Respond to a food safety incident
- 1 step
Retained EU Law
2002
United Kingdom
Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 (General Food Law)
At a glance
Enforced by
What's here
12 compliance obligations, 1 practical guide · 1 journey
Penalty landscape
3 of 12 obligations carry an unlimited fine. 9 have no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.
Who this Act binds
Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.
- Trader 6
- Operator 3
Plus 3 non-business duties on Crown ministers, regulators, local authorities or tribunals — shown collapsed under each section below.
Step-by-step journeys using this legislation
Walkthroughs that take you from a real business situation to compliance.
Relevant guidance
Practical guides for businesses affected by this Act, ordered by how closely they engage with it.
Supporting — topic alignment
1 guidesOther Acts binding the same actors
For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.
Traders also bound by 219 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Value Added Tax Regulations 1995 1995 952 duties
- TULRCA 1992 1992 39 duties
- Companies Act 2006 2006 39 duties
- Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 2013 39 duties
- The Customs (Import Duty) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 2018 33 duties
Operators also bound by 125 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Space Industry Regulations 2021 2021 71 duties
- Payment Services Regulations 2017 2017 41 duties
- Air Navigation Order 2016 2016 34 duties
- The Quarries Regulations 1999 1999 31 duties
- Reservoirs Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 2015 22 duties
What this Act requires
Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.
Protection of consumers' interests
- Protect consumer interests and prevent misleading food practices Trader
Public consultation
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- CROWN must conduct public consultations on food law Crown / Minister / Government department
Public information
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Regulators must inform the public about food or feed health risks Statutory regulator
Food and feed imported into Great Britain
Unlimited fine- Ensure imported food and feed meet UK safety standards Trader
Food and feed exported from Great Britain
- Ensure exported food and feed meets UK or destination country standards Trader
International standards
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Authorities must maintain food safety standards and support global trade Crown / Minister / Government department
Food safety requirements
- Do not place unsafe food on the market Trader
Feed safety requirements
- Do not sell or use unsafe animal feed Trader
Presentation
- Do not mislead consumers through food presentation or advertising Trader
Responsibilities
Unlimited fine- Ensure all food and feed products meet legal safety requirements Operator
Responsibilities for food: food business operators
Unlimited fine- Withdraw and recall unsafe food and notify authorities Operator
Responsibilities for feed: feed business operators
- Withdraw and report unsafe animal feed Operator
Browse 54 other sections — procedural / definitional / commencement
Aim and scope
Definition of ‘food’
Other definitions
Scope
General objectives
Risk analysis
Precautionary principle
Traceability
Liability
Mission of the Authority
Tasks of the Authority
Bodies of the Authority
Management Board
Executive Director
Advisory Forum
Scientific Committee and Scientific Panels
Scientific opinions
Diverging scientific opinions
Scientific and technical assistance
Scientific studies
Collection of data
Identification of emerging risks
Rapid alert system
Networking of organisations operating in the fields within the Authority's mission
Independence
Transparency
Confidentiality
Communications from the Authority
Access to documents
Consumers, producers and other interested parties
Adoption of the Authority's budget
Implementation of the Authority's budget
Fees received by the Authority
Legal personality and privileges
Liability
Staff
Participation of third countries
Rapid alert system
Implementing measures
Confidentiality rules for the rapid alert system
Emergency measures for food and feed ...
Other emergency measures
General plan for crisis management
Crisis unit
Tasks of the crisis unit
Committee
Functions assigned to the Committee
Mediation procedure
Review clause
References to the European Food Safety Authority and to the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health
Competence of the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products
Commencement of the Authority's operation
Entry into force
Procedure
Official guidance
Authoritative sources published by regulators or government explaining this legislation.
- Report a food safety incident (opens in a new tab) from FSA Detailed Guidance
- Traceability, withdrawals and recalls guidance (opens in a new tab) from FSA Detailed Guidance
- Food alerts and product recalls (opens in a new tab) from FSA Detailed Guidance
- Report a food safety incident (Food Standards Scotland) (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
Enforcement and responsible bodies
The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.
FSA
PrimaryFood Standards Agency
Food safety and hygiene regulation across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Enforces food law, provides guidance to food businesses, investigates incidents. Approves …
Food safety and standards in Scotland. Independent public body with similar remit to FSA but for Scotland specifically. Administers Food Hygiene Information …
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Browse legislation
Find other UK business legislation with related guidance.
Regulators
Learn more about the bodies that enforce this legislation.