Off On Dualscroll
Turn Dualscroll on to scroll both language versions together.
Uimhir 11 de 1974
AN tACHT UM CHAIGHDEÁIN BHIA, 1974
[An tiontú oifigiúil]
Mínithe.
1.—San Acht seo, ach amháin mar a n-éilíonn an comhthéacs a mhalairt—
ciallaíonn “bia” aon substaint a úsáideann an duine mar bhia nó mar dheoch, agus
(a) aon substaint a bhaineann le, nó a úsáidtear i ndáil le, comhdhéanamh nó ullmhú bia don duine,
(b) aon substaint a bhaineann le, nó a úsáidtear i ndáil le, comhdhéanamh nó ullmhú aon substainte den sórt sin a dúradh, agus
(c) guma coganta agus táirgí dá shamhail de chomhdhéanamh agus d'úsáid,
agus folaíonn tagairtí do bhia, de réir mar a éilíonn an comhthéacs, tagairtí do bhia áirithe, do bhianna áirithe nó d'aicme nó d'aicmí bia;
ciallaíonn “díol” mórdhíol nó miondíol agus folaíonn sé—
(a) rud a thairiscint nó a thaispeáint lena mhórdhíol nó lena mhiondíol,
(b) rud a shealbhú lena mhórdhíol nó lena mhiondíol, agus
(c) rud a sholáthar faoi chomhshocruithe eile conarthacha,
agus forléireofar focail ghaolmhara dá réir sin.
Caighdeáin le haghaidh bia.
2.—(1) Féadfaidh an tAire Talmhaíochta agus Iascaigh, an tAire Tionscail agus Tráchtála nó an tAire Sláinte, le rialacháin, foráil a dhéanamh do chaighdeáin maidir le bia agus, go háirithe ach gan dochar do ghinearáltacht a bhfuil anseo roimhe seo, féadfaidh sé foráil a dhéanamh le rialacháin maidir le haon ní nó nithe díobh seo a leanas:
(a) ainmneacha bia,
(b) tuairiscí bia,
(c) comhdhéanamh agus cáilíocht bia,
(d) modhanna monaraithe agus ullmhaithe bia,
(e) breiseáin a úsáidtear ag monarú nó ag ullmhú bia,
(f) truaillitheoirí (lena n-áirítear iarmhair lotnaidicídí) i mbia,
(g) sláinteachas maidir le bia,
(h) teorainneacha ama chun bia a thomhailt,
(i) pacáistiú, lipéadú agus tíolacadh bia,
(j) iompar, stóráil agus dáileadh bia,
(k) meáchain agus tomhais le haghaidh bia,
(l) ábhair atá iarmhartach nó forlíontach ar aon ábhar díobh sin roimhe seo nó atá foghabhálach nó teagmhasach leis.
(2) Féadfar a fhoráil le rialacháin faoin alt seo nach ndéanfaidh duine—
(a) bia a bheartaítear a dhíol mar bhia don duine a allmhairiú,
(b) bia a bheartaítear a dhíol mar bhia don duine a iompar,
(c) bia a bheartaítear a dhíol mar bhia don duine a stóráil, ná
(d) bia a bheartaítear mar bhia don duine a dhíol,
faoin ainm a bheidh sonraithe sna rialacháin mura gcomhlíonann an bia na rialacháin.
(3) Féadfar a fhoráil le rialacháin faoin alt seo nach ndéanfaidh duine—
(a) bia a bheartaítear a dhíol mar bhia don duine a mhonarú,
(b) bia a bheartaítear a dhíol mar bhia don duine a ullmhú,
(c) bia a bheartaítear a dhíol mar bhia don duine a allmhairiú,
(d) bia a bheartaítear a dhíol mar bhia don duine a iompar,
(e) bia a bheartaítear a dhíol mar bhia don duine a stóráil, ná
(f) bia a bheartaítear mar bhia don duine a dhíol,
mura gcomhlíonann an bia na rialacháin.
