, and to make such records available to competent

authorities on demand.

Article 19 – Product Recall/W ithdrawal. This places

obligations on food business to recall, and/or withdraw

food from the market if it is not in compliance with food

safety requirements, and to notify competent authorities.

The regulations designate food authorities, port

health authorities and the Food Standards Agency (FSA)

as the relevant competent authorities and enforcement

bodies. The FSA has been included as an additional

enforcement body in respect of Articles 14 and 19 in

certain circumstances. This is to allow, for example, for the

flexibility of the Meat Hygiene Service enforcing these

requirements in meat plants, where this should be more

effective.

Internet: www.food.gov.uk/foodindustry (with adaptations)