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STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS
2003 No. 461
FOOD, ENGLAND
The Fish Labelling (England) Regulations 2003
Made
26th February 2003
Laid before Parliament
6th March 2003
Coming into force
28th March 2003
The Secretary of State, in exercise of the powers conferred on him by sections 16(1)(e) and (f), 17(2), 26(3) and 48(1) of the Food Safety Act 1990[1] and of all other powers enabling him in that behalf, having had regard in accordance with section 48(4A) of that Act to advice given by the Food Standards Agency and after consultation both as required by Article 9 of Regulation (EC) No. 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council[2] and in accordance with section 48(4) and (4B) of the said Act, hereby makes the following Regulations:
Citation, commencement and extent 1.
These Regulations may be cited as the Fish Labelling (England) Regulations 2003, shall come into force on 28th March 2003 and shall extend to England only.
"Regulation 104/2000" means Council Regulation (EC) No. 104/2000 on the common organisation of the markets in fishery and aquaculture products[3];
"Regulation 2065/2001" means Commission Regulation (EC) No. 2065/2001 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No. 104/2000 as regards informing consumers about fishery and aquaculture products[4];
and any expressions used in these Regulations and in Regulation 104/2000 or Regulation 2065/2001 have the same meaning as in those Regulations.
Offences relating to consumer information 3.
- (1) Any person who, in contravention of Article 4.1 of Regulation 104/2000 (consumer information) as read with Regulation 2065/2001, offers for retail sale to the final consumer any of the products to which that Article applies shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.
(2) Any person who fails to comply with Article 8 of Regulation 2065/2001 (traceability and control) shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.
Lists of commercial designations 4.
- (1) As regards England, the list of commercial designations which the United Kingdom is required to draw up and publish under Article 4(2) of Regulation 104/2000 is that set out in the Schedule to these Regulations, and accordingly, the commercial designations set out in that Schedule are names prescribed by law for the purposes of regulations 6(1), 7 and 8(a) of the Food Labelling Regulations 1996[5].
(2) In relation to a species included both in the Schedule to these Regulations and in a list published in English under Article 4(2) of Regulation 104/2000 having effect in another Member State or in another part of the United Kingdom, the commercial designation for that species in the list having effect in that other Member State or part of the United Kingdom shall be an alternative to the commercial designation for that species set out in the Schedule to these Regulations.
Omission of reference to the production method 5.
In the case described in Article 4.2 of Regulation 2065/2001 (situation where it is obvious from commercial designation and catch area that the species is caught at sea) it shall not be a contravention of Article 4.1 of Regulation 104/2000 to offer for retail sale to the final consumer a fisheries product to which that Article applies without the product being marked or labelled with the production method.
Small quantities of products 6.
- (1) For the purposes of Article 4(1) of Regulation 104/2000 as read with Article 7 of Regulation 2065/2001, the small quantity of products which may be sold directly to consumers shall be products to a value not exceeding 20 Euro for each purchase.
(2) For the purposes of this regulation, the reference to 20 Euro shall be taken to be a reference to the sterling equivalent of that number of Euro, converted by reference to the rate of conversion published annually on the first working day of the preceding September in the C series of the Official Journal of the European Communities or, if no rate is published in it on that day, the first rate published in it thereafter.
Additional information relating to the catch area 7.
The indication of catch area required by Article 4(1)(c) of Regulation 104/2000 may, where the circumstances described in Article 5(1)(c) of Regulation 2065/2001 apply, indicate the various Member States or third countries in which the product was farmed.
Provisional commercial designations 8.
- (1) For the purposes of Article 2 of Regulation 2065/2001 (provisional commercial designations), the Food Standards Agency ("the Agency") shall be the competent authority.
(2) The Agency shall draw up and publish a list of provisional commercial designations laid down pursuant to the said Article 2.
Enforcement 9.
Each food authority shall enforce and execute these Regulations in its area.
Application of various provisions of the Act 10.
