Source: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2015/1/body
Timestamp: 2018-07-21 02:19:50
Document Index: 97726120

Matched Legal Cases: ['ART 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'ART 3', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'ART 4', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2']

There are currently no known outstanding effects for the Food (Scotland) Act 2015.
PART 2 SFOOD AND FEEDING STUFFS
33Food informationS
After section 15 of the 1990 Act insert—
“Food informationS
15AMeaning of “food information” etc.
(a)“food information” has the same meaning as it has in Regulation (EU) No. 1169/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the provision of food information to consumers;
(b)“food information law” means any enactment relating to food information as the Scottish Ministers may by regulations specify.
15BContravention of food information law: seizure of food etc.
(1)This section applies where it appears to an authorised officer of a food authority, on an inspection carried out under section 9 above or otherwise, that food information law is being, or has been, contravened in relation to any food intended for human consumption which is placed on the market within the meaning of Regulation (EC) No. 178/2002.
(2)The authorised officer may—
(a)give notice that, until the notice is withdrawn—
(i)the food, or any specified portion of it, is not to be used for human consumption; and
(ii)the food, or any specified portion of it, and any related food information, or any specified part of it, is not to be removed (or is not to be removed except to some place specified in the notice); or
(b)seize the food and remove it in order to have it dealt with by the sheriff.
(3)Notice under subsection (2)(a) above is to be given to—
(a)the person in charge of the food; and
(b)the owner of the food (where not the person in charge of the food).
(4)But notice need not be given in pursuance of subsection (3)(b) above if the authorised officer, after making reasonable inquiries, does not know who owns the food.
(5)Any person who knowingly contravenes the requirements of a notice under subsection (2)(a) above commits an offence.
(6)An authorised officer who gives a notice under subsection (2)(a) above must, as soon as is reasonably practicable and in any event within 21 days, determine whether or not food information law has been contravened in relation to the food in respect of which the notice was given.
(7)After making a determination under subsection (6) above, the authorised officer must—
(a)if satisfied that food information law has not been contravened, forthwith withdraw the notice; or
(b)if not so satisfied, seize the food and remove it in order to have it dealt with by the sheriff.
(8)An authorised officer who seizes and removes food under subsection (2)(b) or (7)(b) above may also—
(a)copy, make extracts of or take away any food information relating to the food that has been seized;
(b)where any such food information is in electronic form, require the information to be produced in a legible form in which it may be copied or taken away.
(9)An authorised officer who seizes and removes food under subsection (2)(b) or (7)(b) above must inform the person in charge of the food and the owner of the food (where not the person in charge of the food) of the officer's intention to have it dealt with by the sheriff.
(10)But the owner of the food need not be informed in pursuance of subsection (9) above if the authorised officer, after making reasonable inquiries, does not know who owns the food.
(11)Any person who might be liable to a prosecution for contravening food information law in relation to any food seized and removed under subsection (2)(b) or (7)(b) above is, if the person attends before the sheriff by whom the food falls to be dealt with, entitled to be heard and to call witnesses.
(12)If it appears to the sheriff that food information law has been contravened in relation to any food seized and removed under subsection (2)(b) or (7)(b) above, the sheriff may make such order as the sheriff considers appropriate in respect of the food and any food information relating to it.
(13)An order made under subsection (12) above may, in particular, order—
(a)that the food be destroyed or otherwise disposed of so as to prevent it from being used for human consumption;
(b)that any food information relating to the food be modified, destroyed or otherwise disposed of;
(c)that any food which is fit for human consumption (and any related food information, modified as the sheriff considers appropriate) be—
(i)returned to the person who was in charge of the food; or
(ii)distributed to such other person as the sheriff may determine.
(14)An order made under subsection (12) above—
(a)must, where the owner of the food is known, require the owner to meet any expenses reasonably incurred in connection with any destruction, modification, disposal, return or distribution of any food or food information which is carried out in pursuance of the order; and
(b)may require the owner of the food to meet any expenses reasonably incurred by the food authority in connection with any action taken by the authorised officer, or otherwise by or on behalf of the authority, in respect of any food or food information to which the order relates.
