12 March 1999: CONTAMINANTS - EC Regulation No 194/97 Setting Maximum Levels for Nitrate in Lettuce and Spinach

European Commission Regulation No 194/97 Setting Maximum Levels for Nitrate in Lettuce and Spinach

The main points to note are:

• the extended date for future review of the maximum levels for lettuce and spinach, with present provisions continuing to apply;
• the limits for spinach to be reviewed with those for lettuce;
• maximum limits for fresh spinach will not apply to spinach subject to processing and transported directly in bulk from field to processing plant;
• in the absence of appropriate labelling indicating the production method for lettuce, the limit for open-grown lettuce applies.

The EC amending Regulation is directly applicable in the United Kingdom, and all other Member States. However, domestic Regulations are required to make provision for the enforcement and execution of the amending Regulation in the UK. Appropriate amendments will now be made to The Contaminants in Food Regulations 1997 (Statutory Instrument 1997 No 1499) to effect the changes into legislation. As is usual, separate but parallel legislation will be made in Northern Ireland.