Guidance notes
The Agency regularly issues guidance to food industry representatives and other stakeholders on a range of topics, often as a result of new regulations coming into force.
Following the Review of FSA guidance and in response to a recommendation from the Anderson Review of Guidance we have now produced a list of all our current external guidance - see link below. This will be updated every six months.
FSA Guidance Feedback Survey
The FSA is very keen to make its guidance as clear and helpful as possible. We do regular internal reviews of the format and style of our guidance, but reaction from readers is very important. Please complete this short survey to tell us how helpful you thought the FSA guidance was that you have read recently and to suggest ways we might improve it.
Related links
(pdf 425KB)External links The Food Standards Agency has no responsibility for the content of external websites
Guidance On The Materials And Articles In Contact With Food (England) Regulations 2010
This guidance is aimed at all companies that manufacture, process, distribute, use, sell or import active and intelligent materials and articles that are intended for use in contact with food.
Natural Mineral Water, Spring Water and Bottled Drinking Water Regulations 2007 (As Amended) Guidance Note
Guidance is available on the recognition, exploitation, bottling and labelling rules for natural mineral water, spring water and bottled drinking water in the UK.
EU Official Feed and Food Controls regulation: Guidance for enforcement authorities
Q&A notes for enforcement authorities on the new EU Regulation on official feed and food controls (882/2004).
Guidance for food business operators on shelf life of ready-to-eat food in relation to Listeria monocytogenes
The shelf life of ready-to-eat food in relation to L. monocytogenes is a new best practice guidance document published by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and the Chilled Food Association (CFA) and endorsed by the Food Standards Agency.
Guidance on expenses arising from 'additional official controls'
The Food Standards Agency has issued guidance notes to provide advice in relation to Regulation 43 of the Official Feed and Food Controls (England) Regulations 2009. Parallel regulations apply in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Legislation controlling contaminants in food and food irradiation: Explanatory note
This note gives a general introduction to that EU harmonised legislation and describes its implementation in the United Kingdom. Northern Ireland has always had separate, but similar, provisions to the rest of Great Britain. Since devolution, Scotland and Wales also have their own provisions that reflect the measures in force in England that are described in the legislation.
Non-permitted colours in spices: Guidance note
Guidance to help food companies that use spices to minimise the risk of products adulterated with non-permitted colours entering the food chain is available. Controls on the import of chilli, chilli products, curcuma and palm oil fall under Regulation (EC) 669/2009 (as amended).
Guidance on The Contaminants in Food (England) Regulations 2009
This Guidance Note provides informal guidance to The Contaminants in Food (England) Regulations 2009 (Statutory Instrument 2009 No. 1223) and should be read in conjunction with the pertinent EU legislation, including European Regulation (EC) No. 1881/2006 as amended, as well as Commission Regulation (EC) No. 124/2009 and the accompanying Regulation on Sampling and Analysis for Official Controls.
Food Safety Act 1990: a Guide for Food Businesses
The Agency has published revised guidance for food businesses on the Food Safety Act 1990. The guidance is applicable to all types of food business in England, Scotland and Wales.
Guidance on the Plastic Materials and Articles in Contact with Food (England) Regulations 2009
These guidance notes are for businesses (including SMEs, which may either use the guidance directly or learn about it via trade associations or enforcement authority contacts) that manufacture, use, import or sell materials and articles made from plastic that are intended for use in contact with food.
Vacuum packed chilled foods guidance
The Agency has produced guidance and a factsheet to help minimise the risk of Clostridium botulinum in vacuum and modified atmosphere packed chilled foods. The guidance is designed to assist small businesses and local authority environmental health officers assess the risks.
Bread and Flour Regulations 1998: Guidance notes
The Bread and Flour Regulations 1998 lay down labelling and compositional standards for the breads and flours to which they apply. They also continue with a long standing national requirement to restore certain vitamins and minerals to flour manufactured and sold in the UK.
Guidance on nutrition and health claims made on foods
This guidance aims to help food business operators who wish to make claims identify what they must do to comply with European Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 on nutrition and health claims made on foods. It also explains how new claims will be authorised.
Guidance on the addition of vitamins and minerals to food
The guidance aims to help food business operators who wish to fortify, or otherwise add vitamins and minerals and other substances to food, identify what they must do to comply with European Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006 on the addition of vitamins and minerals and of certain other substances to food.