(15)Subsection (16) below applies if—
(a)a notice under subsection (2)(a) above is withdrawn; or
(b)the sheriff refuses to make an order under subsection (12) above in respect of any food seized and removed under subsection (2)(b) or (7)(b) above (or any food information which relates to it).
(16)Where this subsection applies, the food authority must compensate the owner of the food for any depreciation in its value resulting from the action taken by the authorised officer.
(17)Any disputed question as to the right to or the amount of any compensation payable under subsection (16) above is to be submitted to arbitration for resolution.
(18)Until the Arbitration (Scotland) Act 2010 is in force in relation to any arbitration carried out in pursuance of subsection (17) above, that Act applies as if it were in force in relation to that arbitration.
15CDuty to report non-compliance with food information law
(1)A food business operator must as soon as reasonably practicable inform Food Standards Scotland if the food business operator—
(a)is, or has been, in charge of any food which is intended for human consumption and has been placed on the market within the meaning of Regulation (EC) No. 178/2002; and
(b)considers or has reason to believe that food information law is being contravened in relation to the food.
(2)Any person who fails to comply with subsection (1) above shall be guilty of an offence.
(3)For the purposes of subsection (1)(a) above, a food business operator is to be treated as being, or having been, in charge of any food which it has—
(a)received;
(b)imported;
(c)produced;
(d)processed;
(e)manufactured;
(f)distributed; or
(g)otherwise placed on the market within the meaning of Regulation (EC) No. 178/2002.
(4)For the purposes of this Act, “food business operator” is to be construed in accordance with Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002.
15DPower to obtain information
(1)This section applies where a food business operator has informed Food Standards Scotland under section 15C(1) above.
(2)The food business operator must as soon as reasonably practicable provide any further information which is reasonably required by Food Standards Scotland which relates to—
(a)the food (and any food information relating to it);
(b)the circumstances which led the food business operator to inform Food Standards Scotland under section 15C(1) above.
(3)Any person who fails to comply with a requirement under subsection (2) above shall be guilty of an offence.”.
I33S. 33 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/99, art. 2
Food hygiene information schemeS
34Food hygiene information schemeS
I34S. 34 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/99, art. 2
Feeding stuffsS
35Regulation of animal feeding stuffsS
(1)The Scottish Ministers may, for the purpose of regulating—
(a)any animal feeding stuff, or
(b)anything done, or which might be done, to, or in relation to, or with a view to the production of, any animal feeding stuff,
by order make the provision mentioned in subsection (2).
(2)That is provision which—
(a)applies (with or without modifications), or
(b)is equivalent or reasonably similar to,
any of the provisions of the 1990 Act (including any power to make orders or regulations or to give directions).
(3)But an order under subsection (1) may not make provision creating an offence which is—
(a)punishable with imprisonment for a period of more than 2 years, or
(b)punishable on summary conviction with—
(i)imprisonment for a period of more than 12 months, or
(ii)a fine of more than £20,000.
(4)An order under subsection (1) may modify any enactment.
(5)Before making an order under subsection (1), the Scottish Ministers must—
(a)have regard to any relevant advice given to them by Food Standards Scotland, and
(6)If it appears to the Scottish Ministers that Food Standards Scotland has consulted any person that the Scottish Ministers are required to consult under subsection (5)(b), the Scottish Ministers may treat that consultation as being effective for the purposes of that subsection as if undertaken by them.
I35S. 35 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/99, art. 2
PART 3 SADMINISTRATIVE SANCTIONS
36Fixed penalty noticesS
(1)An authorised officer of the appropriate enforcement authority may issue to a person a fixed penalty notice in relation to a relevant offence.
(2)In this Part, “fixed penalty notice” means a notice offering the person to whom it is issued the opportunity to discharge liability to conviction for the relevant offence in relation to which the notice is issued by paying to the appropriate enforcement authority a specified sum of money.
