G/TBT/N/GBR/73  
9 February 2024  
(24-1125) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original:  English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6  
 
1. Notifying Member:  UNITED KINGDOM  
If applicable, name of local government involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):   
2. Agency responsible:   
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs  
The UK Food Safety Authorities comprising of the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food 
Standards Scotland (FSS)  
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers , email and website 
addresses, if availab le) of agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above:   
UK TBT Enquiry Point  
Trade Policy, Implementation and Negotiations  
Department for Business and Trade  
Old Admiralty Building  
London  
SW1A 2DY  
TBTEnquiriesUK@businessandtrade.gov.uk  
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [X], 2.10.1 [  ], 5.6.2 [  ], 5.7.1 [  ], 3.2 [  ], 7.2 [  ], 
other :  
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff 
heading. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):  HS 
1101001500 flour of common wheat and spelt  
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:  The Bread and 
Flour (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2024, 7 pages, English  
The Bread and Flour (Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2024, English  
The Bread and Flour (Wales) Regulations 2024, English and Welsh  
The Bread and Flour (Amendm ent) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024, 7 pages, English  
6. Description of content:  The proposed instruments will update the Bread and Flour 
Regulations 1998 and the Bread and Flour Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1998 
(collectively referred to below as 'the Regulations' or 'The Bread and Flour Regulations'). 
The changes will be introduced in Wales via the Bread and Flour (Wales) Regulations 
2024.  
Technical changes are being made to update current requirements to fortify non -
wholemeal wheat flour and intr oduce the mandatory addition of folic acid.  
The instrument also includes amendments to clarify requirements and definitions and 
introduce exemptions to avoid disproportionate impacts to businesses. These changes are 
not expected to significantly affect tra de and will come into force on 1st October 2024.  G/TBT/N/GBR/73  
 
- 2 - 
 
  An addition to the enforcement approach is also being incorporated, providing for the use 
of improvement notices as a frontline enforcement option, in the regulations for England, 
Northern Ireland and Wales.  Scotland already have analogous enforcement provisions in 
place.  
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable:  The changes aim to contribute to improved public health by reducing the 
incidence of Neural Tube Defect  affected pregnancies by increasing dietary intake of folate 
for women who could become pregnant; protect consumers; support industry and assist 
enforcement authorities. ; Protection of human health or safety  
8. Relevant documents:   
The Bread and Flour Regulations 1998 (legislation.gov.uk)  
Bread and Flour Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1998 (legislation.gov.uk)  
Consultation outcome  – Summary of responses and government response to the 
consultation  on: Amending the Bread and Flour Regulation 1998 and the Bre ad and Flour 
Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1998.  
Impact Assessment  – Amending the Bread and Flour Regulation 1998 and the Bread and 
Flour Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1998  
Consultation outcome – Proposal to add folic acid to flour : consultation response.  
Public Consultation & Summary of responses on Proposal to allow flour millers to place 
unfortified flour on the Northern Ireland market, subject to it being destined for countries 
outside the UK, or used in products destined to be sold outside of the UK  
9. Proposed date of adoption:  15th July 2024 (England and Wales), 2nd September 2024 
(Scotland), tbc September 2024 (Northern Ireland)  
Proposed date of entry into force:  1st October 2026  
10. Final date for comments:  60 days from notification  
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [ ] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers and email and website addresses, if available , of other body:   
UK TBT Enquiry Point  
Trade Policy, Implementation and Negotiations  
Department for Business and Trade  
Old Admiralty Building  
London  
SW1A 2DY  
TBTEnquiriesUK@businessandtrade.gov.uk  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2024/TBT/GBR/24_01220_00_e.pdf  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2024/TBT/GBR/24_01220_01_e.pdf