Principles for preventing and responding to food incidents
This guide has been developed by the Taskforce on Incidents, to aid food businesses and others and to prevent or deal efficiently with food incidents if they occur.
Imports of products of non-animal origin: Guidance for businesses
Guidance notes for feed and food businesses on the imports provisions for products of non-animal origin are available.
Sampling food and feed for genetically modified (GM) material guidance
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) supplementary guidance on the sampling of GM food and feed for enforcement officers, following a European Commission (EC) Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) Mission to the UK in June 2006.
Distance selling guidance for food businesses
The Agency has produced guidance for food businesses on selling food for delivery (distance selling).
GM food and feed, and traceability and labelling of GMOs: Guidance notes on the regulations
New rules concerning genetically modified organisms (GMOs) became legally binding across all Member States on 18 April 2004, one covering Traceability and Labelling of GMOs (EC No. 1830/2003) and the other, the GM Food and Feed Regulation (EC No. 1829/2003), dealing with authorisation procedures and labelling issues.
Mycotoxins in foodstuffs sampling advice
This sampling advice is intended to provide information to enforcement authorities and food business operators on the legislation regarding mycotoxins in foodstuffs and the official methods of sampling certain foods for mycotoxins.
Food Standards Agency Guidance Notes on Articles 14, 16, 18 and 19 of the General Food Law Regulation (EC) 178/2002
Regulation (EC) No. 178/2002 lays down general principles and requirements of food law and food safety procedures, and established the European Food Safety Authority.
Undesirable substances in animal feed
Undesirable substances (contaminants) are defined in legislation as 'any substance or product, with the exception of pathogenic agents, which is present in and/or on the product intended for animal feed and which presents a potential danger to animal or human health or to the environment or could adversely affect livestock production'.
Contaminants in Food (England) Regulations Guidance note
This Guidance Note has been produced by the Food Standards Agency with the aim of providing informal guidance and a general introduction to The Contaminants in Food (England) Regulations 2007.
Import of food from third countries: guidance for food authorities
The Food Standards Agency has issued guidance for the import of food from third countries (non-European Union countries) for enforcement officers at ports and inland local authorities.
Feeding Stuffs Regulations 2005 Guidance Notes
Legislation concerning animal feeding stuffs, which includes pet food and feed for horses, farmed fish and in limited cases wild animals, is harmonised throughout the EU and based on measures negotiated in Brussels by the Member States
Food Supplements Regulations 2003: Guidance notes
The Food Supplements Directive 2002/46/EC came into force in July 2002 and was implemented in England by the Food Supplements (England) Regulations 2003. Separate, equivalent legislation has been made in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The directive and these regulations apply from 1 August 2005.
Waste cooking oil from catering premises
Guidance issued jointly by the Food Standards Agency, Cabinet Office, Environment Agency, Defra, HM Revenue and Customs and LACORS.
Sampling guidance
These guidance documents on food standards and feedingstuffs sampling have been developed through the Sampling Co-ordination Working Group (SCWG) and has been endorsed by the Enforcement Liaision Group (ELG).
Sudan dyes in chilli imported from India: Guidance notes
The Food Standards Agency investigations have identified that certain food products sold in the UK have been found to contain chilli powder, chilli products or curry powder imported from India illegally contaminated with the Sudan dyes which are chemicals that could cause cancer.
Sweeteners in Food (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2003 Guidance Notes
These Guidance Notes relate to the provisions of The Sweeteners in Food (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2003 (SI 2003 No. 1182). They came into force on 23 May 2003 and permit the marketing and use of the sweetener, salt of aspartame-acesulfame, for two years.
Food Additives Legislation Guidance Notes
The Sweeteners in Food Regulations 1995 (as amended), the Colours in Food Regulations 1995 (as amended), and the Miscellaneous Food Additives Regulations 1995 (as amended)
Cheese recovery: Guidance for UK dairy industry and local authorities
The Food Standards Agency has issued new guidance aimed to ensure cheese recovery is carried out in accordance with food hygiene legislation.
