The Mineral Hydrocarbons in Food Regulations 1966

UK Statutory Instrument 1966 No. 1073 — creates 2 criminal offences.

2offences created

0recorded in force

0revoked

Made: 12 August 1966
In force from: 27 August 1966
Extent: Not stated
Subject: Food, consumer protection, trading standards, product safety and age-restricted sales
Made under: Food and Drugs Act 1955

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Regulations) — published with the instrument by the department that made it. © Crown copyright, reused under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

These regulations, which supersede the Mineral Hydrocarbons in Food Regulations 1964, apply to England and Wales only, and come into operation on 27th August 1966. The regulations prohibit (subject to certain exemptions relating to dried fruit, citrus fruit, sugar confectionery, food of which dried fruit, citrus fruit or sugar confectionery is an ingredient, lubricants, the rind of pressed cheese, and eggs) the use of any mineral hydrocarbon in the composition or preparation of food, the sale of food containing any mineral hydrocarbon, and the consignment, delivery or importation of any food containing any mineral hydrocarbon (regulation 4). The regulations do not apply to any food intended for exportation to any place outside the United Kingdom (regulation 3). The regulations lay down revised specifications for mineral hydrocarbons the use of which is regulated in relation to the permitted exemptions, including a test for limits of content of certain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (regulation 3(2) and Schedule). The regulations also make provision for the following:— the condemnation of food containing mineral hydrocarbons in contravention of the regulations (regulation 5); penalties for infringement of the regulations (regulation 6); enforcement by food and drugs authorities or (as regards the provisions of regulations 4 and 5 in so far as they relate to importation) by port health authorities (regulation 7); and application of certain sections of the Food and Drugs Act 1955) relating to legal proceedings (regulation 8).

Offences created by this instrument

Condemnation of food containing mineral hydrocarbon regulation 5 · Status not determined · Strict liability
Penalties regulation 6 · Status not determined · Strict liability

What Parliament said about it

Contributions, debates and written statements mentioning this instrument by name. Parliamentary material is reused under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0.

Labelling Of Food Lords · Lords Chamber · 6 June 1973 · EARL FERRERS
My Lords, the use of paraffin oil in food is controlled by the Mineral Hydrocarbons in Food Regulations 1966. The Departments concerned were sufficiently informed of this legislation, and the use to which paraffin oil as an ingredient is put, when the Labelling of Food Regulations were framed. These are general regulations and they require a list of ingredients on the labels of most pre-packed food. The presence of paraffin oil, when it is used as an ingredient, must therefore be indicated on the label. So far as I am aware, the law is being enforced by the food and drug authorities which…

How Parliament handled it

Parliament's Statutory Instruments service records procedure from May 2017 onwards, and this instrument predates it. That is a limit of the source, not a statement that nothing happened.

Check the source

This instrument on legislation.gov.uk The authoritative text, including amendments made since
Other instruments from 1966