The following provisions of the Act shall apply for the purposes of these Regulations with the modification that any reference in those provisions to the Act or Part of the Act shall be construed as a reference to these Regulations and to those provisions of Regulation 104/2000 and Regulation 2065/2001 to which these Regulations relate -
(a) section 3 (presumption that food is intended for human consumption);
(b) section 20 (offences due to fault of another person);
(c) section 21 (defence of due diligence) as it applies for the purposes of section 8, 14 or 15;
(d) section 30(8) (which relates to documentary evidence);
(e) section 32 of the Act (powers of entry);
(f) section 33(1) (obstruction etc of officers);
(g) section 33(2) with the modification that the reference to "any such requirement as is mentioned in subsection (1) (b) above" shall be deemed to be a reference to any such requirement as is mentioned in that subsection as applied by sub-paragraph (f) above;
(h) section 35(1) (punishment of offences) insofar as it relates to offences under section 33(1) as applied by sub-paragraph (f) above;
(i) section 35(2) and (3) insofar as it relates to offences under section 33(2) as applied by sub-paragraph (g) above;
(j) section 36 (offences by bodies corporate);
(k) section 44 (protection of officers acting in good faith).
Revocation 11.
Paragraph 1 of Schedule 1 to the Food Labelling Regulations 1996 (prescribed names of fish and shellfish) is revoked insofar as it extends to England.
Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Health
Hazel Blears
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Department of Health
1.
- (1) Subject to sub-paragraphs (2) and (3) of this paragraph, the commercial designation for any species of fish specified in column 2 of the following Table shall be a name specified for that species in the corresponding entry in column 1 of the said Table.
(2) A customary name may be used for any species of fish which has been subjected to smoking or any similar process, unless the name of the species in column 2 of the following Table is followed by an asterisk. In such cases the name used for the food when the fish is smoked shall be either -
(a) a name specified for that species in column 1 of the said Table preceded by the word "smoked", or
(b) except in the case of Salmo salar (L.), "smoked Pacific salmon".
(3) Sub-paragraph (1) of this paragraph, as read with the following Table, shall not apply to fish regulated by Council Regulation (EEC) No 2136/89[6] laying down common marketing standards for preserved sardines, or Council Regulation (EEC) No 1536/92[7] laying down common marketing standards for preserved tuna and bonito.
Column 1
Column 2
Commercial designation
Species of fish
Sea Fish
Anchovy
All species of the family Engraulidae
Barracuda
All species of Sphyraena
Barramundi
Lates calcarifer
Bass or Sea bass
Dicentrarchus labrax (L.)
Japanese sea bass
Lateolabrax japonicus
Spotted sea bass
Dicentrarchus punctatus
Southern rock bass
Paralabrax callaensis
Bigeye
All species of Priacanthus
Bluefish or Tailor
Pomatomus saltatrix
Bogue
Boops boops
Bonito
All species of Sarda
All species of Euthynnus, with the exception of Euthynnus (Katsuwonus) pelamis
All species of Auxis
Brill
Scophthalmus rhombus (L.)
Brisling
Sprattus sprattus (L.) when canned
Catfish or Rockfish or Wolffish
All species of Anarhichas
Cobia
Rachycentron canadum
Cod or Codling
Gadus morhua
Pacific cod or Cod
Gadus macrocephalus
Greenland cod or Cod
Gadus ogac
Saffron cod
Eleginus gracilis
Red cod
Pseudophycis bachus
Blue cod
Parapercis colias
Coley or Saithe or Coalfish
Pollachius virens (L.)
Conger
All species of Conger
Croaker or Drum or Jewfish
All species of the family Sciaenidae
Dab
Limanda limanda (L.)
Yellowtail dab
Limanda ferruginea
Pacific sand dab
Citharichthys sordidus
Dogfish or Flake or Huss or Rigg or Rock Salmon or Rock Eel
All species of Galeorhinus
All species of Mustelus
All species of Scyliorhinus
Galeus melastomus
Squalus acanthias (L.)
Dory or John Dory or St Peter's fish
Zeus faber (L.)
Eel
All species of Anguilla
Emperor
All species of Lethrinus
Escolar or Snake Mackerel
All species of the family Gempylidae
Flounder
Platichthys flesus (L.)