(3)The sum of money is to be treated as paid only if it is paid by such method of payment as the appropriate enforcement authority determines to be acceptable.
(4)An authorised officer may issue a fixed penalty notice to a person in relation to a relevant offence only if the officer is satisfied to the specified standard that the person has committed the offence.
(5)A sum specified for the purposes of subsection (2) must not exceed level 4 on the standard scale.
(6)In this section, “standard scale” has the meaning given in section 225(1) of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995.
I36S. 36 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/99, art. 2
37Content and form of a fixed penalty noticeS
(1)A fixed penalty notice must include the following information—
(i)the relevant offence that is alleged to have been committed, and
(ii)the act or omission giving rise to the offence,
(b)the amount of the sum that is to be paid to the appropriate enforcement authority,
(d)an explanation of how payment is to be made to the appropriate enforcement authority,
(e)the period of time within which payment is to be made,
(f)information about any early payment discounts,
(g)information about the person to whom, and as to how and by when, any representations about the notice may be made,
(h)an explanation of the effect of making payment in accordance with the notice and of the consequences of failure to make payment in accordance with the notice.
(2)The reference in subsection (1)(e) to the period of time within which payment is to be made is a reference to such period, beginning with the date on which the notice was issued, as may be specified.
(3)The Scottish Ministers may by regulations make further provision about the form and content of fixed penalty notices including, in particular—
I37S. 37 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/99, art. 2
38Effect of a fixed penalty notice on criminal proceedingsS
(1)Where a fixed penalty notice is issued to a person in relation to a relevant offence—
(a)no criminal proceedings for the relevant offence may be brought against the person in respect of the relevant act or omission before the end of the payment period, and
(b)if the person makes payment in accordance with the notice, the person may not at any time be convicted of the relevant offence in respect of the relevant act or omission.
(b)by reason of which the fixed penalty notice is issued.
I38S. 38 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/99, art. 2
39Restrictions on issuing of a fixed penalty noticeS
(1)A fixed penalty notice may not be issued to a person in relation to a relevant offence arising out of a particular act or omission if—
(a)a fixed penalty notice has previously been issued to the person (and not withdrawn) in relation to the same relevant offence arising out of the same act or omission, or
(b)criminal proceedings—
(i)have been brought against the person for the same relevant offence arising out of the same act or omission, or
(ii)cannot, because of the expiry of relevant time limits for prosecution, any longer competently be brought against the person for the same relevant offence arising out of the same act or omission.
(2)A fixed penalty notice issued in contravention of subsection (1) is of no effect (and, accordingly, the appropriate enforcement authority must repay any amount paid in respect of the notice).
I39S. 39 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/99, art. 2
40Withdrawal of a fixed penalty noticeS
(1)An authorised officer of the appropriate enforcement authority may withdraw a fixed penalty notice issued by an authorised officer of the authority.
(2)A fixed penalty notice—
(a)may be withdrawn at any time before payment is made in accordance with the notice, and
(b)is withdrawn by the issuing of a notice in writing to that effect to the person to whom the fixed penalty notice was issued.
(3)Where a fixed penalty notice is withdrawn, it is to be treated as if it had never been issued.
I40S. 40 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/99, art. 2
41Income from fixed penalties to be paid to the Scottish MinistersS
I41S. 41 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/99, art. 2
I42S. 42 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/99, art. 2
43Content and form of a compliance noticeS
(ii)the act or omission giving rising to the offence,
(b)details of the steps that are required to be taken to ensure that the person to whom the notice is issued ceases to commit the relevant offence,
(d)the period of time within which the required steps are to be taken,
(g)an explanation of the effect of complying with the requirements of the notice and of the consequences of failure to comply with those requirements.
(2)The reference in subsection (1)(d) to the period of time within which the required steps are to be taken is a reference to such period, beginning with the date on which the notice was issued, as the authorised officer issuing the notice may determine.
(3)That period must not be less than the specified period.