Enforcement of hygiene regulations on egg production sites in the UK: Guidance for enforcement bodies
Guidance for enforcement bodies on typical inspection points on egg production sites is available. The guidance covers the areas that will be subject to inspection and the standards expected for producers which must comply with regulations (EC) 852/2004, (EC) 853/2004 and the food hygiene regulations 2006.
Fishery Products Charges Regulations 2007: Guidance for enforcement authorities
The Food Standards Agency has issued Q&A notes for enforcement authorities on The Fishery Products (Official Control Charges) Regulations 2007.
Food Handlers: Fitness to Work – A Practical Guide for Food Business Operators
People who work around open food while suffering from certain infections (mainly from bacteria and viruses) can contaminate the food or surfaces the food may come into contact with. The Agency has published revised 'Food Handlers: Fitness to Work' guidance to help prevent the spread of infection to other people through food.
Guidance for farmers on feed hygiene regulation (183/2005)
The Feed Hygiene Regulation (183/2005) comes into effect in January 2006. It applies to businesses that make, use or market animal feeds. This includes most livestock farms, arable farms that grow, use or sell crops for feed use, and also fish farms.
Guidance on temperature control legislation in the UK
The majority of the text in the document has not changed from the guidance previously issued by the Department of Health on the 1995 Regulations. The main addition to the guidance is advice on the legislation in Scotland.
Guidance on testing milk for antibiotic residues
This guidance advises on the implementation of Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 as regards the testing of milk for antibiotic residues.
Guidance on the new food hygiene legislation
New EU food hygiene regulations have applied since 1 January 2006.
Guidance on wild salmon and the Anisakis parasite
Parasites in fish, particularly Anisakis, can, if eaten alive, cause serious health problems. Therefore, the Agency has issued new guidance for anglers and netsmen, who may want to eat their own catch, or supply small quantities to individuals or local food businesses.
How to apply for approval or registration under EC Feed Hygiene Regulation (183/2005)
Regulation (EC) 183/2005 requires feed business operators to notify the relevant enforcement authority of any establishment that is under their control and active in any stage of production, processing, storage, transport or distribution of feed. This notification should be given in the form required by the enforcement authority, with a view to applying for approval and/or registration.
Management of outbreaks of foodborne illness in England and Wales
The purpose of this document is to provide a framework for health professionals to assist them in the management of outbreaks of infectious intestinal disease caused by ingestion of microbiologically contaminated food.
Managing farm manures for food safety guidance
Food Standards Agency guidance on managing farm manures to help reduce the number of consumers that get food poisoning from ready-to-eat crops.
Raw drinking milk and raw cream control requirements in the different countries of the UK
Details of current controls for raw drinking milk and raw cream.
Removal of Dairy Hygiene Inspection Charge Guidance Notes
The Dairy Products (Hygiene) (Charges) (Amendment) (England) Regulations
Principles for preventing and responding to food incidents
This guide has been developed by the Taskforce on Incidents, to aid food businesses and others and to prevent or deal efficiently with food incidents if they occur.
Allergen management and labelling for pre-packed foods
Best practice guidance on managing food allergens with particular reference to avoiding cross-contamination and using appropriate advisory labelling (e.g. 'May contain' labelling).
Basmati rice
A UK code of practice for basmati rice has been developed.
Clear Food Labelling
The purpose of this guidance is to help manufacturers, producers and retailers provide food label information for pre-packed foods in a clear way that is helpful to consumers, and be aware of the relevant UK food labelling legislation for pre-packed foods.
Cocoa and chocolate products Guidance Notes
Cocoa and Chocolate Products Regulations 2003.
Condensed Milk and Dried Milk Regulations 2003 Guidance Notes
The Regulations make rules governing the labelling of certain preserved milk, and the manufacturing specifications to be adhered to if products are to be described by certain reserved descriptions.
Country of origin labelling guidance
The Food Standards Agency has published revised guidance for industry and enforcement authorities on country of origin labelling, as part of its continuing commitment to improve food labelling for consumers.
Criteria for the use of the terms Fresh, Pure, Natural etc.
The Agency has revised its guidance on the use of marketing terms such as 'fresh', 'pure' and 'natural'.
Fish Labelling (England) Regulations 2010
The Fish Labelling (England) Regulations 2010, which came into force on 6 April 2010, replace the 2003 regulations.
