Legislation explained
Structure
Legislation is a complicated subject. To try to simplify it, so that it can be explained and presented to you in a way in which it can be understood, we’ve come up with the following structure.
The structure, is built using three levels:
Level 1 – Core Safety & Control Frameworks
1. General food law
2. Food hygiene
3. Controls and enforcement
4. Transparency and governance
Level 2 – Safety Parameters & Operational Detail
5. Contaminants and residues
6. Microbiological criteria and process hygiene
7. Food contact materials and packaging
8. Additives
9. Labelling
10. Product safety
Level 3 – Specialist Product & Environmental Areas
11. Packaging waste
12. Agricultural
13. Organic
14. GMO
15. Novel foods
16. Food supplements and fortification
17. Foods for specific groups (FSG)
Within these levels, there are 17 sections. Below these are explained and you can jump straight to the page which will give you information on the related legislation. The section pages link to all the related legislation.
Scope
These sections cover both EU and UK legislation as a minimum.
How to find what you need
If you want to jump to the section of the legislation (for example, everything about food contact materials (section 7) – you can use the links below. If you want to find an individual piece of legislation, using the reference – you can find these from the document register.
If you have any problems finding what you need, use the chat button in the corner of the screen and we’ll help you.
Legislation – levels and sections
Level 1 – Core Safety and Control Frameworks
Section
Overview
Summary
1. General food law
The fundamental framework for food law. It covers the overarching principles, responsibilities, and governance structures that underpin all areas of food safety and consumer protection.
At EU level, Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 establishes the general principles of food law, creates the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), and defines key mechanisms such as traceability, risk assessment, and crisis management. In the UK, these principles are primarily implemented through the Food Safety Act 1990, alongside retained EU Regulation 178/2002 (as amended under the Withdrawal Act 2018). Supporting legislation, including the Food Standards Act 1999, the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985, and the Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013, provide the statutory powers for enforcement, emergency action, and the operation of the Food Standards Agency.
2. Food hygiene
The core hygiene requirements that apply to all food and feed business operators, ensuring that food is produced, handled, and placed on the market safely.
The key EU laws are Regulation (EC) No 852/2004, which sets general hygiene rules and good hygienic practices, and Regulation (EC) No 853/2004, which lays down specific hygiene requirements for foods of animal origin such as meat, milk, fish, and eggs. The former Regulation (EC) No 854/2004 (on official controls of animal products) has been replaced by Regulation (EC) No 2017/625. All of these have been retained in UK law with post-Brexit amendments.
In the UK, hygiene controls are supported by the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985, which enables emergency powers to manage contamination incidents and regulate pesticide use. Operational enforcement and feed hygiene now sit under the Official Controls Regulation (2017/625) and its associated domestic legislation.
3. Controls and enforcement
How official controls are organised to ensure compliance with food, feed, and animal health legislation.
The central EU framework is Regulation (EU) 2017/625, the Official Controls Regulation, which replaced previous inspection rules under Regulations 854/2004 and 882/2004. It sets uniform obligations for competent authorities across the food chain, including inspections, certification, border checks, and emergency measures. Supporting acts—such as Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/627 and Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/624—define detailed procedures for products of animal origin, while others establish model import certificates and specific residue or import control measures, including Reg. (EU) 2019/625–627 etc.; UK Official Controls (Import) SIs.
In the UK, these systems are continued through retained EU law, underpinned by the Food Safety Act 1990 and Food Standards Act 1999, and implemented via statutory instruments such as the Official Feed and Food Controls (England) Regulations 2009 and Official Controls (Animals, Feed and Food) Regulations 2019. Together, they maintain a consistent framework for inspection, enforcement, and border control.
4. Transparency and governance
How transparency, accountability, and scientific integrity are embedded in the food law framework.
At EU level, Regulation (EU) 2019/1381—known as the Transparency Regulation—strengthens the openness and reliability of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) risk assessment process. It requires greater public access to data, clearer communication of risk, and stricter rules on the independence of scientific studies. These provisions amend the General Food Law Regulation (178/2002) and related acts to improve confidence in EU decision-making.