(4) Féadfar a fhoráil le rialacháin faoin alt seo nach n-onnmhaireoidh duine nó nach n-onnmhaireoidh sé go dtí tír shonraithe nó go dtí tíortha sonraithe bia nach gcomhlíonann na rialacháin nó forálacha sonraithe díobh.
(5) Beidh duine a sháróidh rialachán faoin alt seo ciontach i gcion.
(6) Sula ndéanfaidh Aire Stáit dá luaitear i bhfo-alt (1) den alt seo rialacháin faoin alt seo glacfaidh sé comhairle le cibé eagraíochtaí ar dóigh leis mórchion leasa a bheith acu in ábhar na rialachán murab é a thuairim gurb iomchuí na rialacháin a dhéanamh gan comhairle a ghlacadh amhlaidh.
Fógra go mbeartaítear rialacháin a dhéanamh faoi alt 2.
3.—Dhá mhí ar a laghad sula ndéanfar aon rialacháin faoi alt 2 den Acht seo, cuirfidh an tAire Stáit a bheartaíonn iad a dhéanamh faoi deara fógra a fhoilsiú i nuachtán maidine laethúil a fhoilsítear sa Stát á rá go bhfuil ar intinn aige na rialacháin a dhéanamh agus á chur in iúl i gcoitinne céard is ábhar agus is réim dóibh.
Rialacháin a fheidhmiú.
4.—(1) Féadfaidh an tAire Talmhaíochta agus Iascaigh, an tAire Tionscail agus Tráchtála nó an tAire Sláinte rialacháin a dhéanamh do dhéanamh forála i dtaobh gach ní nó aon ní díobh seo a leanas:
(a) rialacháin a fheidhmiú agus a fhorghníomhú faoin Acht seo—
(i) ag oifigigh do na hAirí Stáit réamhráite le toiliú, i gcás oifigigh nach oifigeach don Aire Stáit a rinne na rialacháin, ón Aire Stáit arb oifigeach dó é,
(ii) ag oifigigh do bhoird sláinte le toiliú an Aire Sláinte,
(iii) ag oifigigh d'údaráis áitiúla le toiliú, murab é an tAire Stáit a rinne na rialacháin an tAire iomchuí chun críocha Chuid II den Acht Rialtais Áitiúil, 1941, maidir le hoifig áirithe, ón Aire iomchuí chun na gcríocha sin maidir leis an oifig áirithe,
(iv) ag oifigigh Chustam agus Máil le toiliú ón Aire Airgeadais,
(b) taifid a choimeád ag daoine a bhíonn ag monarú, ag ullmhú, ag allmhairiú, ag iompar, ag stóráil, ag onnmhairiú nó ag díol bia agus na taifid sin a thabhairt ar aird lena n-iniúchadh ag oifigigh a bhíonn ag feidhmiú nó ag forghníomhú na rialachán.
(2) Féadfar foráil a dhéanamh le rialacháin faoin alt seo i dtaobh aon ní díobh seo a leanas:
(a) dul isteach in áitreabh agus é a iniúchadh (gach tráth réasúnach ag daoine a bheidh údaraithe chuige sin leis na rialacháin) a gcreideann na daoine le réasún go ndéantar ann bia lena mbaineann rialacháin faoin Acht seo a mhonarú lena dhíol, a ullmhú lena dhíol, a stóráil lena dhíol nó a dhíol,
(b) dul isteach i longa, in aerárthaí, i bhfeithiclí agus i gcoimeádáin agus iad a iniúchadh (gach tráth réasúnach ag daoine a bheidh údaraithe chuige sin leis na rialacháin) a gcreideann na daoine le réasún go bhfuil bia iontu lena mbaineann rialacháin faoin Acht seo.