Food Labelling Regulations Guidance Notes
The Food Labelling Regulations 1996
Food assurance schemes guidance notes
The purpose of this guidance is to provide advice for food assurance schemes schemes on best practice and help consumers by promoting best practice amongst assurance schemes.
Food supplements: label advisory statements and suggested reformulations
This note introduces advice that applies to some food supplements containing high levels of vitamins and minerals. The advice covers advisory statements to be included on labels and, in a limited number of cases, suggests reformulation.
Foods for particular nutritional uses, medical foods and infant formula: Guidance notes and notification forms
A food for a particular nutritional use is one which owing to its special composition or process of manufacture, is clearly distinguishable from food intended for normal consumption and is sold in such a way as to indicate its suitability for its claimed particular nutritional purpose.
Fruit Juices and Fruit Nectars (England) Regulations 2003 Guidance Notes
The new legislation will replace the Fruit Juices and Fruit Nectars Regulations 1977 (as amended) which currently apply to the whole of Great Britain.
Guidance Notes on the Infant Formula and Follow-on Formula Regulations (2007) as amended
Date of publication: 22 May 2008
Guidance on food allergen labelling legislation
These guidance notes on the food labelling legislation provide informal guidance on food allergen labelling for pre-packed foods. They aim to help manufacturers, retailers, caterers and enforcement authorities ensure consistent and transparent labelling.
Guidance on labelling of added ingredients in MPR Reg 5 meat products
This is a guide to regulatory compliance incorporating guidance on best practice relating to labelling of added ingredients in meat products which have the appearance of a cut, joint, slice, portion or carcass of meat or of cured meat, whether cooked or uncooked. In this guidance such meat products are referred to as appearing like 'whole meats'.
Guidance on legislation for spreadable fats and other yellow fat spreads
This guidance note provides informal, non-binding guidance on legislation relating to spreadable fats and other yellow fats and help enforcement authorities to identify and take action on misleading labelling. It replaces previous guidance on the labelling of spreadable fats and other yellow fat spreads.
Guidance on legislation on the protection of definitions and designations in respect of milk and milk products
This guidance note provide informal, non-binding guidance on compliance with the regulations by industry, and to aid the enforcement of legislation relating to the protection of definitions and designations used in the marketing of milk and milk products.
Guidance on the labelling of certain food colours as set out in Regulation 1333/2008
These guidance notes are intended for food and drink manufacturers and retailers using or selling food colours, and for food enforcement authorities.
Guidance on the use of the terms 'vegetarian' and 'vegan' in food labelling
There is no definition in law of the terms 'vegetarian' or 'vegan' either at UK or European level. This document identifies the legislation relevant to the use of these terms, other legislation relevant to ingredient listing of animal products and provides advice on labelling foods as 'suitable for vegetarians' / 'vegetarian' or 'suitable for vegans' / 'vegan'.
Honey Regulations 2003 Guidance Notes
The Honey Regulations 2003, which came into force on 25 September 2003 in England, implement the provisions of EC Directive 2001/110 relating to honey.
Ingredient declaration of compound feedingstuffs by percentage weight of inclusion
An introductory guide to the provisions of the new legislation, intended for the use of enforcement personnel and feed business operators (for example, feed manufacturers, importers, merchants, food businesses selling food products into the animal feed chain), including new businesses wishing to gain an understanding of the legislation.
Jam and Similar Products (England) Regulations 2003 Guidance Notes
The Jam and Similar Products Regulations came into force in England on 31 December 2003 and separate analogous legislation was put in place in January 2004 in Northern Ireland and in March 2004 in Wales and Scotland.
Labelling and Composition of Meat Products Guidance Notes
Commission Directive 2001/101/EC amends the Food Labelling Directive (2000/13/EC), and introduces a European generic definition of meat for the purposes of labelling. The definition puts meat ingredient declarations in meat products on the same basis throughout the European Union, providing consumers with consistent and more transparent information.
Lot Marking Regulations Guidance Notes
Food (Lot Marking) Regulations 1996
Nutritional Labelling Guidance Notes
The Food Labelling Regulations 1996 (FLR).
Providing allergen information for non pre-packed foods
These documents provide voluntary best practice advice to help food retailers and caterers selling food that is not pre-packed provide allergen information on the food they sell.