In the UK, these functions are delivered through the Food Standards Act 1999, which established the Food Standards Agency (FSA) to protect public health and ensure transparent governance. The EU transparency reforms introduced after Brexit are not fully implemented in Great Britain, though they continue to apply in Northern Ireland under the Windsor Framework.
Level 2 – Safety Parameters and Operational Detail
Section
Overview
Summary
5. Contaminants and residues
Protects consumers and animals from chemical substances that may compromise food or feed safety, setting the maximum limits for contaminants such as heavy metals, dioxins, and mycotoxins, and for residues of pesticides, veterinary medicines, and feed additives.
At EU level, the framework is built on Regulation (EEC) No 315/93 and Directive 2002/32/EC, which define contaminants in food and undesirable substances in feed. These are supported by specific rules on pesticide residues (Regulation (EC) No 396/2005), veterinary medicine residues (Regulation (EC) No 470/2009 + Commission Regulation (EC) No 37/2010), and feed-additive authorisations (Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 with its implementing measures, such as Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/169 for Saccharomyces cerevisiae DBVPG 48 SF).
Collectively, these instruments ensure that foods of plant and animal origin meet scientifically derived safety limits and that official controls verify compliance through harmonised sampling and analytical methods.
In the UK, the same frameworks have been retained under the Food Safety Act 1990, Agriculture Act 1970, and Veterinary Medicines Act 1968, supported by national Statutory Instruments such as the Contaminants in Food Regulations 2013, Animal Feed (Composition, Marketing and Use) Regulations 2015, Pesticides (Maximum Residue Levels) Regulations 2008, and Animals and Animal Products (Examination for Residues and MRLs) Regulations 2015. These enforce the retained EU limits and maintain the control systems for contaminants, pesticide residues, veterinary drug residues, and feed-additive authorisations across Great Britain, while Northern Ireland continues to follow current EU law under the Windsor Framework.
Overall, this legislation ensures that both food and feed remain chemically safe, that residues stay below toxicologically acceptable levels, and that robust monitoring and enforcement safeguard public and animal health.
6. Microbiological criteria and process hygiene
The microbiological standards that food and feed must meet to ensure they are safe and hygienically produced.
At EU level, the system is anchored by Regulation (EC) No 2073/2005, which establishes legally binding food-safety criteria (e.g. absence of Salmonella in ready-to-eat foods) and process-hygiene criteria (e.g. acceptable E. coli levels on carcasses). It is supported by the Hygiene Package Regulations 852/2004 and 853/2004, the Feed Hygiene Regulation 183/2005, and the Official Controls Regulation 2017/625, which together provide the enforcement and verification framework. Related acts—such as Regulation 2160/2003 on Salmonella control, Implementing Regulation 2015/1375 on Trichinella testing, and Regulation 142/2011 for animal-by-product-derived feeds—extend the criteria to cover specific pathogens, sectors, and feed materials.
In the UK, these same instruments have been retained in domestic law under the Food Safety Act 1990 and the Agriculture Act 1970, with minor amendments through the 2019 and 2020 EU-Exit statutory instruments. They are enforced via national regulations such as the Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013 and the Animal Feed (Hygiene, Sampling etc. and Enforcement) Regulations 2015, ensuring that the microbiological criteria and process-hygiene standards continue to apply across Great Britain, while Northern Ireland follows the current EU regime.
Overall, this body of legislation provides the scientific and operational backbone for microbiological safety control—defining when food or feed is acceptable, verifying the effectiveness of hygiene measures, and ensuring that public and animal health are protected through consistent monitoring, testing, and enforcement across the supply chain.
The rules that prevent contamination of food from packaging, equipment and other food-contact materials (FCMs).