(c) daoine a bheidh údaraithe chuige sin leis na rialacháin d'urghabháil agus do choinneáil bia nó d'urghabháil, d'aistriú agus do choinneáil bia a mbeidh cúis réasúnach amhrais ag na daoine forálacha rialacháin faoin Acht seo a bheith gan chomhlíonadh maidir leis an mbia sin,
(d) tabhairt, agus daoine a bheidh údaraithe chuige sin leis na rialacháin do thógáil, samplaí bia nó ábhar nó airteagal a úsáideadh nó a bheartaítear a úsáid ag monarú nó ag ullmhú bia,
(e) tástálacha, scrúduithe agus anailíseanna a dhéanamh ar na samplaí sin,
(f) na haicmí daoine a bheidh freagrach sna tástálacha, na scrúduithe agus na hanailíseanna sin a dhéanamh,
(g) na córacha lena ndéanfar agus an modh ar a ndéanfar na tástálacha, na scrúduithe agus na hanailíseanna,
(h) an deimhniú nó an fhianaise eile a bheidh le tabhairt ar thoradh aon tástála, scrúdaithe nó anailíse agus na haicmí daoine a thabharfaidh agus dá dtabharfar an deimhniú nó an fhianaise eile sin,
(i) an deimhniú nó an fhianaise eile a fhorordaítear faoi mhír (h) den fho-alt seo a bheith ina fhianaise nó go gcruthófar a mhalairt ar thoradh na tástála, an scrúdaithe nó na hanailíse sin,
(j) ábhair atá iarmhartach nó forlíontach ar aon ábhar díobh sin roimhe seo nó atá foghabhálach nó teagmhasach leis.
(3) In aon chás ina bhforálfar le rialacháin faoin alt seo go mbeidh aon deimhniú áirithe nó fianaise eile ina fhianaise, nó go gcruthófar a mhalairt, ar thoradh tástála, scrúdaithe nó anailíse sampla, beidh an deimhniú nó an fhianaise eile ina fhianaise, maidir leis an sampla sin, gan cruthúnas ar an síniú air (más aon síniú é) ón duine a thug é nó go raibh an duine sin údaraithe é a thabhairt, nó go gcruthófar a mhalairt, ar thoradh na tástála, an scrúdaithe nó na hanailíse sin agus beidh sé ina fhianaise freisin, nó go gcruthófar a mhalairt, go ndearnadh an tástáil, an scrúdú nó an anailís sin faoi réim agus de réir na rialachán.
(4) Is cion é duine do nochtadh faisnéis a fuarthas i gcúrsa dul isteach in áitreabh nó i long, in aerárthach, i bhfeithicil nó i gcoimeádán agus an céanna a iniúchadh faoin alt seo ach amháin ag feidhmiú a dhualgas dó faoin Acht seo nó chun críocha imeachtaí dlí faoin Acht seo.
(5) Aon duine a mbeidh cumhachtaí a thugtar leis an Acht seo nó faoi á bhfeidhmiú aige tabharfar deimhniú dó á thaispeáint go bhfuil sé údaraithe ag an Aire Stáit nó ag an údarás eile a cheap é na cumhachtaí sin a fheidhmiú agus, nuair a bheidh aon chumhachtaí den sórt sin á bhfeidhmiú ag an duine, déanfaidh sé, má iarrann aon duine lena mbaineann air é, an deimhniú a thabhairt ar aird don duine sin.
Bia a urghabhadh a dhiúscairt.
5.—(1) Duine a rinne bia a urghabháil de réir an Achta seo agus rialachán faoi, féadfaidh sé é a dhiúscairt ar dhóigh a chinnteoidh nach bhféadfar é a úsáid mar bhia don duine—
(a) má thugann úinéir an bhia no an duine ar dealraitheach é a bheith i gcúram nó i bhfeighil an bhia a thoiliú i scríbhinn leis an diúscairt sin, nó
(b) má dhéanann an Chúirt Dúiche ordú an diúscairt sin a dhéanamh.
(2) Duine a rinne bia a urghabháil de réir an Achta seo agus rialachán faoi, féadfaidh sé, tar éis fógra i scríbhinn a thabhairt d'úinéir an bhia nó don duine ar dealraitheach é a bheith i gcúram nó i bhfeighil an bhia á rá go bhfuil ar intinn aige sin a dhéanamh, iarratas a dhéanamh chun na Cúirte Dúiche ar ordú á ordú an bia a dhiúscairt (trína dhíothú nó ar shlí eile) ar mhodh a shonrófar san ordú agus a chinnteoidh nach bhféadfar é a úsáid mar bhia don duine.
