June 2011
Irish legislation
EU legislation
EU Proposed legislation
EFSA Health claims
European Communities (Classical Swine Fever) (Restriction on imports from Germany) Regulations 2011 (S.I. No 312 of 2011)
Summary: This S.I. These regulations concern import restrictions of pigs and pig products due to the incidence of Classical Swine Fever in certain parts of Germany
European Communities (Official Controls on the Import of Food of Non-Animal Origin) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2011 (S.I. No. 325 of 2011)
Summary: These Regulations give effect to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No. 433/2011 of 4 May 2011 amending Annex 1 to Regulation (EC) No. 669/2009 implementing Regulation (EC) No. 882/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the increased level of official controls on imports of certain feed and food of non-animal origin. They amend the European Communities (Official Controls on the Import of Food of Non-Animal Origin) Regulations 2010 (S.I. No. 391 of 2010) and they revoke the European Communities (Official Controls on the Import of Food of Non-Animal Origin) (Amendment) Regulations 2011 (S.I. No. 131 of 2011).
European Communities (Official Control of Foodstuffs) (Amendment) Regulations 2011(S.I. 344 of 2011)
Summary: This legislation, gives further effect to Regulation (EC) No. 882/2004 in particular by giving effect to Articles 28 and 54 of Regulation (EC) No. 882/2004 which deal with the collection of charges to cover expenses incurred in carrying out additional official controls and enforcement measures in cases of non-compliance.
EU Member States are required by Article 28 of Regulation (EC) No. 882/2004 to charge for expenses arising from additional official controls undertaken. This Article specifies that “When the detection of non-compliance leads to official controls that exceed the competent authority’s normal control activities, the competent authority shall charge the operators responsible for the non-compliance for the expenses arising from the additional official controls”. Normal control activities are defined in the EU Regulation as being “the routine control activities required under Community or national law and, in particular, those described in the plan (national control plan) provided for in Article 41” with the Regulation listing activities that exceed normal control activities as including “the taking and analysis of samples as well as other controls that are required to check the extent of a problem, to verify whether corrective action has been taken, or to detect and/or substantiate non-compliance”.
Article 54 of Regulation (EC) No. 882/2004 places an obligation on competent authorities in each EU Member State to take action in cases where they identify non-compliance that will ensure that food business operators remedy the situation. The EU legislation specifies that all expenditure incurred pursuant to these actions must be borne by the food business operator.
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) and the Health Service Executive (HSE) are both designated as competent authorities in this S.I. and, are currently in the process of finalising guidance on the implementation of this S.I. The level of the additional charges under the S.I is currently being examined by the HSE. When finalised additional information will be posted on the FSAI webpage http://www.fsai.ie/legislation/food_legislation/official_control_of_foodstuffs/general_provisions.html
European Communities (Pesticide Residues) (Amendment) Regulations 2011 ( S.I. No 302 of 2011 )
Summary: These Regulations amend the maximum residue levels (MRL) for certain plant protection products permissible in food and feed crops as provided for under Regulation (EC) No. 396/2005
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 543/2011 (OJ L 157, p1, 15/06/2011) of 7 June 2011 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 in respect of the fruit and vegetables and processed fruit and vegetables sectors
Summary: Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 establishes a common organisation of agricultural markets which includes the fruit and vegetables and processed fruit and vegetables sectors. The Regulation which currently sets out the implementing rules (Marketing standards) covering the fruit and vegetables and processed fruit and vegetables sectors has been amended several times. In the interests of clarity all the implementing rules are incorporated into this new Regulation, together with the amendments necessary in the light of experience, and the current rules ie Regulation (EC) No 1580/2007 will be repealed from the 31st August 2011.
Commission Decision 2011/366/EU (OJ L163, p55, 23/06/2011) of 17 June 2011 authorising the placing on the market of products containing, consisting of, or produced from genetically modified maize MON 89034 × MON 88017 (MON-89Ø34-3xMON-88Ø17-3) pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council
Summary: This Decision authorises foods and food ingredients containing, consisting of, or produced from MON-89Ø34-3xMON-88Ø17-3 maize; feed containing, consisting of, or produced from MON- 89Ø34-3xMON-88Ø17-3 maize; products other than food and feed containing or consisting of MON-89Ø34-3xMON-88Ø17-3 maize for the same uses as any other maize with the exception of cultivation.
For the purposes of the labelling requirements laid down in Article 13(1) and Article 25(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 and in Article 4(6) of Regulation (EC) No 1830/2003, the ‘name of the organism’ is ‘maize’.
The words ‘not for cultivation’ must appear on the label of and in documents accompanying products containing or consisting of MON-89Ø34-3xMON-88Ø17-3 maize in feed or products other than food and feed.