The umbrella law is Regulation (EC) 1935/2004, which requires FCMs to be inert, traceable and correctly labelled, and enables EU-level “specific measures.” Manufacturing controls are set by Regulation (EC) 2023/2006 (GMP). Key specific measures include Regulation (EU) 10/2011 for plastics (positive list, SML/OML migration limits and Declarations of Compliance), Regulation (EU) 2022/1616 for recycled plastics (authorised processes and Union register), Regulation (EC) 450/2009 for active/intelligent materials, and Regulation (EC) 1895/2005 restricting certain epoxy derivatives. Recent bisphenol rules are tightened by Regulation (EU) 2024/3190 (broad BPA/bisphenols ban with phased transitions). Targeted import controls exist for certain kitchenware via Regulation (EU) 284/2011.
In the UK, these instruments are retained and enforced through the Materials and Articles in Contact with Food Regulations 2012 (GB) alongside the Food Safety Act 1990. For businesses, that means robust supplier assurance, GMP, migration testing, up-to-date Declarations of Compliance, and close attention to GB/EU/NI divergence for market access.
8. Additives
The rules for food additives, flavourings, and enzymes—collectively known as the Food Improvement Agents Package (FIAP). Does not include feed additives (dealt with under 5. Contaminant residues).
The key EU regulations are Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 on food additives, Regulation (EC) No 1334/2008 on flavourings, and Regulation (EC) No 1332/2008 on food enzymes, supported by the common authorisation procedure in Regulation (EC) No 1331/2008. Together, these ensure that only approved substances serving a technological or sensory function are used, and that purity criteria and usage levels are harmonised across the EU.
In the UK, these regulations are retained in domestic law with amendments under the Withdrawal Act 2018, and enforced through the Food Additives, Flavourings, Enzymes and Extraction Solvents (England) Regulations 2013. While no dedicated UK Act exists for additives or flavourings, the Food Safety Act 1990 provides overarching powers to prevent the use of unapproved or unsafe substances in food.
9. Labelling
The rules ensuring that consumers receive clear, accurate and reliable information about food products.
The foundation is Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on the provision of food information to consumers (FIC), which harmonises labelling requirements across the EU and UK (retained law). It covers mandatory particulars such as product name, ingredients, allergen declaration, net quantity, durability date, storage/use instructions, nutrition declaration, and origin. It also governs voluntary information and presentation standards (legibility, clarity, non-misleading claims).
Nutrition and health claims are regulated by Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, which allows only scientifically substantiated and authorised claims, supported by Regulation (EU) No 432/2012 listing permitted claims.
In the UK, these frameworks are retained and enforced through the Food Information Regulations 2014 and the Food Safety Act 1990, with “Natasha’s Law” (2019 amendment) strengthening allergen labelling for PPDS foods. Compliance protects consumers, prevents misleading practices, and ensures market access across GB, NI and the EU.
10. Product safety
The overarching framework for consumer product safety, including non-food items such as packaging, kitchenware, and utensils.
At EU level, the General Product Safety Regulation (EU) 2023/988 (GPSR) modernises consumer protection by replacing the previous General Product Safety Directive. It strengthens obligations for manufacturers, importers, and online marketplaces, and introduces stricter recall, traceability, and surveillance requirements. Although food itself is excluded—being governed by dedicated food law—packaging and utensils may fall under this regulation where no specific sectoral legislation applies.
In the UK, the Consumer Protection Act 1987 provides the statutory basis for product safety and liability, supported by the General Product Safety Regulations 2005, which remain in force. Post-Brexit amendments via the Product Safety and Metrology Regulations maintain market-surveillance powers and the transition to the UKCA marking system. Together, these measures ensure continued protection for consumers and market fairness.
Level 3 – Specialist Product and Environmental Areas
Section
Overview
Summary
11. Packaging waste
The rules for packaging design, recycling, and waste reduction.
At EU level, the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (EU) 2025/40 (PPWR) replaces the long-standing Packaging Waste Directive 94/62/EC. Entering into force in February 2025 (with full application from August 2026), the PPWR introduces binding, harmonised rules on packaging recyclability, minimum recycled-content requirements, and waste-reduction targets as part of the EU Circular Economy agenda. It also introduces new restrictions on hazardous substances — notably banning PFAS in food-contact packaging from 2026 — and sets tighter heavy-metal limits. The Regulation directly applies across Member States and removes national discretion, ensuring consistent requirements for manufacturers, importers, and distributors.
