The letter encloses for comment a copy of draft Regulations - the draft Colours in Food (Amendment)(England) Regulations 2000 - that will implement the provisions of this Directive in England.
The DHSS Northern Ireland, the National Assembly for Wales Agriculture Department and the Scottish Executive Rural Affairs Department will be carrying out their own consultation exercises on their own parallel implementing legislation.
A proposal to make a Transfer of Functions Order, which would have removed all residual functions from the territorial Secretaries of State as regards England, has been delayed. Consequently, in making legislation under the Food Safety Act 1990 relating solely to England (as is the case here), the function of making that legislation remains vested in MAFF Ministers, the Secretarv of State for Health and the Secretarv of State for Wales acting jointly. Therefore the consent of the Secretarv of State for Wales's Department has been sought and obtained prior to the issue of this letter on behalf of that Department.
As this is a very minor amendment which the JSFFG intends to bring into force as soon as possible, they are proposing a shorter consultation period than would usually be the case.