(3) I gcás ina ndéanfar iarratas go cuí chuige sin chun na Cúirte Dúiche faoin alt seo—
(a) ordóidh an Chúirt sin, más deimhin léi nach gcomhlíonann bia a urghabhadh faoin Acht seo rialacháin a rinneadh faoin Acht seo, an bia a dhiúscairt (trína dhíothú nó ar shlí eile) ar mhodh a shonrófar san ordú agus a chinnteoidh nach bhféadfar é a úsáid mar bhia don duine, agus
(b) féadfaidh an Chúirt sin, mura deimhin léi nár chomhlíon bia a urghabhadh faoin Acht seo rialacháin faoin Acht seo tráth a urghabhála, a ordú, más cuí léi sin a dhéanamh, an bia a thabhairt ar ais don duine ónar urghabhadh é, agus a ordú go n-íocfaidh an tAire Talmhaíochta agus Iascaigh, an tAire Tionscail agus Tráchtála nó an tAire Sláinte, de réir mar is cuí léi, le húinéir an bhia cibé cúiteamh (más ann), costais (más ann) agus caiteachais (más ann) a mheasfaidh sí a bheith réasúnach ag féachaint d'aon chaillteanas, costais agus caiteachais a thabhaigh an t-úinéir i ngeall ar an mbia sin a urghabháil.
(4) (a) Faoi réir mhíreanna (b) agus (c) den fho-alt seo, ní bheidh éifeacht ag ordú faoi fho-alt (3) den alt seo nó go mbeidh ceithre lá dhéag caite ó dháta a dhéanta.
(b) Má dhéantar achomharc chun na Cúirte Cuarda in aghaidh ordú faoin bhfo-alt sin (3), beidh, má chinneann an Chúirt Chuarda go mbeidh éifeacht ag an ordú, éifeacht aige cibé tráth a chinnfidh an Chúirt sin.
(c) Más deimhin leis an gCúirt Dúiche gur chóir, ar chúis ar bith, go mbeadh éifeacht ag ordú a rinne sí faoin bhfo-alt sin (3) sula mbeadh 14 lá caite ó dháta a dhéanta, agus go sonróidh sí san ordú an tráth ar chóir éifeacht a bheith aige, beidh éifeacht ag an ordú an tráth a shonrófar amhlaidh.
(d) I gcás, ar achomharc chun na Cúirte Cuarda in aghaidh ordú a rinne an Chúirt Dúiche faoi fho-alt (3) den alt seo, nach deimhin leis an gCúirt nár chomhlíon bia lena mbaineann an t-achomharc rialacháin faoin Acht seo tráth a urghabhála, féadfaidh sí a ordú, más cuí léi sin a dhéanamh, an bia a thabhairt ar ais don duine ónar urghabhadh é agus a ordú go n-íocfaidh an tAire Talmhaíochta agus Iascaigh, an tAire Tionscail agus Tráchtála nó an tAire Sláinte, de réir mar is cuí léi, le húinéir an bhia cibé cúiteamh (más ann), costais (más ann) agus caiteachais (más ann) a mheasfaidh sí a bheith réasúnach ag féachaint d'aon chaillteanas, costais agus caiteachais a thabhaigh an t-úinéir i ngeall ar an mbia sin a urghabháil nó a dhiúscairt faoin Acht seo nó mar gheall ar an urghabháil agus an diúscairt sin.
Forálacha maidir le hionchúiseamh i gcionta.
6.—(1) I gcás ina gcruthófar in aon ionchúiseamh i gcion faoin Acht seo go ndearna duine bia a mhonarú, a ullmhú, a allmhairiú, a onnmhairiú, a iompar nó a stóráil, toimhdeofar, nó go gcruthófar a mhalairt, go raibh sé beartaithe an bia a dhíol mar bhia don duine.