Quantitative Ingredient Declarations (QUID) Guidance Notes
Food Labelling Regulations 1996, as amended by the Food Labelling (Amendment) Regulations 1998 and the Food Labelling (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 1999.
Specified Sugar Products Regulations 2003 Guidance Notes
The Regulations came into force in England and Northern Ireland on 12 July 2003. Analagous Regulations are anticipated to be brought into force in Scotland and Wales around November 2003.
Sweeteners in Food (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2003 Guidance Notes
The Sweeteners in Food (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2003 came into force on 23 May 2003 and permit the marketing and use of the sweetener, salt of aspartame-acesulfame, for two years.
The Meat Products Regulations 2003 - Summary guidance for bakers
These Guidance Notes are designed for bakers and similar small businesses that make and sell meat products.
Use by date Guidance Notes
The Food Labelling Regulations 1996
Home Slaughter Of Livestock: A Guide To The Law In Northern Ireland
Published August 2010
Food Chain Information for poultry
Since 1 January 2006, poultry intended for human consumption have required FCI to be supplied.
Guidance for veterinary surgeons on the emergency slaughter of cattle
Revised guidance for veterinary surgeons on emergency slaughter of cattle has been developed jointly by the British Cattle Veterinary Association, and other veterinary organisations with assistance from the Food Standards Agency and UK Rural Affairs Departments.
Guide for food business operators on charging for meat hygiene official controls in Northern Ireland
DARD Veterinary Service, Veterinary Public Health Unit (DARD VPHU) carry out Meat Hygiene Official controls in approved slaughterhouses, game handling establishments and cutting plants in Northern Ireland on behalf of the Food Standards Agency.
Guidance on food chain information (FCI) for cattle, sheep and goats
From 1 January 2010, food chain information (FCI) will be required for all cattle, sheep and goats submitted for slaughter for human consumption. The Agency has determined the minimum FCI that must be provided and has written to the relevant food business operators at slaughterhouses to provide them with this information.
Home Slaughter of Livestock: A Guide to the Law in Scotland
Published 14 July 2009
Home Slaughter Of Livestock: A Guide To The Law In England
Published 30 June 2009
Home Slaughter Of Livestock: A Guide To The Law In Wales
Published 30 June 2009
Implementation of food chain information for calves
The new legal requirement for food chain information (FCI) for calves comes into effect on 1 January 2009.
Guidance notes on the revised provisions on nitrites/nitrates in meat products
Guidance notes on the revised provisions on nitrites/nitrates in meat products set out in the Miscellaneous Food Additives and the Sweeteners in Food (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2007.
Wild game guide: a guide to food hygiene legislation
The guide is for people who shoot wild game and supply it either in-fur or in-feather or as small quantities of wild game meat. It gives information on hygiene regulations and ways to make sure meat is safe to eat.
Beef Bones Regulations guidance
The Beef Bones Regulations 1997 were revoked with effect from 26/04/08 by the Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (No. 2) (Amendment) Regulations 2008 (SI 2008 No 1180). This means there is no longer a ban on UK sourced beef bones being used in food manufacturing.
Guidance on food chain information for pig slaughterhouses
Legislation comes into force on 1 January 2008 requiring slaughterhouse operators to 'request, receive, check and act upon' food chain information (FCI) for all pigs sent to the slaughterhouse.
Edible co-products and animal by-products guidance
This guide is written for operators of meat plants to help them understand the legislation on animal by-products and edible co-products.
Illegal Meat Guidance Notes England
This guidance provides advice on all aspects concerning the production and sale of illegal meat including identifying the correct legislation.
Clean livestock guidance
Two guidance booklets have been produced to advise livestock farmers on how to keep their animals clean prior to slaughter. A further booklet is currently being produced for producers who are involved in the sheep supply chain.
Potential contamination of on-farm water supplies with nitrofurans guidance
This note provides precautionary guidance to poultry producers on an issue that has potential food safety implications involving the banned nitrofuran veterinary medicine 'furazolidone'. We do not anticipate that this will be a widespread problem among the poultry industry.
The Meat Products Regulations 2003 - Summary guidance for butchers
These Guidance Notes are designed for butchers and similar small businesses that make and sell meat products. Comprehensive Guidance Notes covering all aspects of the new Regulations are available from the Food Standards Agency.