UK Statutory Instrument 2004 United Kingdom

General Food Regulations 2004

What this means for your business

2 obligations
2 penalties
2 can imprison
2 guides
Enforced by
Food Standards Scotland
Applies to
United Kingdom
On this page
2 compliance obligations, 2 practical guides
Read full text on legislation.gov.uk

What you must do

2 compliance obligations under this legislation — 2 can result in imprisonment.

Offences and prohibitions 2

Fail to comply with EU food safety requirements (Regulation 178/2002)

2 years imprisonment

If you, as a food business operator or any other person, breach the food‑safety, traceability or labelling rules set out in Articles 12, 14, 16, 18 or 19 of EU Regulation 178/2002, you commit a criminal offence. Conviction can lead to a fine (often unlimited) and, in the most serious cases, imprisonment. The exact penalties are set out in the next section of the Regulations.

Any Person s.4 Food Standards Scotland

Fail to meet requirements under Regulation 4 (EC 178/2002)

2 years imprisonment

If your food business breaches the requirements set out in regulation 4 (which implements EU food law), you commit a criminal offence. On conviction in the Crown Court you could be fined without limit and face up to two years in prison, or both. On summary conviction in a Magistrates’ Court the fine is capped at the relevant amount (e.g., £20,000 for certain breaches) and imprisonment is limited to six months.

Any Person s.5 Food Standards Scotland

Penalties for non-compliance

2 penalties under this legislation. 2 can result in imprisonment. 2 carry an unlimited fine.

Prison risk

Fail to comply with EU food safety requirements (Regulation 178/2002)

Unlimited fine and/or 2 years imprisonment

Either way s.4 Penalises: Fail to comply with EU food safety requirements …
Prison risk

Fail to meet requirements under Regulation 4 (EC 178/2002)

Unlimited fine and/or 2 years imprisonment

Either way s.5 Penalises: Fail to meet requirements under Regulation 4 (EC …

Practical guidance

Our guides explain how to comply with the requirements above.

Register and run a food business

How to register your food business with your local authority, meet food hygiene requirements, and achieve a good food hygiene …

Food traceability, withdrawal, and recall

Maintain food traceability records using the one step back, one step forward principle, and follow the correct procedures if you …

Sections and provisions

17 classified provisions from this legislation.

1 Duties 2 Offences and penalties 3 Definitions 1 Exemptions

Duties 1

  • s.6 Enforcement food authority

Offences and penalties 2

  • s.4 Requirements under Regulation (EC) No. 178/2002 : offences
  • s.5 Punishment of offences

Definitions 3

  • s.2 Interpretation
  • s.3 Competent authorities for the purposes of Regulation (EC) No. 178/2002
  • s.15 —

Exemptions 1

  • Defence for exports Defence for exports