FSA Consultation Letter, 5 August 2004

LABELLING - Phytosterol and phytostanol labelling regulations (England)

Labelling of foods and food ingredients with added phytosterols, phytosterol esters, phytostanols and/or phytostanol esters. Responses are requested by: 28 October 2004

Consultation details

This consultation seeks your views and comments on proposals for implementing Commission Regulation (EC) No 608/2004 ('the EC Regulation') concerning the labelling of foods and food ingredients with added phytosterols phytosterol esters, phytostanols and/or phytostanol esters. The EC Regulation seeks to address concerns relating to the potential consumption of excessive or inappropriate levels of plant sterols from multiple dietary sources. Further information can be found in the consultation document below.
The regulations are intended to apply to England only. Separate parallel legislation will be made in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Stakeholders’ views are sought on the following documents:

(i) The Food with Added Phytosterols or Phytostanols (Labelling) (England) Regulations 2004

Draft national Regulations setting out offences and penalties, and mechanisms for enforcement of the EC Regulation. The offences and penalties described in the draft Regulations are consistent with those found in The Food Labelling Regulations 1996. The draft Regulations also contain provisions for the labelling of foods that are exempt from the requirements of the EC Regulation (small packages and certain indelibly marked bottles) or subject to national discretion (foods which are not prepacked or prepacked for direct sale).

(ii) Regulatory Impact Assessment

A partial Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) containing an assessment of the likely impact of the draft Regulations in terms of costs and benefits.

Specific questions for the consultation on the draft Regulations

• Are the offences proposed appropriate in relation to the requirements of the regulation?
• Are the penalties created proportionate to the offences?
• Do the key particulars required for certain foods, including those that are not prepacked or prepacked for direct sale, provide consumers in England with sufficient information in such cases?
• Are the additional national measures proposed for small packages and certain indelibly marked bottles appropriate?

For more details go to: Phytosterol and phytostanol labelling regulations (England) (pdf file)