(2) I gcás ina gcruthófar in aon ionchúiseamh i gcion faoin Acht seo gur díoladh bia, toimhdeofar, nó go gcruthófar a mhalairt, gur mar bhia don duine a díoladh é.
(3) I gcás ina gcruthófar in aon ionchúiseamh i gcion faoin Acht seo go bhfuarthas aon ní in áitreabh agus an t-áitreabh sin á úsáid chun bia a mhonarú nó a ullmhú agus go bhféadfaí an ní sin a úsáid leis an monarú nó an t-ullmhú sin a dhéanamh nó chun críocha an mhonaraithe nó an ullmhaithe sin, toimhdeofar, nó go gcruthófar a mhalairt, go raibh an ní sin á úsáid le bia a bhí beartaithe a dhíol mar bhia don duine a mhonarú nó a ullmhú nó chun críocha an mhonaraithe nó an ullmhaithe sin.
(4) Má chruthaíonn an cosantóir in aon ionchúiseamh i gcion faoi alt 2 den Acht seo maidir le bia—
(a) go bhfuair sé an bia mar bhia a chomhlíon na rialacháin faoin alt sin 2 mar aon le baránta scríofa sa chéill sin agus gur inis sé go cuí don ionchúisitheoir faoin mbaránta agus a raibh ann roimh thráth an ionchuisimh a éisteacht,
(b) nach raibh aon chúis aige a chreidiúint an tráth a dhiúscair sé an bia nár chomhlíon sé na rialacháin sin, agus
(c) gur mar a bhí an bia, nuair a dhiúscair sé é, a bhí sé nuair a fuair sé é,
urscaoilfear an cosantóir ón ionchúiseamh.
(5) (a) Measfar, chun críocha fho-alt (4) (a) den alt seo, gur baránta ráiteas ó mhonaróir, allmhaireoir nó díoltóir bia i sonrasc nó ar lipéad a bheidh ceangailte den bhia nó ar an bpaicéad nó ar an gcoimeádán ina ndíoltar an bia go gcomhlíonann an bia na rialacháin faoin alt sin 2.
(b) Measfar, chun críocha an ailt seo, maidir le ráiteas den sórt dá dtagraítear i mír (a) den fho-alt seo ó mhonaróir bia allmhairithe, gurb é allmhaireoir an bhia a rinne é.
(6) In aon ionchúiseamh i gcion faoi alt 2 den Acht seo a bhaineann le bia le linn é a iompar nó a stóráil ach nach mbaineann leis na dálaí ná na himthosca ina ndéantar an bia a iompar nó a stóráil, is cosaint don chosantóir a shuíomh go ndearna sé an bia a iompar nó a stóráil faoi chonradh i leith seirbhísí idir an cosantóir nó a ghníomhaire agus úinéir an bhia nó a ghníomhaire.
(7) Má dhealraíonn sé do dhuine a bheidh ag cur forála áirithe den Acht seo i bhfeidhm go ndearnadh cion a bhféadfaí imeachtaí a thionscnamh ina leith in aghaidh duine éigin ach go bhféadfadh an duine sin cosaint a fhorasú faoi fho-alt (4) nó (6) den alt seo trína chruthú gur gníomh nó mainneachtain ag duine éigin eile faoi deara an cion a bheidh á ghearán, féadfaidh an duine a bheidh ag cur na forála sin i bhfeidhm imeachtaí a thionscnamh in aghaidh an duine eile sin gan imeachtaí a thionscnamh in aghaidh an duine chéadluaite.
Feidhmiú rialachán a bhac.
7.—Beidh duine a bhacfaidh go toiliúil feidhmiú rialacháin faoin Acht seo ciontach i gcion.
Pionóis.
8.—Duine a bheidh ciontach i gcion faoin Acht seo dlífear ar é a chiontú go hachomair fíneáil nach mó ná £200 agus, i gcás ciona leanúnaigh, fíneáil bhreise nach mó ná £10 in aghaidh gach lae a leanfar den chion nó, de rogha na cúirte, príosúnacht ar feadh téarma nach faide ná sé mhí nó an fhíneáil nó na fíneálacha sin agus an phríosúnacht sin le chéile a chur air.