Flying fish
All species of the family Exocoetidae
Greenling
Ophiodon elongatus
Grouper
All species of Mycteroperca
All species of Epinephelus
Gurnard
All species of the family Triglidae
Peristedion cataphractum (L.)
Haddock
Melanogrammus aeglefinus (L.)
Hake
All species of Merluccius
Alternatively, the following may be used
Cape hake
Merluccius capensis
Merluccius paradoxus
White hake
Urophycis tenuis
Halibut
Hippoglossus hippoglossus (L.)
Hippoglossus stenolepis
Black halibut or Mock halibut
Reinhardtius hippoglossoides (Walbaum)
Herring
Clupea harengus (L.)
Hilsa
Tenualosa ilisha
Hoki
Macruronus novaezelandiae
Chilean hoki
Macruronus magellanicus
Jack or Scad or Horse Mackerel or Trevally
All species of Caranx
All species of Hemicaranx
All species of Seriola
All species of Trachurus
All species of Decapterus
Kingklip
Genypterus capensis
Ladyfish
All species of the family Elopidae
Ling
All species of Molva
Lumpfish or Lumpsucker
Cyclopterus lumpus
Mackerel
All species of Scomber
King Mackerel or Kingfish
Scomberomorus cavalla
Mahi Mahi
Coryphaena hippurus
Marlin
All species of Makaira
Megrim
All species of Lepidorhombus
Milkfish
Chanos chanos
Monk(fish) or Angler(fish)
Lophius piscatorius (L.)
Lophius americanus
Cape monk(fish) or Cape angler(fish)
Lophius vomerinus
Red mullet
All species of Mullus
Goatfish
All other species of the family Mullidae
Grey mullet
All species of Mugil
All species of Liza
All species of Chelon
Opah or Moonfish
All species of Lampris
Orange roughy
Hoplostethus atlanticus
Parrotfish
All species of the family Scaridae
Picarel
Spicara smaris
Pilchard
Sardina pilchardus (Walbaum)
Pacific pilchard
Sardinops sagax that has been caught in the Pacific Ocean
South Atlantic pilchard
Sardinops sagax that has been caught in the South Atlantic Ocean
Plaice
Pleuronectes platessa (L.)
American plaice
Hippoglossoides platessoides (Fabr.)
Pollack or Pollock or Lythe
Pollachius pollachius (L.)
Pacific pollack or Pacific pollock or Alaska pollack or Alaska pollock
Theragra chalcogramma (Pallas)
Pomfret or Butterfish
All species of Brama
All species of Stromateus
All species of Pampus
Poor cod
Trisopterus minutus
Pout or Pout Whiting or Pouting or Bib
Trisopterus luscus
Rainbow runner
Elagatis bipinnulata
Redfish or Ocean perch or Rose fish
All species of Sebastes
All species of Helicolenus
Sablefish
Anoplopoma fimbria
Sailfish
All species of Istiophorus
Sardine
Small Sardina pilchardus (Walbaum)
Sardinella
All species of Sardinella
Scabbard fish or Sabre or Sabre fish or Silver sabre or Black sabre
Lepidopus caudatus
Aphanopus carbo
Sea bream or Porgy
All species of the family Sparidae except Boops boops
Sild
Small Clupea harengus (L.), when canned
Small Sprattus sprattus (L.), when canned
Skate or Ray or Roker
All species of Raja
Smelt or Sparling
All species of Osmerus
Snapper
All species of the family Lutjanidae
Alternatively, the following may be used
Jobfish
All species of Aphareus
All species of Aprion
All species of Pristipomoides
Snook
All species of Centropomus
Sole or Dover sole
Solea solea (L.)
Butter sole
Isopsetta isolepis
Californian sole
Parophrys vetulus
Lemon sole
Microstomus kitt (Walbaum)
Petrale sole
Eopsetta jordani
Rex sole or Long-finned sole
Glyptocephalus zachirus
Rock sole
Lepidopsetta bilineata
Pacific sole
Microstomus pacificus
Torbay sole or Witch
Glyptocephalus cynoglossus (L.)
