Food Law in Scotland

In general the legislation listed in this guide applies only to Scotland. Similar legislation applies to England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

However, the Food Safety Act 1990, and regulations made under it between 1990 and June 1999, apply to Great Britain unless otherwise stated. Generally speaking, regulations made since 1999 only apply to Scotland, although on occasion GB wide regulations have been made, for example as part of the implementation of Regulation 178/2002.

The Food Standards Agency became operational on 3 April 2000 in accordance with the Food Standards Act 1999 and the Commencement Orders – The Food Standards Act 1999 (Commencement No 1) Order 2000 and Food Standards Act 1999 (Commencement No 2) Order 2000.

Consequently, and in pursuance of The Food Standards Act 1999 (Transitional and Consequential Provisions and Savings) (Scotland) Regulations 2000, functions and powers in relation to food safety consumer protection and animal feed which were hitherto exercised by the Scottish Ministers are now the responsibility of the Food Standards Agency.

The guide provides contact details for further information at the end of each section.

These notes are intended only as a general guide.

For definitive information the appropriate Act, Order, Regulation or Code of Practice should be consulted.

Independent legal advice is recommended.

The full guide is available below as a pdf document or in individual sections as webpages with links to the OPSI site for details of the individual (Scottish) Statutory Instruments.

Copies of the legislation referred to in this document may be obtained from:
The Stationery Office Bookshop*
71 Lothian Road
Edinburgh
EH3 9AZ

Tel: 0131-228-4181

or

The Stationery Office Publications Centre*
PO Box 276
London
SW8 5DT

Tel: 0870-600-5522

* Previously called Her Majesty's Stationery Office (HMSO)

The legislation can be obtained from the OPSI website.

Copies may also be obtained from The Stationery Office Bookshops listed below or through booksellers:

• 123 Kingsway, London WC2B 6PQ (Tel: 020-7242-6393)
• 9-21 Princess Street, Manchester M60 8AS (Tel: 0161-834-7201)
• 33 Wine Street, Bristol BS1 2BQ (Tel: 0117-926-4306)
• 68/69 Bull Street, Birmingham B4 6AD (Tel: 0121-236-9696)
• The Stationery Office Oriel Bookshop, The Friary, Cardiff CF1 4AA (Tel: 029-2039-5548)
• 16 Arthur Street, Belfast BT1 4GD (Tel: 028-9023-8451)

Note: Some of the Regulations listed may not be available from The Stationery Office Bookshops because they are amending Regulations, which have been revoked. These Regulations have been included only if their effects are still in force. However it may be possible to obtain copies of revoked legislation from good reference libraries.

Enquiries relating to enforcement of legislation should be addressed to:
Food Standards Agency Scotland
Local Authority Enforcement Branch
6th Floor
St Magnus House
25 Guild Street
Aberdeen
AB11 6NJ

Tel: 01224 285189

This document is issued by:
Food Standards Agency Scotland
6th Floor
St. Magnus House
25 Guild Street
Aberdeen
AB11 6NJ

Tel: 01224 285100
Fax: 01224 285168

As we are unable to produce large numbers of multiple copies of this publication for interested organisations, Crown Copyright has been waived. You are therefore free to copy this publication within your organisation and to anyone else who may need it. We acknowledge the help and co-operation of SEERAD, Departments of Trade and Industry and HM Customs and Excise in making this list available.