In the UK, packaging waste management remains governed primarily by the Environmental Protection Act 1990, with detailed rules under secondary legislation — currently the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 2007, the Packaging Waste (Data Reporting) Regulations 2023, and the new Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging and Packaging Waste) Regulations 2024, which introduce the UK’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regime. These domestic measures continue to reflect the old EU Directive but may diverge from the new EU PPWR as policy evolves.
For businesses, the shift to the PPWR (in the EU) and EPR (in the UK) signals a step-change: stricter sustainability criteria, full lifecycle accountability, and greater reporting obligations across the packaging supply chain.
12. Agricultural
The marketing standards, product quality, and market organisation for agricultural goods, such as fruit and vegetables, wine, dairy, meat, eggs, olive oil, and fishery product.
At EU level, the central legislation is Regulation (EU) 1308/2013, the Common Organisation of the Markets (CMO) Regulation, which consolidates rules on production, labelling, and trade for commodities such as fruit and vegetables, wine, dairy, meat, eggs, olive oil, and fishery products. It also establishes the School Fruit, Vegetables and Milk Scheme and connects to rules on geographical indications (Reg. 1151/2012). Numerous delegated and implementing acts specify standards for each product sector, including composition, classification, packaging, and presentation.
In the UK, the CMO regime and its marketing standards were largely retained under the Withdrawal Act 2018, with updates made through the Agriculture Act 2020 and related statutory instruments. These laws ensure continued product quality, fair trading, and market stability. For businesses, compliance determines market access, labelling accuracy, and eligibility for support schemes.
13. Organic
The rules for the production, certification, and labelling of organic foods.
At EU level, the key instrument is Regulation (EU) 2018/848, which governs organic plant and animal production, processing, imports, and labelling. It replaced the earlier Regulation (EC) 834/2007, setting stricter and more harmonised rules for inputs, controls, and traceability. Numerous delegated and implementing acts supplement 2018/848, covering certification procedures, import recognition, group operators, exceptional measures, and documentation standards.
In the UK, post-Brexit, the EU’s 2018 Regulation was not automatically adopted. Instead, the UK continues to apply Regulation (EC) 834/2007 and its implementing Regulation 889/2008, as retained EU law under the Organic Products Regulations 2009. These govern how organic products are produced, imported, labelled, and inspected across Great Britain, while Northern Ireland follows the updated EU regime under the Windsor Framework.
For businesses, this means that EU and UK organic certification systems now diverge — equivalence and recognition of control bodies are essential for continued market access and labelling compliance.
14. GMO
The rules for the authorisation, traceability, and labelling of genetically modified foods and feeds.
At EU level, Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 establishes the procedures for approving GM food and feed, requiring a rigorous scientific risk assessment by EFSA and a centralised authorisation process. It applies to products containing, consisting of, or produced from GMOs. Complementing this, Regulation (EC) No 1830/2003 sets detailed traceability and labelling requirements to ensure transparency for consumers and enable withdrawal of GM products if needed.
In the UK, the overarching controls on GMOs stem from Part VI of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, supported by retained EU Regulations 1829/2003 and 1830/2003 (as amended) under the Withdrawal Act 2018, which transferred approval and enforcement responsibilities to UK authorities. Enforcement in England is through the Genetically Modified Food (England) Regulations 2004 and Genetically Modified Animal Feed (England) Regulations 2004, with equivalents in devolved nations.
These rules ensure GM foods are subject to strict authorisation, traceability, and labelling before they reach the market, maintaining consumer confidence and regulatory alignment.
15. Novel foods
The governance for the approval of foods and ingredients not previously consumed to a significant degree before May 1997.