Sprat
Sprattus sprattus (L.), except when canned
Swordfish
Xiphias gladius
Tarpon
All species of the family Megalopidae
Threadfin bream
All species of Nemipterus
Toothfish or Icefish
Dissostichus mawsoni
Dissostichus eleginoides
Tuna or Tunny
All species of Thunnus
Skipjack tuna (or tuna)
Katsuwonus pelamis
Albacore tuna (or tuna)
Thunnus alalunga
Yellowfin tuna (or tuna)
Thunnus albacares
Bluefin tuna (or tuna)
Thunnus thynnus
Bigeye tuna (or tuna)
Thunnus obesus
Turbot
Psetta maxima
Wahoo
Acanthocybium solandri
Whitebait
Small Clupea harengus (L.)
Small Sprattus sprattus (L.) (except when canned)
Whiting
Merlangius merlangus (L.)
Blue whiting
Micromesistius poutassou (Risso)
Southern blue whiting
Micromesistius australis
Winter flounder
Pseudopleuronectes americanus (Walbaum)
Salmon and Freshwater Fish
Bacha
Eutropiichthys vacha
Batashi
Pseudeutropius atherinoides
Carp
All species of the family Cyprinidae
Alternatively the following may be used
Mowrala
Amblypharyngodon mola
Banspata
Danio devario
Bata
Labeo bata
Kalibous
Labeo calbasu
Ghania
Labeo gonius
Ruhi
Labeo rohita
Punti
Puntius sarana
Chelapata
Salmostoma bacaila
Catfish or American catfish or Channel catfish
All species of the family Ictaluridae
Catfish
All species of the family Clariidae
All species of the family Siluridae
All species of the family Bagridae
Alternatively the following may be used
Magur
Clarias batrachus
Gulsha
Mystus bleekeri
Buzuri
Mystus tengara
Tengra
Mystus vittatus
Pabda
Ompok pabda
Ayre
Sperata aor
Boal
Wallago attu
Chapila
Gudusia chapra
Char
All species of Salvelinus
Kakila
Xenentodon cancila
Keski
Corica soborna
Khalisha
Colisa fasciatus
Koi
Anabas testudineus
Largebaim
Mastacembelus armatus
Meni
Nandus nandus
Nile perch
Lates niloticus
Pacific dory or Vietnamese sole
Pangasius bocourti
Patabaim
Macrognathus aculeatus
Queen fish
Botia dario
River cobbler
Pangasius micronemus
Pangasius hypophthalmus
Salmon or Atlantic salmon
Salmo salar (L.)*
Cherry salmon or Pacific salmon
Oncorhynchus masou masou*
Chum salmon or Keta salmon
Oncorhynchus keta (Walbaum)*
Medium red salmon or Coho salmon or Silver salmon
Oncorhynchus kisutch (Walbaum)*
Pink salmon
Oncorhynchus gorbuscha (Walbaum)*
Red salmon or Sockeye salmon
Oncorhynchus nerka (Walbaum)*
Spring salmon or King salmon or Chinook salmon or Pacific salmon
Oncorhynchus tshawytscha (Walbaum)*
Shol
Channa striata
Taki
Channa punctata
Tilapia
All species of Tilapia
All species of Oreochromis
Trout or Brown trout
Salmo trutta trutta (L.) which has spent all of its life in fresh water
Sea trout or Salmon trout
Salmo trutta trutta (L.) which has spent part of its life in sea water
Cut-throat trout or trout
Oncorhynchus clarki clarki
Rainbow trout or Steelhead trout or trout
Oncorhynchus mykiss
Shellfish
Abalone or Ormer
All species of Haliotis
Clam or Hard shell clam
Mercenaria mercenaria (L.)
Venus verrucosa (L.)
