Harmonising our food regulations

The regulations controlling the use of colours in food are the first of this country's laws relating to the composition or labelling of food, or the additives used in food, to be affected directly by European Economic Community legislation, in this case the Directive on food colouring matter. The Colouring Matter in Food Regulations 1973, which were made recently, bring our existing laws into line with this Directive, and amend and supersede the Colouring Matter in Food Regulations 1966. Other regulations will be made later this year implementing the remainder of our obligations in this field under the Treaty of Accession to the Community.