The Quality Schemes (Agricultural Products and Foodstuffs) Regulations 2018

law://uk/uksi/2018/1275@2026-11-12

Contents

Part 1 · Introductory

1Citation , commencement and extent#

(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Quality Schemes (Agricultural Products and Foodstuffs) Regulations 2018 and come into force on 1st January 2019.

(2)The following provisions extend to Great Britain—

(a)this Part and Parts 2 to 4;

(b)regulations 22 and 23.

2Interpretation#

(1)In these Regulations—

(a)terms used that are also used in the EU Regulations have the same meaning as they have in the EU Regulations, and

(b)any reference to an Article, except where otherwise specified , is a reference to an Article of Regulation 1151/2012 ^note.

(2)In these Regulations—• ^note...• Regulation 1151/2012” means Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs• “Regulation 664/2014” means Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 664/2014 supplementing Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to the establishment of the Union symbols for protected designations of origin, protected geographical indications and traditional specialities guaranteed and with regard to certain rules on sourcing, certain procedural rules and certain additional transitional rules ^note;• “Regulation 665/2014” means Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 665/2014 supplementing Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to conditions of use of the optional quality term ‘mountain product’^note;• “Regulation 668/2014” means Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 668/2014 laying down rules for the application of Regulation (EU) 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs ^note;• “Regulation (EU) 2017/625” means Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council on official controls and other official activities performed to ensure the application of food and feed law, rules on animal health and welfare, plant health and plant protection products;• “authorised officer” means a person (whether or not an officer of an enforcement authority) who is authorised by the enforcement authority in writing to act in relation to matters arising under these Regulations and the EU Regulations;• “costs”, except in regulation 9(3), has the meaning given in regulation 14(7);• “enforcement authority” means an enforcement authority appointed under regulation 6(2);• “enforcement notice” means—(a) a compliance notice served under regulation 12;(b) a non-compliance penalty notice served under regulation 13;(c) an enforcement costs recovery notice served under regulation 14;• “the EU Regulations” means—(a) Regulation 1151/2012, and(b) Regulation 668/2014;• “PDO” means a protected designation of origin;• “PGI” means a protected geographical indication;• “premises” includes any establishment, place, vehicle, stall or movable structure and any ship or aircraft;• “TSG” means a traditional speciality guaranteed.

Part 2 · Competent authority and control bodies

3The competent authority etc.#

(1)The competent authority is the Secretary of State.

(2)The Secretary of State is responsible for exercising the functions of the designated authority for the purposes of Articles 13(3), 24(2) and 34.

4Responsibilities of appointed enforcement authority#

(1)Each enforcement authority must report to the Secretary of State when it exercises a power under these Regulations to—

(a)enter premises;

(b)issue an enforcement notice.

(2)The report must cover the result of that exercise and must be submitted to the Secretary of State within 28 days of that result.

5Delegation to control bodies#

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Part 3 · Duties of execution and enforcement

6Enforcement authorities#

(1)The Secretary of State must execute and enforce the provisions of the EU Regulations and these Regulations directly or ensure that they are executed and enforced.

(2)The Secretary of State may appoint enforcement authorities in respect of specified areas.

(3)An enforcement authority appointed under paragraph (2) must execute and enforce the provisions of the EU Regulations and these Regulations specified in the terms of its appointment.

(4)For the purposes of these Regulations any authority (other than the council of a non-metropolitan district) that is a food authority for the purposes of the Food Safety Act 1990 is eligible for appointment as an enforcement authority.

(5)Where an enforcement authority is appointed under paragraph (2), the appointment shall operate in relation to its area only.

(6)Paragraph (5) does not apply where an enforcement authority is so appointed for the purpose of Article 37(1)(a) or, in relation to any authorised officer, where consent is granted under regulation 8(3).

(7)The appointment of an enforcement authority under paragraph (2) does not preclude the Secretary of State from exercising enforcement powers in the area of that authority.

7Authorised officers#

Each enforcement authority must appoint authorised officers to act for the purposes of the performance of its duty under regulation 6(3).