(4)The Scottish Ministers may by regulations make further provision about the form and content of compliance notices including, in particular—
I43S. 43 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/99, art. 2
44Failure to comply with a compliance noticeS
(1)If a person to whom a compliance notice has been issued fails to comply with the notice, the person commits an offence.
(a)the person takes other steps to ensure that the person ceases to commit the relevant offence in respect of which the notice was issued, and
(b)an authorised officer of the appropriate enforcement authority notifies the person in writing that those steps are acceptable for the purposes of complying with the notice.
I44S. 44 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/99, art. 2
45Effect of a compliance notice on criminal proceedingsS
I45S. 45 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/99, art. 2
I46S. 46 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/99, art. 2
47Withdrawal of a compliance noticeS
(1)An authorised officer of the appropriate enforcement authority may withdraw a compliance notice issued by an authorised officer of the authority.
(2)A compliance notice—
(a)may be withdrawn at any time before completion of the steps that are to be taken to comply with the requirements of the notice, and
(b)is withdrawn by the issuing of a notice in writing to that effect to the person to whom the compliance notice was issued.
I47S. 47 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/99, art. 2
48Appeal against a compliance noticeS
(1)A person to whom a compliance notice has been issued may, before the expiry of the relevant period, appeal to a sheriff against the decision to issue the notice.
(2)An appeal is to be made by way of summary application.
(3)In subsection (1), the “relevant period” means—
(a)the period of one month beginning with the date of issue of the compliance notice, or
(b)the compliance period,
whichever expires earlier.
(4)In an appeal under this section, the sheriff may—
(5)Where an appeal is made under this section, the compliance period is suspended for the period during which the appeal is pending.
(6)For the purposes of subsection (5), the appeal is pending until it is finally determined or is withdrawn.
I48S. 48 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/99, art. 2
49Power to make supplementary etc. provisionS
(1)The Scottish Ministers may by regulations make such supplementary, incidental or consequential provision as they consider appropriate in connection with fixed penalty notices and compliance notices and the carrying out by enforcement authorities and their authorised officers of functions under this Part.
(a)facilitating, prohibiting or restricting—
(i)the issuing of a fixed penalty notice or compliance notice in respect of a relevant offence arising out of an act or omission in cases where another sanction has been issued or imposed in respect of the same act or omission,
(ii)the issuing or imposing of another sanction in respect of an act or omission in cases where a fixed penalty notice or compliance notice has been issued in respect of a relevant offence arising out of the same act or omission,
(b)for early payment discounts in relation to fixed penalty notices,
(c)applying with modifications, or making provision equivalent to, any of the following provisions of the 1990 Act—
(i)section 20 (offences due to fault of another person),
(ii)section 21 (defence of due diligence),
(iii)section 30(8) (documentary evidence in proceedings for offences),
(iv)section 32 (powers of entry),
(v)section 33 (obstruction etc. of officers),
(vi)section 34 (time limit for prosecutions),
(vii)section 36 (offences by bodies corporate),
(viii)section 36A (offences by partnerships),
(ix)section 40 (power to issue codes of practice),
(x)section 45 (regulations as to charges),
(xi)section 49(3) to (5) (authentication of documents),
(xii)section 50 (service of documents).
(3)Regulations under subsection (1) containing provision referred to in subsection (2)(a) may also make such modifications of sections 38 and 45 as the Scottish Ministers consider necessary or expedient in relation to the case mentioned in subsection (4).
(4)That case is where, in consequence of the provision, a person has been issued with both a fixed penalty notice and a compliance notice in relation to the same relevant offence arising out of the same act or omission.
(5)But the provision which may be made by virtue of subsection (3) does not include provision which has the effect that the person may still be convicted of the offence if the person both—
(b)complies with the requirements of the compliance notice or though failing to comply, does not, by virtue of subsection (2) of section 44, commit an offence under subsection (1) of that section in relation to the notice.
