European Communities (Quick-Frozen Foodstuffs) Regulations, 1992.
Statutory Instruments
Source: Statutory Instruments

num: 1
paragraphs: These Regulations may be cited as the European Communities (Quick-frozen Foodstuffs) Regulations, 1992.
num: 2
paragraphs: (1) In these Regulations:
"authorised officer" has the meaning assigned to it by Regulation 11;
"Council Directive" means Council Directive 89/108/EEC of 21 December 1988*;
"the Minister" means the Minister for Agriculture and Food;
"quick-frozen foodstuffs" means foodstuffs for human consumption which
( a ) have undergone a suitable freezing process known as "quick-freezing" whereby the zone of maximum crystallisation is crossed as rapidly as possible, depending on the type of product, and the resulting temperature of the product (after thermal stabilisation) is continuously maintained at a level of —18°C or lower at all points, and
( b ) are marketed in such a way as to indicate, in accordance with these Regulations, that they possess this characteristic.
(2) A word or expression that is used in these Regulations and is also used in the Council Directive has, unless the contrary intention appears, the same meaning in these Regulations as it has in that Directive.
*O.J. No. L 40/34, 11 February 1989.
num: 3
paragraphs: For the purposes of these Regulations, ice cream and other edible ices shall not be regarded as quick-frozen foodstuffs.
num: 4
paragraphs: These Regulations shall apply without prejudice—
( a ) to the Community provisions relating to—
(i) the common organisation of markets in the agricultural and fisheries sectors, and
(ii) veterinary hygiene,
and
( b ) to any law enacted, act done or measure adopted within the State for the purposes of any of those provisions.
num: 5
paragraphs: (1) Quick-frozen foodstuffs as defined in Regulation 2 may not be marketed unless they comply with the terms of these Regulations.
(2) Raw materials shall not be used in the manufacture of quick-frozen foodstuffs unless they are fresh and of sound, genuine and merchantable quality.
(3) The preparation and quick-freezing shall be carried out promptly, using appropriate technical equipment, in order to limit chemical, biochemical and microbiological changes to a minimum.
num: 6
paragraphs: (1) Air, nitrogen and carbon dioxide are hereby authorised as the only cryogenic media for use in direct contact with quick-frozen foodstuffs: provided that dichlorodifluoromethane (R 12) may continue to be used as a cryogenic medium until 31 December, 1992.
(2) The purity criteria to be satisfied by these cryogenic media shall be determined, as far as necessary, in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 12 of the Council Directive.
num: 7
paragraphs: (1) The temperature of quick-frozen foodstuffs shall be kept stable and maintained throughout the entire product concerned, at -18°C or lower, with the exception that the temperature of quick-frozen foodstuffs may briefly fluctuate upwards by not more than 3°C during transport.
(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1) of this Regulation, in accordance with good storage and distribution practice, temperature tolerances may be permitted for quick-frozen foodstuffs during local distribution, that is, distribution to the point of retail sale and in retail display cabinets subject to the following conditions—
( a ) these tolerances shall not exceed 3°C;
( b ) tolerances of up to 6°C shall however be permissible until 10 January, 1997.
num: 8
paragraphs: Quick-frozen foodstuffs for supply to the ultimate consumer shall be packed by the manufacturer or where the manufacturer is not the packer by the packer in suitable pre-packaging which protects such foodstuffs from microbial or other forms of contamination and against drying.
num: 9
paragraphs: (1) The European Communities (Labelling, Presentation and Advertising of Foodstuffs) Regulations, 1982 to 1991, shall apply to products covered by these Regulations and intended for supply without further processing to the ultimate consumer and to restaurants, hospitals, canteens or other similar mass caterers, subject to the conditions set out in paragraph (2) of this Regulation.
(2) The conditions to which paragraph (1) of this Regulation relates are:
( a ) the word "quick-frozen" shall be added to the sales name,
( b ) in addition to the date of minimum durability, there shall be indicated on the packaging, container or wrapper or on a label attached to the product the period during which the quick-frozen foodstuffs concerned may be stored by the purchaser and either or both the storage temperature and type of storage equipment required,
( c ) the labelling shall include a reference from which the batch may be identified, and shall clearly include the words "do not refreeze after defrosting" or words of similar effect.
num: 10
paragraphs: In the case of quick-frozen foodstuffs to which Regulation 9 of these Regulations does not apply, the labelling of such foodstuffs shall contain the following particulars:
( a ) the sales name supplemented by the words "quick-frozen",
( b ) the net quantity expressed in units of mass,
( c ) a reference enabling the batch to be identified,
( d ) the name or business name and the address of the manufacturer or packer or of a seller established within a Member State of the European Communities,
and those particulars shall appear on the packaging, container or wrapping, or on a label attached to the product.
num: 11
paragraphs: (1) In this Regulation, "authorised officer" means—