8Default powers and authorised officers' powers#

(1)Where the Secretary of State considers that the duty of an enforcement authority has not been adequately carried out in its area, the Secretary of State may appoint one or more persons to exercise in that area the powers exercisable by an authorised officer and references in these Regulations to an authorised officer include an officer appointed in accordance with this paragraph.

(2)Any expenses certified by the Secretary of State as having been incurred in respect of the area of an enforcement authority mentioned in paragraph (1) must be repaid on demand by that enforcement authority.

(3)An authorised officer may not exercise powers under these Regulations or the EU Regulations in respect of any premises outside the area for which that officer is appointed except with the consent of the enforcement authority for the area in which those premises are situated.

9Protection of officers acting in good faith#

(1)An authorised officer is not personally liable in respect of any act done—

(a)in the execution or purported execution of functions under these Regulations or the EU Regulations, and

(b)within the scope of the officer's employment,

if the officer acted in the honest belief that the duty under these Regulations or the EU Regulations required or entitled the officer to so act.

(2)Nothing in paragraph (1) is to be construed as relieving any enforcement authority of any liability in respect of the acts of its officers.

(3)Where an action has been brought against an authorised officer in respect of an act done—

(a)in the execution or purported execution of functions under these Regulations or the EU Regulations, but

(b)outside the scope of the officer's employment,

the enforcement authority may indemnify the officer against the whole or a part of any damages ordered to be paid or any costs awarded if that authority is satisfied that the officer honestly believed that the act complained of was within the scope of the officer's employment.

Part 4 · Enforcement powers and related provisions

10Powers of entry#

(1)An authorised officer may on giving reasonable notice enter any premises except premises used wholly or mainly as a private dwelling-house at any reasonable hour for the purposes of enforcing these Regulations or the EU Regulations.

(2)The requirement to give notice does not apply—

(a)where reasonable efforts to agree an appointment have failed;

(b)where an authorised officer reasonably believes that giving notice would defeat the object of the entry;

(c)where an authorised officer has a reasonable suspicion of a breach of these Regulations or the EU Regulations.

(3)An authorised officer must, if requested to do so, produce a duly authenticated authorisation document.

(4)A justice of the peace in England and Wales or a sheriff or justice of the peace in Scotland, ^note... may by signed warrant permit an authorised officer to enter any premises, including dwelling-houses, if necessary by reasonable force, if the justice or sheriff on sworn information in writing is satisfied—

(a)that there are reasonable grounds to enter those premises for the purpose of enforcing these Regulations or the EU Regulations, and

(b)that one or more of the conditions in paragraph (5) are met.

(5)The conditions are—

(a)entry to the premises has been, or is likely to be, refused, and notice of the intention to apply for a warrant has been given to the occupier;

(b)asking for admission to the premises, or giving such a notice, would defeat the object of the entry;

(c)entry is required urgently;

(d)the premises are unoccupied or the occupier is temporarily absent.

(6)A warrant is valid for 30 days from the date of signature.

(7)An authorised officer entering any premises which are unoccupied or from which the occupier is temporarily absent must leave them as effectively secured against unauthorised entry as they were before entry.

(8)An authorised officer may—

(a)be accompanied by such other persons as the authorised officer considers necessary;

(b)bring on to the premises such equipment as the authorised officer considers necessary.

11Powers of authorised officers on entry#

(1)An authorised officer who has entered premises under regulation 10 may—

(a)inspect and search the premises;

(b)take photographs;

(c)mark any item for identification purposes;

(d)require the production of any label, document or record (in whatever form it is held);

(e)inspect and take a copy of, or take a copy of an extract from, any label, document or record;

(f)inspect and open any container, item or vending machine;

(g)inspect any plant, machinery or equipment;

(h)have access to, inspect and check the data on, and operation of, any computer and any associated apparatus used in connection with a label, document or record to which this regulation relates;

(i)where a label, document or record is kept by means of a computer, require the label, document or record to be produced in a form in which it may be taken away;

(j)seize and detain any computer equipment for the purpose of copying any data or for further inspection where adequate inspection has not been able to be carried out on the premises, if the authorised officer has reason to believe that a person is in contravention of these Regulations or the EU Regulations and that the data may be relevant to the contravention;

(k)seize and detain potential evidentiary material, that is to say, any label, document, record, equipment, container or item if the authorised officer has reason to believe that a person is in contravention of these Regulations or the EU Regulations and that the potential evidentiary material may be relevant to the contravention.

(2)An authorised officer may require any person to provide the authorised officer with such assistance, information or facilities as the officer may reasonably require for the purposes of the execution or enforcement of these Regulations or the EU Regulations.

(3)If it is decided that anything seized and detained under paragraph (1) by an authorised officer is no longer needed by an enforcement authority in connection with a possible contravention of these Regulations or the EU Regulations, the authorised officer must return it as soon as reasonably practicable after that decision.

12Compliance notice#

(1)An authorised officer may serve a notice in writing on any person if the authorised officer has grounds for believing that the person—

(a)has marketed, or is marketing or intending to market, a product—

(i)under a registered PDO or PGI which has not been labelled in a way described in Article 12 of Regulation 1151/2012 as read with Article 16(4) of that Regulation and Article 2 of, and the Annex to, Regulation 664/2014, or

(ii)under a registered TSG which has not been labelled in a way described in Article 23 of Regulation 1151/2012 as read with Article 25(4) of that Regulation and Article 2 of, and the Annex to, Regulation 664/2014;

(b)has made, or is making or intending to make, any direct or indirect commercial use of a registered PDO or PGI in a way described in Article 13(1)(a);

(c)has misused, imitated or evoked, or is misusing, imitating or evoking or intending to misuse, imitate or evoke, a registered PDO or PGI in a way described in Article 13(1)(b);

(d)has used, or is using or intending to use, any other false or misleading indication as to the provenance, origin, nature or essential qualities of a product in a way described in Article 13(1)(c);

(e)has used, or is using or intending to use, any other practice that is liable to mislead the consumer as to the true origin of a product in a way described in Article 13(1)(d);

(f)has misused, imitated or evoked, or is misusing, imitating or evoking or intending to misuse, imitate or evoke, a registered TSG in a way liable to mislead the consumer as described in Article 24(1) or has carried out, or is carrying out or intending to carry out any other practice liable to mislead the consumer in a way described there;

(g)has used, or is using or intending to use, a sales description that causes confusion with a registered TSG in a way described in Article 24(2);

(h)has marketed, or is marketing or intending to market, a product described with an optional quality term in contravention of Article 33(1);

(i)has used, or is using or intending to use, an indication, abbreviation or symbol in contravention of Article 44(1), as read with Regulation 665/2014;

(j)has marketed, or is marketing or intending to market, a product under a registered PDO, PGI or TSG which has not been labelled in a way described in Article 13(1) to (3) of Regulation 668/2014 as read with Article 2 of, and the Annex to, Regulation 664/2014.

(2)A notice served under paragraph (1) must contain the following—

(a)the name and address of the enforcement authority by which the authorised officer is authorised;

(b)the name and address of the person on whom the notice is served;

(c)the grounds for service of the notice;

(d)information on the steps the person must take to comply with the notice;

(e)except to the extent that the steps are confined to refraining from doing something believed to be intended, the period within which each step must be completed in order to comply with the notice, which must not expire before the period within which an appeal may be brought under regulation 15 or 16 as the case may be;

(f)information as to—

(i)the rights of appeal;

(ii)the scope for suspension of a notice pending appeal;

(iii)the consequences of an appeal;

(iv)the consequences of a failure to comply with the notice.

(3)Subject to regulations 15 and 16, the person on whom the notice is served must comply with the notice.

(4)A notice served under this regulation is referred to in these Regulations as a compliance notice.

13Non-compliance penalty notice#

(1)Where a person—

(a)fails to comply with a compliance notice,

(b)has obstructed an authorised officer acting pursuant to regulations 10 or 11, or

(c)has failed to comply with a requirement of an authorised officer acting pursuant to regulation 11(1)(d), 11(1)(i) or 11(2),

(2)The enforcement authority may determine—

(a)the amount payable, which must not exceed £40,000, and

(b)whether any discount is offered in relation to early payment and, if so—

(i)the amount of any discount, and

(ii)the time within which the penalty must be paid to take advantage of the discount.

(3)A notice served under paragraph (1) must contain the following—

(a)the name and address of the enforcement authority to which the penalty must be paid;

(b)the name and address of the person on whom the notice is served;

(c)the grounds for serving the notice;

(d)the amount of the penalty;

(e)the period within which the penalty must be paid, which must not expire before the period within which an appeal may be brought under regulation 15 or 16 as the case may be;

(f)whether any discount is offered for early payment, and if so—

(i)the amount of the discount;

(ii)the period within which the penalty must be paid to take advantage of the discount;

(g)information as to—

(i)the rights of appeal;

(ii)the scope for suspension of a notice pending appeal;

(iii)the consequences of an appeal;

(iv)the consequences of failing to comply with the notice.

(4)Subject to regulations 15 and 16, the person on whom the notice is served must comply with the notice.

(5)If the requirements of the compliance notice are met before the payment period set out in the non-compliance penalty notice expires, liability to pay the non-compliance penalty is discharged.

(6)A notice served under this regulation is referred to in these Regulations as a non-compliance penalty notice.

an enforcement authority may, by way of serving a written notice on the person, impose a requirement to pay to that enforcement authority such sum as the authority may specify in respect of that act or omission.

14Enforcement costs recovery notice#

(1)An enforcement authority may, by way of serving a written notice on a person on whom a non-compliance penalty notice has been served, require the person to pay to the authority a sum equal to or less than the costs incurred by the authority in relation to the issuing of a non-compliance penalty notice up to the time of its issue.

(2)An enforcement authority must provide a detailed breakdown of the costs specified in the notice if requested to do so by the person on whom such a notice is served.

(3)A request for a detailed breakdown of the costs specified in the notice must be made within 14 days of the date of the notice.

(4)A notice served under paragraph (1) must contain the following—

(a)the name and address of the enforcement authority to which the sum must be paid;

(b)the name and address of the person on whom the notice is served;

(c)the period within which the sum must be paid, which must not expire before—

(i)the period within which an appeal may be brought under regulation 15 or 16 as the case may be;

(ii)the enforcement authority has provided a breakdown of the costs, unless—

(aa)the person in question has indicated to the enforcement authority that they do not require the detailed breakdown in question;

(bb)the period referred to in paragraph (3) has expired;

(d)information as to—

(i)the rights of appeal;

(ii)the scope for suspension of a notice pending appeal;

(iii)the consequences of an appeal;

(iv)the consequences of failure to comply with the notice.

(5)Subject to regulations 15 and 16, the person on whom a notice is served must comply with the notice.

(6)A notice served under this regulation is referred to in these Regulations as an enforcement costs recovery notice.

(7)In this regulation, “costs” means reasonably and necessarily incurred—

(a)investigation costs;

(b)administration costs;

(c)costs of obtaining expert advice (including legal advice).

15Appeals against enforcement notices served in England and Wales#

(1)The Education (National Curriculum) (Exceptions) Regulations 1994 are hereby revoked.

(2)Notwithstanding paragraph (1), regulation 4 of those Regulations (and the provisions of regulation 1 of, and the Schedule to, those Regulations so far as they relate to regulation 4) shall have effect in relation to the school year beginning in 1996 and any pupil who enters the first year of the fourth key stage in that year as if regulation 4(2)(b) of those Regulations referred to an examination to be held in that school year.

(3)

(4)

16Appeals against enforcement notices served in Scotland#

(1)The Education (National Curriculum) (Exceptions) Regulations 1994 are hereby revoked.

(3)

(4)

(5)

17Appeals against enforcement notices served in Northern Ireland#

(1)The Education (National Curriculum) (Exceptions) Regulations 1994 are hereby revoked.

(3)

(4)

(5)

18Grounds of appeal#

(1)The grounds for an appeal against a compliance notice are that the enforcement authority's decision to serve the compliance notice was—

(a)based on an error of fact;

(b)wrong in law;

(c)unreasonable.

(2)The grounds for an appeal against a non-compliance penalty notice or an enforcement costs recovery notice are that—

(a)the enforcement authority's decision to serve the non-compliance penalty notice or the enforcement costs recovery notice was—

(i)based on an error of fact;

(ii)wrong in law;

(iii)unreasonable;

(b)the amount specified in the non-compliance penalty notice or the enforcement costs recovery notice is unreasonable.

19Withdrawal and variation of an enforcement notice#

(1)An authorised officer may serve a notice on a person—

(a)withdrawing,

(b)varying, or

(c)suspending,

(2)A notice served under paragraph (1)(b) cannot add to the obligations imposed by the enforcement notice that it varies.

an enforcement notice served under these Regulations.

20Power to recover payments#

An enforcement authority may recover any unpaid sum required under regulation 13 or regulation 14, as read with regulations 15 and 16 —

(a)as a civil debt;

(b)on the order of the court, on such terms as the court may order.

Part 5 · Miscellaneous provision and consequential amendments

21Right of appeal in connection with an application to register a PDO, PGI or TSG#

(1)The Education (National Curriculum) (Exceptions) Regulations 1994 are hereby revoked.

(a)

(b)

(3)

(a)

(b)

(4)

may, within three months of that decision being made public, appeal against it to a person appointed for that purpose by the Secretary of State.

22Transitional period#

(1)Where the Secretary of State makes a favourable decision in respect of an application, the transitional period afforded in Article 15(4), which is a period of 10 years, applies if the operators concerned—

(a)have legally marketed the products in question, using the names concerned, continuously for a period of at least five years in Great Britain prior to the date on which the application to the Secretary of State is lodged, and

(b)have made that point during the opposition procedure referred to in Article 51.

(2)The transitional period referred to in this regulation applies from the date on which the registration takes effect.

(3)Applications covered by this regulation are applications for the registration of a PDO or PGI.

23Review#

(1)The Secretary of State must from time to time—

(a)carry out a review of the regulatory provision contained in these Regulations, and

(b)publish a report setting out the conclusions of the review.

(2)The first report must be published before the end of the period of five years beginning with the date on which these Regulations come into force for any purpose.

(3)Subsequent reports must be published at intervals not exceeding five years.

(4)Section 30(3) of the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015 requires that a review carried out under this regulation must, so far as is reasonable, have regard to how the obligations under the EU Regulations are implemented in other member States.

(5)Section 30(4) of the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015 requires that a report published under this regulation must, in particular—

(a)set out the objectives intended to be achieved by the regulatory provision referred to in paragraph (1)(a),

(b)assess the extent to which these objectives are achieved,

(c)assess whether those objectives remain appropriate, and

(d)if those objectives remain appropriate, assess the extent to which they could be achieved in another way which involved less onerous regulatory provision.

(6)In this regulation, “regulatory provision” has the same meaning as in sections 28 to 32 of the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015 (see section 32 of that Act).

24Amendment of the Co-ordination of Regulatory Enforcement (Enforcement Action) Order 2009#

(1)The Co-ordination of Regulatory Enforcement (Enforcement Action) Order 2009 is amended as follows.

(2)After article 2(1)(m) (enforcement action) insert—“ma the service of a compliance notice under regulation 12 of the Quality Schemes (Agricultural Products and Foodstuffs) Regulations 2018;”

25Amendment of the Official Feed and Food Controls (England) Regulations 2009#

(1)The Official Feed and Food Controls (England) Regulations 2009 ^note are amended as follows.

(2)In Schedule 3 (definition of relevant food law)—

(a)omit paragraph (a)(iii);

(b)for paragraph (a)(iv) substitute—“iv the application of the rules on quality schemes which provide the basis for the identification and protection of names and terms that indicate or describe agricultural products with value-adding characteristics laid down in Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs,”

26Amendment of the Official Controls (Animals, Feed and Food) (Scotland) Regulations 2007#

(1)The Official Controls (Animals, Feed and Food) (Scotland) Regulations 2007 ^note are amended as follows.

(2)In regulation 2 (interpretation)—

(a)omit paragraph (2)(a);

(b)for paragraph (2)(b) substitute—“b the application of the rules on quality schemes which provide the basis for the identification and protection of names and terms that indicate or describe agricultural products with value-adding characteristics laid down in Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs.”

27Amendment of the Official Feed and Food Controls (Scotland) Regulations 2009#

(1)The Official Feed and Food Controls (Scotland) Regulations 2009 ^note are amended as follows.

(2)in Schedule 3 (definition of relevant food law)—

(a)omit paragraph (a)(iii);

(b)for paragraph (a) (iv) substitute—“iv the application of the rules on quality schemes which provide the basis for the identification and protection of names and terms that indicate or describe agricultural products with value-adding characteristics laid down in Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs.”

28Amendment of the Official Feed and Food Controls Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009#

(1)The Official Feed and Food Controls Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 ^note are amended as follows.

(2)In Schedule 3 (definition of relevant food law)—

(a)omit paragraph (a)(iii);

(b)for paragraph (a)(iv) substitute—“iv the application of the rules on quality schemes which provide the basis for the identification and protection of names and terms that indicate or describe agricultural products with value-adding characteristics laid down in Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs.”

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

1Citation , commencement and extent#

2Interpretation#

3The competent authority etc.#

4Responsibilities of appointed enforcement authority#

5Delegation to control bodies#

6Enforcement authorities#

7Authorised officers#

8Default powers and authorised officers' powers#

9Protection of officers acting in good faith#

10Powers of entry#

11Powers of authorised officers on entry#

12Compliance notice#

13Non-compliance penalty notice#

14Enforcement costs recovery notice#

15Appeals against enforcement notices served in England and Wales#

16Appeals against enforcement notices served in Scotland#

17Appeals against enforcement notices served in Northern Ireland#

18Grounds of appeal#

19Withdrawal and variation of an enforcement notice#

20Power to recover payments#

21Right of appeal in connection with an application to register a PDO, PGI or TSG#

22Transitional period#

23Review#

24Amendment of the Co-ordination of Regulatory Enforcement (Enforcement Action) Order 2009#

25Amendment of the Official Feed and Food Controls (England) Regulations 2009#

26Amendment of the Official Controls (Animals, Feed and Food) (Scotland) Regulations 2007#

27Amendment of the Official Feed and Food Controls (Scotland) Regulations 2009#

28Amendment of the Official Feed and Food Controls Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009#

Connections

Defined terms · 14

Key facts

History · 2 versions

1Citation , commencement and extent#

2Interpretation#

3The competent authority etc.#

4Responsibilities of appointed enforcement authority#

5Delegation to control bodies#

6Enforcement authorities#

7Authorised officers#

8Default powers and authorised officers' powers#

9Protection of officers acting in good faith#

10Powers of entry#

11Powers of authorised officers on entry#

12Compliance notice#

13Non-compliance penalty notice#

14Enforcement costs recovery notice#

15Appeals against enforcement notices served in England and Wales#

16Appeals against enforcement notices served in Scotland#

17Appeals against enforcement notices served in Northern Ireland#

18Grounds of appeal#

19Withdrawal and variation of an enforcement notice#

20Power to recover payments#

21Right of appeal in connection with an application to register a PDO, PGI or TSG#

22Transitional period#

23Review#

24Amendment of the Co-ordination of Regulatory Enforcement (Enforcement Action) Order 2009#

25Amendment of the Official Feed and Food Controls (England) Regulations 2009#

26Amendment of the Official Controls (Animals, Feed and Food) (Scotland) Regulations 2007#

27Amendment of the Official Feed and Food Controls (Scotland) Regulations 2009#

28Amendment of the Official Feed and Food Controls Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009#