Food Law News - UK - 1997
8 January 1997: LABELLING - Revision of "Use By" Guidance Notes
Scottish Office Letter, 8 January 1997 / MAFF Letter 17 January 1997
Revision of "Use By" Guidance Notes
As previously noted (See 20 September 1996), the Ministry had been revising the "Use By" Guidance Notes following the updating of the Food Labelling Regulations in July 1996. A final version of the guidance notes has now been prepared and is available.
The letter notes that the changes, as a result of comments:
- clarify the text and improve its presentation;
- clarify when a "use by" date expires (midnight on the date given in the use by date, not midnight of the day before);
- give additional guidance on when "use by" dates can be altered or removed;
- give additional information about the range of foods exempt from date marking; and
- explain the advisory role of local authorities.
Apparently during the consultation exercise, some respondents sought specific definitions for terms such as "highly perishable", "immediate danger" and "short period of time". The letter comments that these terms are used without definition in the Food Labelling Directive (79/112/EC) and it would be difficult and inappropriate to insert such definitions in the guidance notes.
Copies of the guidance notes can be obtained from the Ministry (MAFF, Food Labelling and Standards Division, Room 325d, Ergon House, c/o Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London SW1P 3JR).
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