Forálacha maidir le rialacháin.
9.—(1) Sula ndéanfaidh Aire Stáit rialacháin faoi fhoráil den Acht seo, rachaidh sé i gcomhairle leis na hAirí Stáit eile a luaitear san fhoráil.
(2) Gach rialachán a dhéanfar faoin Acht seo leagfar é faoi bhráid gach Tí den Oireachtas a luaithe is féidir tar éis a dhéanta agus, má dhéanann ceachtar Teach acu sin, laistigh den lá is fiche a shuífidh an Teach sin tar éis an rialachán a leagan faoina bhráid, rún a rith ag neamhniú an rialacháin, beidh an rialachán ar neamhní dá réir sin ach sin gan dochar d'aon ní a rinneadh roimhe sin faoin rialachán.
Caiteachais.
10.—Déanfar na caiteachais a thabhóidh aon Aire Stáit ag riaradh an Achta seo a íoc, a mhéid a cheadóidh an tAire Airgeadais é, as airgead a sholáthróidh an tOireachtas.
Gearrtheideal.
11.—Féadfar an tAcht um Chaighdeáin Bhia, 1974, a ghairm den Acht seo.
Number 11 of 1974
FOOD STANDARDS ACT, 1974
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Section | |
Acts Referred to | |
1941, No. 23 | |
Number 11 of 1974
FOOD STANDARDS ACT, 1974
Definitions.
1.—In this Act, save where the context otherwise requires—
“food” means any substance used for food or drink by man, and
(a) any substance which enters into or is used in the composition or preparation of human food,
(b) any substance which enters into or is used in the composition or preparation of any such substance aforesaid, and
(c) chewing gum and products of a similar composition and use,
and references to food include, as the context may require, references to a particular food, particular foods or a class or classes of food;
“sell” means sell by wholesale or retail and includes—
(a) offer or expose for sale by wholesale or retail,
(b) have in possession for sale by wholesale or retail, and
(c) supply under other contractual arrangements,
and cognate words shall be construed accordingly.
Standards for food.
2.—(1) The Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, the Minister for Industry and Commerce or the Minister for Health may by regulations provide for standards in relation to food and, in particular but without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, may make provision by regulations in relation to any one or more of the following:
(a) names of food,
(b) descriptions of food,
(c) composition and quality of food,
(d) methods of manufacture and preparation of food,
(e) additives used in the manufacture or preparation of food,
(f) contaminants (including pesticide residues) in food,
(g) hygiene in relation to food,
(h) time limits for consumption of food,
(i) packaging, labelling and presentation of food,
(j) transportation, storage and distribution of food,
(k) weights and measures for food,
(l) matters consequential on or ancillary, incidental or supplementary to any of the foregoing matters.
(2) Regulations under this section may provide that a person shall not—
(a) import food intended for sale for human consumption,
(b) transport food intended for sale for human consumption,
(c) store food intended for sale for human consumption, or
(d) sell food intended for human consumption,
under the name specified in the regulations if the food does not comply with the regulations.
(3) Regulations under this section may provide that a person shall not—
(a) manufacture food intended for sale for human consumption,
(b) prepare food intended for sale for human consumption,
(c) import food intended for sale for human consumption,
(d) transport food intended for sale for human consumption,
(e) store food intended for sale for human consumption, or
(f) sell food intended for human consumption,
if the food does not comply with the regulations.
(4) Regulations under this section may provide that a person shall not export or shall not export to a specified country or countries food that does not comply with the regulations or specified provisions thereof.
(5) A person who contravenes a regulation under this section shall be guilty of an offence.
(6) Before a Minister of State mentioned in subsection (1) of this section makes regulations under this section he shall consult with such organisations as appear to him to be interested to a substantial extent in the subject matter of the regulations unless it is, in his opinion, appropriate to make the regulations without such consultation.
