A sunset clause in the Food Information (Scotland) Regulations 2014 (as amended) provides for the continued use of the low alcohol descriptors and compositional requirements for cheese and cream as contained in regulations 42 and 43 and Schedule 8 of the Food Labelling Regulations (FLR) 1996 (as amended). The sunset clause is due to expire on 13 December 2018.
Food Standards Scotland (FSS) is consulting on how best to continue with these national provisions so that consumers can make informed choices when purchasing such products.
The purpose of the consultation is to provide stakeholders with an opportunity to comment on whether or not the various definitions and compositional requirements should be set out in new National Regulations or would industry and consumers be content for these to be defined in best practice guidance.
FSS would like to assess the current understanding and possible continued use of the descriptive terms ‘low alcohol’, ‘non-alcoholic’, ‘alcohol-free’ and ‘dealcoholised’. FSS would also like to assess the level of understanding of the compositional requirements currently in place regarding the maximum water and milk fat content of various cheeses and the milk fat content of various types of cream.
Consultation responses will be analysed and feedback will be provided following the consultation in due course.
No decisions have been taken but in the meantime we recommend that businesses use the terms contained in regulations 42 and 43 and Schedule 8 of the Food Labelling Regulations (FLR) 1996 (as amended).
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