Clam or Razor clam
All species of Ensis and Solen
Geoduck or Geoduck clam
Panopea abrupta
Surf clam
All species of Spisula
Cockle
All species of Cerastoderma
Crab
All species of the order Brachyura
All species of the family Lithodidae
Crayfish
All species of the family Astacidae
All species of the family Parastacidae
All species of the family Austroastacidae
All species of the family Cambaridae
Cuttlefish
All species of Sepia
Rossia macrosoma
Lobster
All species of Homarus
Slipper lobster
All species of the family Scyllaridae
Squat lobster
All species of the family Galatheidae
Crawfish or Spiny lobster or Rock lobster
All species of Panulirus
All species of Palinurus
All species of Jasus
Indian ocean lobster
Puerulus sewelli
Mussel
All species of the family Mytilidae
Octopus
All species of Octopus
Oyster
All species of Crassostrea
All species of Ostrea
Oyster or Portuguese oyster
Crassostrea angulata (Lmk.)
Oyster or Pacific oyster or Rock oyster
Crassostrea gigas (Thunberg)
Oyster or Native oyster
Ostrea edulis (L.)
Prawn or Shrimp
Whole fish (of a size which, when cooked, have a count of less than 397 per kg) or tails (of a size which, when peeled and cooked, have a count of less than 1,323 per kg) of -
all species of the family Palaemonidae,
all species of the family Penaeidae, and
all species of the family Pandalidae
King prawn
All species of the family Palaemonidae
All species of the family Penaeidae
Where the count is less than 123 per kg (head on/shell on) or less than 198 per kg (head off/shell on) or less than 242 per kg (head off/shell off)
Tiger prawn
Penaeus monodon
Penaeus semisulcatus
Penaeus esculentus
Penaeus kerathurus
Penaeus japonicus
Parapenaeopsis hardwickii
Parapenaeopsis sculptilis
Scallop or King scallop
Pecten maximus
Atlantic scallop or Scallop
Placopecten magellanicus
Queen scallop or Queen or Scallop
Chlamys (Aequipecten) opercularis
Scallop or Common scallop
All species of the family Pectinidae
Scampi or Norway lobster or Dublin Bay prawn or Langoustine
Nephrops norvegicus (L.)
Pacific scampi
Metanephrops andamanicus
Metanephrops challengeri
Metanephrops thomsoni
Shrimp
Whole fish (of a size which, when cooked, have a count of 397 per kg or more) or tails (of a size which, when peeled and cooked, have a count of 1,323 per kg or more) of -
These Regulations, which extend to England only, provide for the execution and enforcement of Title 1, Chapter 2 of Council Regulation (EC) 104/2000 on the common organisation of the markets in fishery and aquaculture products as applied by Commission Regulation (EC) 2065/2001 laying down detailed rules on the application of Council Regulation (EC) 104/2000 as regards informing consumers about fishery and aquaculture products.
Title 1 of Chapter 2 of Council Regulation (EC) 104/2000 imposes requirements regarding the provision of information about the commercial designation, production method and catch area of certain fishery and aquaculture products offered for retail sale to the final consumer. It further provides for Member States to draw up and publish a list of commercial designations for at least the species listed in Annexes I to IV of the Regulation. Commission Regulation (EC) 2065/2001 describes in more detail the information to be provided to consumers and the exemptions that may be allowed. It also provides for the necessary information to be provided at each stage of the marketing process.
These Regulations:
(a) provide a list, as regards England, of the commercial designations required to be drawn up by the United Kingdom (regulation 4 and the Schedule) and further provide for the granting of provisional commercial designations (regulation 8);
(b) make provision as to the relaxation of the requirements in certain circumstances in relation to information about the production method (regulation 5); in the case of direct sales of small quantities to consumers by fishermen or aquaculture producers (regulation 6) and with regard to the inclusion of additional information about catch area (regulation 7);
(c) create offences and prescribe penalties (regulation 3), specify enforcement authorities (regulation 9) and incorporate specified provisions of the Food Safety Act 1990 (regulation 10);
(d) revoke the fish labelling requirements set out in paragraph 1 of Schedule 1 to the Food Labelling Regulations 1996 in relation to England (regulation 11).
A Regulatory Impact Assessment has been prepared and placed in the Library of each House of Parliament. Copies may be obtained from Food Labelling Division, Food Standards Agency, Aviation House, 125 Kingsway, London WC2B 6NH.