(6)In subsection (2)(a), “another sanction” means—
(a)a fixed penalty notice (in relation to a compliance notice),
(b)a compliance notice (in relation to fixed penalty notice),
(c)an improvement notice under section 10 of the 1990 Act,
(d)an emergency prohibition notice or an emergency prohibition order under section 12 of the 1990 Act, and
(e)an emergency control order under section 13 of the 1990 Act.
(7)The Scottish Ministers may by regulations modify subsection (6).
I49S. 49 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/99, art. 2
50RegulationsS
(1)Before making any regulations under this Part, the Scottish Ministers must—
(b)consult such persons as appear to them to be representative of interests likely to be substantially affected by the regulations.
(2)If it appears to the Scottish Ministers that Food Standards Scotland has consulted any person that the Scottish Ministers are required to consult under subsection (1)(b), the Scottish Ministers may treat that consultation as being effective for the purposes of that subsection as if undertaken by them.
(3)Subsection (1)(b) does not apply in any case in which consultation is required by Article 9 of Regulation (EC) No. 178/2002.
I50S. 50 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/99, art. 2
51Lord Advocate's guidanceS
(1)The Lord Advocate may issue guidance to enforcement authorities about the exercise by them, and their authorised officers, of functions under this Part in relation to fixed penalty notices and compliance notices.
(2)The Lord Advocate must publish any such guidance (in such manner as the Lord Advocate considers appropriate).
(3)Subsection (2) does not apply to the extent that the Lord Advocate considers that publication would, or would be likely to, prejudice—
(a)the effective exercise of the functions of enforcement authorities, or their authorised officers, under this Part,
(b)the prevention or detection of crime,
(c)the apprehension or prosecution of offenders, or
(d)the administration of justice.
(4)Enforcement authorities must comply, and ensure that their authorised officers comply, with such guidance in exercising those functions.
(5)The power in subsection (1) includes power to issue revised guidance (and references in this section to guidance are to be construed accordingly).
I51S. 51 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/99, art. 2
52Interpretation of PartS
“appropriate enforcement authority”, in relation to a relevant offence, means the enforcement authority for the particular enactment under which the offence arises,
“authorised officer”, in relation to an enforcement authority, means a person (whether or not an officer of the authority) who is authorised by the authority in writing, either generally or specifically, for the purposes of this Part,
“compliance notice” has the meaning given in section 42(2),
“compliance period”, in relation to a compliance notice, means the period stated in the notice in accordance with section 43(1)(d),
“fixed penalty notice” has the meaning given in section 36(2),
“payment period”, in relation to a fixed penalty notice, means the period stated in the notice in accordance with section 37(1)(e),
“relevant offence” means a specified offence under food legislation,
“specified” means specified in regulations made by the Scottish Ministers.
I52S. 52 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/99, art. 2
PART 4 SINTERPRETATION
53Meanings of “food” and “animal feeding stuffs”S
I53S. 53 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/99, art. 2
54Meaning of “food matter”S
I54S. 54 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/99, art. 2
55Meaning of “other interests of consumers in relation to food”S
I55S. 55 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/99, art. 2
56Meaning of “animal feeding stuffs matter”S
I56S. 56 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/99, art. 2
57Meaning of “food legislation”S
I57S. 57 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/99, art. 2
58General interpretationS
who is the subject of a bankruptcy restrictions order, or an interim bankruptcy restrictions order, made under the Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 1985 [F1, the Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 2016] or the Insolvency Act 1986,
who is the subject of a bankruptcy restrictions undertaking entered into under [F2that Act of 1985 or that Act of 1986],
F1Words in s. 58(1) inserted (30.11.2016) by Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 2016 (asp 21), s. 237(2), sch. 8 para. 28(a) (with ss. 232, 234(3), 235, 236); S.S.I. 2016/294, reg. 2
F2Words in s. 58(1) substituted (30.11.2016) by Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 2016 (asp 21), s. 237(2), sch. 8 para. 28(b) (with ss. 232, 234(3), 235, 236); S.S.I. 2016/294, reg. 2
I58S. 58 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/99, art. 2
I59S. 59 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/99, art. 2