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 590/2011 (OJ L161, p9, 21/06/2011) of 20 June 2011 amending Regulation (EC) No 1235/2008, laying down detailed rules for implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 as regards the arrangements for imports of organic products from third countries
Summary: Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 1235/2008 has established a list of third countries whose system of production and control measures for organic production of agricultural products are recognised as equivalent to those laid down in Regulation (EC) No 834/2007. In the light of a new application and information received by the European Commission from third countries since the last publication of the list, certain modifications are taken into consideration and the list is adapted accordingly
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 576/2011 (OJ L of 16 June 2011 amending Regulation (EC) No 543/2008 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 as regards the marketing standards for poultrymeat
Summary: This Regulation amends Annex XI to Regulation (EC) No 543/2008 regarding the list of national reference laboratories
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 533/2011 (OJ L of 31 May 2011 entering a name in the register of protected designations of origin and protected geographical indications [Chorizo de Cantimpalos (PGI)]
Summary: This Regulation approves Spain’s application to register the name ‘Chorizo de Cantimpalos’ in the register of protected designations of origin and protected geographical indications
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 567/2011 (OJ L158, p25, 16/06/2011)of 14 June 2011 entering a name in the register of protected designations of origin and protected geographical indications (Porchetta di Ariccia (PGI))
Summary: This Regulation approves Italy’s application to register the name ‘Porchetta di Ariccia’ in the register of protected designations of origin and protected geographical indications
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 568/2011 (OJ L158, p27, 16/06/2011) of 14 June 2011 entering a name in the register of protected designations of origin and protected geographical indications (Miód drahimski (PGI))
Summary: This Regulation approves Poland’s application to register the name ‘Miód drahimski’in the register of protected designations of origin and protected geographical indications
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 584/2011 (OJ L160, p65, 18/06/2011) of 17 June 2011 approving non-minor amendments to the specification for a name entered in the register of protected designations of origin and protected geographical indications (Grana Padano (PDO))
Summary: This Regulation approves Italy’s application for the approval of amendments to the specification for the protected designation of origin ‘Grana Padano’ registered under Commission Regulation (EC) No 1107/96 in the register of protected designations of origin and protected geographical indications
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 596/2011 (OJ L of 7 June 2011 entering a name in the register of protected designations of origin and protected geographical indications [Fichi di Cosenza (PDO)]
Summary: This Regulation approves Italy’s application to register the name ‘Fichi di Cosenza’ in the register of protected designations of origin and protected geographical indications
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 635/2011 (OJ L170, p26, 30/06/2011) of 29 June 2011 entering a name in the register of protected designations of origin and protected geographical indications [Aceite Campo de Calatrava (PDO)]
Summary: This Regulation approves Spain’s application to register the name ‘Aceite Campo de Calatrava’ in the register of protected designations of origin and protected geographical indications
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 636/2011 (OJ L170, p28, 30/06/2011) of 29 June 2011 entering a name in the register of protected designations of origin and protected geographical indications [Moules de bouchot de la Baie du Mont-Saint-Michel (PDO)]
Summary: This Regulation approves France's application to register the name ‘Moules de bouchot de la Baie du Mont-Saint-Michel’ in the register of protected designations of origin and protected geographical indications
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 637/2011 (OJ L 170 p30, 30/06/2011) of 29 June 2011 approving a non-minor amendment to the specification for a name entered in the register of protected designations of origin and protected geographical indications [Beaufort (PDO)]
Summary: This Regulation approves France's application for the approval of amendments to the specification for the protected designation of origin ‘Beaufort’ registered under Commission Regulation (EC) No 1107/96 in the register of protected designations of origin and protected geographical indications
Commission Regulation (EU) No 538/2011 (OJ L 147, p6, 02/06/2011) of 1 June 2011 amending Regulation (EC) No 607/2009 laying down certain detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 479/2008 as regards protected designations of origin and geographical indications, traditional terms, labelling and presentation of certain wine sector products
Summary: This Regulation requires that the list of representative trade organisations and their members provided in Annex XI to Regulation (EC) No 607/2009 should be published on the Internet. It also permits that terms traditionally used in third countries may obtain recognition and protection as traditional terms in the EU also where they are used in conjunction with geographical indications or names of origin regulated by those third countries, The Regulation also requires that the protected traditional terms listed in Annex XII to Regulation (EC) No 607/2009 be transferred to the electronic database ‘E-Bacchus’ thus gathering protected designations of origin, protected geographical indications and protected traditional terms in a single IT tool, easily available for consultation purposes. The Regulation also amends the rules on the presentation of sparkling wine, quality sparkling wine and quality aromatic sparkling wine. Transitional provisions are also included for the introduced amendments.
Proposal for a Regulation on food intended for infants and young children and on food for special medical purposes
The proposal revises the legislation on foodstuffs intended for particular nutritional uses covered by Directive 2009/39/EC. It abolishes the concept of dietetic foods and provides for a new framework establishing general provisions only for a limited number of well-established and defined categories of food that are considered as essential for certain vulnerable groups of the population, i.e. food intended for infants and young children and food for patients under medical supervision. The proposal aims at creating a single legal measure that regulates lists of substances such as vitamins, minerals and other substances that may be added to the categories of food covered by the proposal. The currently existing three different lists of substances included in three different legal measures would be combined into a single one.
The proposal will follow the ordinary legislative procedure which means that it will be discussed by the European Parliament and the Council, depending on these discussions rules could be adopted by the end of 2012
EU Questions and Answers on dietetic foods
EU Press Release on dietetic foods
Publication of EFSA's fifth set of opinions on Article 13 claims
The European Food Safety Authority's (EFSA) published on the 30th June , the fifth set of opinions covering more than 530 health claims on food products (also known as "Article 13 claims"). The other four series of opinions were published on 1 October 2009, 25 February 2010, 19 October 2010 and 8 April 2011. The five sets of opinions cover more than 2,700 health claims of the approximately 4,600 submitted for scientific advice. Five more opinions on 35 remaining claims are expected to be published in July. The publication of these five opinions, will finalise the assessment of all claims on substances other than those which are considered "botanicals." Once the last five opinions are published the European Commission will then establish in one step the list of permitted health claims for all substances (other than "botanicals."). The Health Claims Regulation (1924/2006/EC) stipulated a deadline of the 21st Jan 2010 for the adoption of the list of permitted health claims, however due to the numbers of claims this deadline was not met. The European Commission now foresees an adoption of the Health Claims Regulation by early 2012. Further information is available on the Europa website here.
Last reviewed: 29/8/2011