At EU level, Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 establishes the Novel Foods Regulation, creating a single, centralised authorisation system managed by the European Commission and EFSA. It defines novel foods as those produced with new technologies or from new sources (e.g. insects, cell-cultured products, plant extracts, or algae) and sets out safety assessment procedures, data requirements, and conditions for market placement. It also introduces a simplified notification process for traditional foods from third countries with a documented history of safe use. Key implementing acts specify the Union list of authorised novel foods (2017/2470) and the requirements for applications and traditional food notifications (2017/2469 and 2017/2468).
In the UK, Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 was retained under UK law post-Brexit, with amendments transferring authorisation powers from EFSA to the Food Standards Agency (FSA) in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and Food Standards Scotland (FSS) in Scotland. The Novel Foods (England) Regulations 2018 provide domestic enforcement. Northern Ireland continues to follow the EU process under the NI Protocol.
For businesses, authorisation is mandatory before placing a novel food on the market. The process demands robust safety data, clear product characterisation, and evidence of safe consumption — with separate submissions required for GB and EU approvals post-Brexit.
16. Food supplements and fortification
Governs how nutrients and other bioactive substances can be added to foods, or marketed as concentrated supplement products.
At EU level, the framework is built on the Food Supplements Directive 2002/46/EC and the Fortification Regulation (EC) 1925/2006. Together they set the conditions for using vitamins, minerals, amino acids, botanicals, and other substances in supplements and fortified foods, defining permitted nutrient forms, purity standards, and labelling rules. Linked acts—such as Regulation 1924/2006 on nutrition and health claims and Regulation 2015/2283 on novel foods—control the scientific substantiation of claims and the authorisation of new or unusual ingredients.
Fortification policies range from voluntary enrichment (for example, adding vitamins to breakfast cereals) to mandatory addition where required for public-health reasons—such as the UK’s compulsory addition of calcium, iron, and B-vitamins to flour, soon to include folic acid. The same principles extend to animal nutrition through Regulations 1831/2003 and 767/2009, which govern the safe fortification of feed with vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.
In the UK, these EU regulations were retained in domestic law under the Food Safety Act 1990 and Agriculture Act 1970, supported by the Food Supplements (England) Regulations 2003, the Addition of Vitamins and Minerals Regulations 2007, and the Bread and Flour Regulations 1998. Since EU exit, Great Britain has maintained equivalent standards but can now amend its own positive and restricted lists. Divergences are beginning to appear—such as the UK’s continued permission for titanium dioxide and its new mandatory folic acid fortification programme—while Northern Ireland continues to apply the current EU rules.
Overall, this body of law ensures that nutrient addition—whether in a pill, a fortified food, or an enriched feed—delivers health benefits without compromising safety, authenticity, or fair trade. It provides the regulatory foundation for how nutrition enhancement is authorised, labelled, and controlled across the food and feed sectors.
17. Foods for specific groups (FSG)
Foods for Specific Groups (FSG) are regulated products designed to meet defined nutritional needs of vulnerable consumers such as infants, young children, and patients requiring medical nutrition.
The framework is established by Regulation (EU) No 609/2013, which replaced the older “dietetic foods” system (PARNUTS) and created four product categories:
• Infant formula and follow-on formula.
• Processed cereal-based foods and baby foods.
• Foods for special medical purposes (FSMPs).
• Total diet replacements for weight control.
Each category is governed by detailed delegated acts: 2016/127 (infant formula), 2016/128 (FSMPs), 2017/1798 (total diet replacement), and 2006/125/EC (baby foods—still in force). These rules define precise nutrient levels, compositional limits, and mandatory labelling statements to protect consumer health and prevent misleading claims.
In the UK, Regulation 609/2013 and its supporting acts are retained under the Food for Specific Groups (Information and Compositional Requirements) Regulations 2016, with amendments ensuring operability post-Brexit. Great Britain largely mirrors the EU regime, while Northern Ireland continues to apply ongoing EU updates under the NI Protocol.
For food businesses, FSG law demands strict scientific substantiation, robust quality control, and compliant marketing practices. It provides a harmonised and trusted framework for the manufacture of products that serve critical nutritional and medical functions, balancing consumer protection with regulatory consistency across both EU and UK markets.
