Weights and Measures &c. Act 1976 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Shortages of food and other goods Orders for alleviation of food or other shortages. 12 1 This section applies to food or other goods in relation to which requirements are imposed under or by virtue of— a section 16 of the Food Safety Act 1990 (“the 1990 Act”); (c) Article 6 or 9 of the Food (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (the “1989 Order”); or d section 21, 22 or 23 of the 1985 Act; e Article 19 of the 1981 Order. 2 Where it appears to the appropriate Minister that— a any food or other goods to which this section applies are or are likely to be, for a limited period of time, in short supply or unavailable in any area; and b the alleviation of that situation is or is likely to be seriously hindered by a relevant requirement, he may by order exclude or modify the relevant requirement in its operation in relation to the food or goods in question for a period specified in the order. 3 The said period shall not exceed one year, but may be extended on one or more occasions by a subsequent order under this section for a further period not exceeding one year. 4 An order under this section may attach conditions to the exclusion or modification of the relevant requirement, and may, while it is excluded or modified— a impose, as respects the food or goods, any requirement which could be imposed under the section under or by virtue of which the relevant requirement is imposed, or b exclude, as respects the food or goods, any exception or exemption from a requirement imposed by or under the said section. 5 An order under this section— a may impose on persons offending against the order penalties not exceeding the maximum penalties specified in the Acts or Orders mentioned in subsection (1) above, or in instruments made under those Acts or those orders , in relation to the relevant requirement, b may be limited to an area which is only part of the territory to which the relevant requirement extends, c may, where so limited, make special provision for goods which are dealt with partly within the area and partly outside, d may make different provision in relation to different cases or classes of cases, and may exclude specified cases or classes of cases, e may contain such incidental or supplemental provisions as appear to the appropriate Minister to be expedient for the purposes of the order. 6 Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (5) above an order under this section may contain transitional provisions by reference to the beginning or end of the period for which the relevant requirement is excluded or modified. 7 An order under this section may make provision for any of the purposes mentioned in subsections (4), (5) and (6) above by means of amending, or of applying with or without modifications, or of excluding the application in whole or in part of, any provision of the Act or Order under or by virtue of which the relevant requirement is imposed and, except as provided by an order under this section, Schedule 6 to this Act shall have effect where a requirement is imposed under subsection (4) above. 8 In this section “ requirement ” includes any condition or prohibition. 9 In this section, “ appropriate Minister ” in relation to any relevant requirement, means— a Where it was imposed under the 1990 Act— i the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Secretary of State acting jointly in so far as it was imposed in relation to England and Wales; and ii the Secretary of State in so far as it was imposed in relation to Scotland; b where it was imposed under the 1989 Order , the Department of Health and Social Services for Northern Ireland; c where it was imposed under . . . the 1985 Act , the Secretary of State; d where it was imposed under the 1981 Order , the Department of Commerce for Northern Ireland. Shortages: supplementary provisions. 13 1 Before the appropriate Minister makes an order under section 12 of this Act he shall consult, to the extent that it appears to him to be appropriate having regard to the subject matter of the order and the urgency of the matter, with such persons as appear to him to be representative of interests substantially affected by the order. 2 An order made under section 12 of this Act may be varied or revoked by a subsequent order so made. 3 An order under section 12 of this Act shall not extend to any area to which the relevant requirement did not extend. 4 An order under section 12 of this Act, except an order which extends to Northern Ireland only, shall be made by statutory instrument which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament. 5 The power under section 12 of this Act to make an order which extends to Northern Ireland only shall be exercisable by statutory rule for the purposes of the Statutory Rules (Northern Ireland) Order 1979, and any such order shall be subject to negative resolution as defined by section 41(6) of the Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954 as if it were a statutory instrument within the meaning of that Act. 6 In this section— “appropriate Minister”, “requirement”, and “relevant requirement”, have the same meanings as in section 12 of this Act. Supplemental Interpretation. 14 In this Act— “ the 1963 Act ” means the Weights and Measures Act 1963; “ the 1985 Act means the Weights and Measures Act 1985; ” “ the 1981 Order ”means the Weights and Measures (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 Short title, etc. 15 1 This Act may be cited as the Weights and Measures &c. Act 1976. 2 This Act, except Schedules 4 and 5, shall come into operation on the expiration of the period of one month beginning with the date on which it is passed. 3 This Act, except sections 4, 8 and 9 and Schedules 3 and 4, extends to Northern Ireland. 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .