Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee
Meeting date: Tuesday, October 1, 2019
Official Report 450KB pdf
Contents
- Attendance
- Decision on Taking Business in Private
- European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018: Instrument Procedure and Category
- Instrument subject to Affirmative Procedure
- Instruments subject to Negative Procedure
- Instrument not subject to Parliamentary Procedure
Instruments subject to Negative Procedure
Food Information, Labelling and Standards (EU Exit) (Scotland) (Amendment) Regulations 2019 (SSI 2019/285)
The first instrument for consideration under item 4, SSI 2019/285, deals with deficiencies that will arise on the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union to ensure the operability of domestic food legislation.
Regulation 5(3) of the instrument amends regulation 16(1) of the Honey (Scotland) Regulations 2015 (SSI 2015/208) to make changes to the origin labelling information that is required for blended honey. Regulation 16(1) provides options for blended honey suppliers to use when labelling the countries of origin of their honey.
Two of the available labelling options make reference to inserting the names of non-specified countries of origin on labels. It is unclear how “non-specified countries” could be named, and no definition is given of the term. The Scottish Government acknowledges that the wording could be clearer and has stated that it intends to amend the instrument “at the earliest opportunity”.
Does the committee wish to draw the instrument to the attention of the Parliament on reporting ground (h), as the meaning of new regulation 16(1) of the Honey (Scotland) Regulations 2015, as inserted by regulation 5(3) of the instrument, could be clearer?
Members indicated agreement.
Does the committee wish to welcome the Scottish Government’s commitment to amend the instrument at the earliest opportunity?
Members indicated agreement.
No points have been raised on the following three negative instruments.
Animal Health and Welfare and Official Controls (Animals, Feed and Food) (EU Exit) (Scotland) (Amendment) Regulations 2019 (SSI 2019/288)
Seed, Propagating Material and Common Agricultural Policy (EU Exit) (Scotland) (Amendment) Regulations 2019 (SSI 2019/289)
Caravan Sites Act 1968 (Amendment of Definition of Caravan) (Scotland) Order (SSI 2019/295)
SSI 2019/295 will be of interest to anyone who has a caravan, because it increases the maximum permitted dimensions of a caravan in Scotland, bringing parity with the equivalent dimensions in England and Wales. Who knew that there was such a thing?
Is the committee content with the instruments?
Members indicated agreement.