Regulation & Legislation

Cornish Stingers: Is it a beer or made wine?

HMRC wine over nettle beer

By Graham Holter

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has driven a Cornish drinks producer to lower the alcoholic strength of its ‘nettle beer’ and stung it with a stiff duty bill, after it decided that the drink should be classified as a wine.

Traditional Cornish Pasty

Will all real Cornish pasties please stand up!

By Ben Bouckley

Cornish pasty producers have welcomed an European Commission (EC) decision to award protected status to products made in the region according to a uniform traditional recipe.

Could a simple amendment to the FIR create a two-tier butter market in the EU?

Manufacturers fret over EU 'defrosted' designation

By Ben Bouckley

Industry concerns are growing about a possible amendment to the EU Food Information Regulation (FIR) that will require all foods frozen, then defrosted before sale, to be labelled ‘defrosted’.

It's time to take the politics out of food ...

It's time to take the politics out of food ...

By Clare Cheney

The media described the recent incident concerning dioxin in pork and egg products from animals fed with dioxin-contaminated feed as ‘a scandal’. But this is compounded by the needless and wasteful slaughter of expensively reared animals and the destruction...

Processors must secure legal egg supplies fast

Processors must secure legal egg supplies fast

By Rod Addy

UK manufacturers have been warned they must switch caged egg supplies now to legitimate sources ahead of changes to EU rules from next year or face serious consequences.

'No added salt' breakthrough on nutrition claims

'No added salt' breakthrough on nutrition claims

By Elaine Watson

The European Commission (EC) has finally addressed the thorny issue of nutrition claims that remain widely-used but are now technically illegal under the health claims Regulation, a year behind schedule.

Probiotic health claims: Reasons to be cheerful?

Probiotic health claims: Reasons to be cheerful?

By Rick Pendrous

Last week's meeting between industry stakeholders and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) on gut health claims has left Danisco feeling 'slightly more positive', although many firms were left feeling disappointed by the lack of specific...

Goji berries: Narrowly escaped novel foods process

Efficacy of novel food should balance risks

By Rick Pendrous

Food companies want the potential benefits of novel foodstuffs to be weighed against their food safety risks when they are being considered for approval by the regulatory authorities.

Salminen: Hard to reach a 'constructive' end result

NDA: EC gave inadequate guidance on health claims

By Elaine Watson

The depressingly high rejection rate for ‘article 13.1’ health claims is hardly surprising given the nature of the submission process, according to one member of the expert panel tasked with assessing them.

FSA: Cloned meat is safe, hypothetically ...

FSA: Cloned meat is safe, hypothetically ...

By Ben Bouckley

Meat and milk derived from cloned cattle and their offspring is one step closer to being on sale in the UK after scientists agreed that it was “unlikely to present a food safety risk”.

Nano definition raises as many questions as it answers

Nano definition raises as many questions as it answers

By Elaine Watson

The Institute of Food Science and Technology (IFST) has welcomed moves by the European Commission (EC) to develop a definition of nanomaterials for regulatory purposes, but raised some concerns about the draft definition currently out for consultation.

DEFRA COOL draft cites new rules on cheese

DEFRA COOL draft cites new rules on cheese

By Elaine Watson

The latest draft of the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs’ (DEFRA’s) new code of practice on country of origin labelling (COOL) advises manufacturers to state the origin of liquid milk used in cheese and butter OR the place these products...

Polyol suppliers are smiling about positive EFSA sugar-free gum opinions

Roquette chews on positive EFSA gum opinions

By Shane Starling

French supplier Roquette is hailing the potential of polyols to boost dental health, following recent article 14 positive opinions for sugar-free gum from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

Companies collaborating for public good risk breaking law

Companies collaborating for public good risk breaking law

By Rick Pendrous

Food business operators have been warned they risk infringing competition law by collaborating on some government initiatives designed to improve the nutritional profile of foods. Companies found guilty could face hefty fines.

Are you prepared for the Bribery Act?

Are you prepared for the Bribery Act?

By Rick Pendrous and Elaine Watson

Food manufacturers could fall foul of new legislation unless they educate staff about the difference between legitimate corporate hospitality and bribery, Eversheds has warned.

Casual use of 'hand-made'undermines artisan producers

Casual use of 'hand-made'undermines artisan producers

By Frederick Dawson and Elaine Watson

Artisan confectionery manufacturers are being undermined by a lack of clarity regarding the use of the word ‘hand-made’ on labels, according to chocolate maker Chocolaterie Casemir.

Tax snatchers stall innovation as government tackles debt

Tax snatchers stall innovation as government tackles debt

By Rod Addy


New product development is being disrupted by HM Revenue & Customs’ (HMRC’s) increased efforts to claw back value added tax (VAT) on food as the government tackles UK debt, according to lawyers and manufacturers.

Can we feed the world
 by 2050?

Can we feed the world
 by 2050?

By Professor Judy Buttriss

The world’s population had doubled to 6bn by the end of the last century. Global food shortages were predicted but averted. But can the food chain meet the challenge of feeding 9bn mouths by 2050? And will genetic modification technology have a place...

All for one – and one department for all


All for one – and one department for all


By Clare Cheney

Upon learning that responsibility for food labelling in England is to be distributed between three government departments, these words from Gilbert and Sullivan’s Mikado sprung to mind: “but the laws of common sense, you oughtn’t to ignore”.

Pork provenance code of practice gains momentum

Pork provenance code of practice gains momentum

By Elaine Watson

All the leading supermarkets, 13 caterers (including McDonald’s), 14 processors/suppliers and eight branded food manufacturers have now signed up to a voluntary code of practice on country of origin labelling (COOL) on pork and pork products.

DEFRA to draw up new COOL guide by end of November

DEFRA to draw up new COOL guide by end of November

By Elaine Watson

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) is aiming to draw up a new voluntary code of practice on country of origin labelling (COOL) by the end of November.

Soy protein health claim: EC should be ‘pragmatic’

Soy protein health claim: EC should be ‘pragmatic’

By Elaine Watson

The firms behind a high-profile ‘article 14’ health claim application about soy protein are hoping the European Commission will “adopt a pragmatic approach” as it reviews a controversial negative opinion on their application from the European Food Safety...

Nano definition is a legal minefield, warn scientists

Nano definition is a legal minefield, warn scientists

By Elaine Watson

Agreeing on a legal definition of nanomaterials that satisfies food manufacturers, regulators, enforcement bodies and consumers will be hugely challenging, according to experts gathered at a nanotechnology workshop in Leatherhead last week.

Red Tractor

FSA probes third-party assurance schemes

By Elaine Watson

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has launched a probe into third-party assurance schemes such as the Red Tractor and Lion Eggs standard in a bid to understand the extent to which they improve compliance with food legislation.

Clare Cheney

Which God made the seven-day milk rule?

By Clare Cheney

The European Parliament’s (EP’s) call for milk labelled as ‘fresh’ to be under seven days old raises the question of the meaning of ‘fresh’ in relation to any food.


Web health claims likely target in UK online crackdown

Web health claims likely target in UK online crackdown

By Shane Starling

New Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) powers to monitor and adjudicate on online marketing materials will place web-based messaging for healthy foods under serious scrutiny for the first time, with many likely to fall foul of the agency’s guidelines,...

Ecclefechan Tart

Ecclefechan Tart and Ayrshire bacon perfect for PGIs?

By Elaine Watson

Ecclefechan Tart, shortbread, Scottish wild venison, Ayrshire bacon and several regional preserves and speciality cheeses are all prime candidates for EU protected name status, according to a new report.

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