Notice of intention to make regulations under section 2.
3.—Not less than two months before making any regulations under section 2 of this Act, the Minister of State proposing to make them shall cause a notice to be published in a daily morning newspaper published in the State stating that he intends to make the regulations and indicating generally their subject matter and scope.
Enforcement of regulations.
4.—(1) The Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, the Minister for Industry and Commerce or the Minister for Health may make regulations providing for all or any of the following:
(a) the enforcement and execution of regulations under this Act by—
(i) officers of the Ministers of State aforesaid with the consent, in the case of an officer who is not an officer of the Minister of State making the regulations, of the Minister of State whose officer he is,
(ii) officers of health boards with the consent of the Minister for Health,
(iii) officers of local authorities with the consent, if the Minister of State making the regulations is not the appropriate Minister for the purposes of Part II of the Local Government Act, 1941, in relation to a particular office, of the appropriate Minister for the said purposes in relation to the particular office,
(iv) officers of Customs and Excise with the consent of the Minister for Finance,
(b) the keeping of records by persons engaged in the manufacture, preparation, importation, transportation, storage, exportation or sale of food and the production of such records for inspection by officers concerned in the enforcement or execution of the regulations.
(2) Regulations under this section may make provision for any of the following:
(a) entry on and inspection of (at all reasonable times by persons authorised for that purpose by the regulations) premises in which the persons reasonably believe that food to which regulations under this Act apply is manufactured for sale, prepared for sale, stored for sale or sold,
(b) entry on and inspection of (at all reasonable times by persons authorised for that purpose by the regulations) ships, aircraft, vehicles and containers in which the persons reasonably believe that there is food to which regulations under this Act apply,
(c) the seizure and detention or the seizure, removal and detention by persons authorised for that purpose by the regulations of food in relation to which the persons have reasonable grounds for suspecting that there is a failure to comply with the provisions of regulations under this Act,
(d) the giving, and the taking by persons authorised for that purpose by the regulations, of samples of food or materials or articles used or intended for use in the manufacture or preparation of food,
(e) the carrying out of tests, examinations and analyses of such samples,
(f) the classes of persons to be responsible for the carrying out of such tests, examinations and analyses,
(g) the means by and the manner in which the tests, examinations and analyses are to be made,
(h) the certificate or other evidence to be given of the result of any test, examination or analysis and the classes of persons by and to whom such certificate or other evidence is to be given,
(i) the certificate or other evidence prescribed under paragraph (h) of this subsection being evidence until the contrary is proved of the result of such test, examination or analysis,
(j) matters consequential on or ancillary, incidental or supplementary to any of the foregoing matters.
(3) Wherever regulations under this section provide that any particular certificate or other evidence shall be evidence until the contrary is proved of the result of a test, examination or analysis of a sample, the certificate or other evidence shall, in respect of such sample, without proof of the signature (if any) thereon of the person giving it or that he was authorised to give it, be evidence, until the contrary is proved, of the result of such test, examination or analysis and shall also be evidence, until the contrary is proved, that such test, examination or analysis was carried out under and in accordance with the regulations.
(4) It shall be an offence for a person to disclose information obtained in the course of entry on and inspection of premises or of a ship, aircraft, vehicle or container under this section other than in the execution of his duties under this Act or for the purposes of legal proceedings under this Act.
(5) Any person exercising powers conferred by or under this Act shall be furnished with a certificate showing that he is authorised to exercise those powers by the Minister of State or other authority appointing him and, when exercising any such powers, the person shall, if requested by any person aifected, produce the certificate to that person.
Disposal of food seized.
5.—(1) A person who, in accordance with this Act and regulations thereunder, has seized food may dispose of it in a manner that will prevent its being used for human consumption—
(a) if the consent in writing of the owner or person in apparent charge or control of the food to such disposal is given, or
(b) if an order is made by the District Court for such disposal.
(2) A person who, in accordance with this Act and regulations thereunder, has seized food, may, on giving notice in writing to the owner or person in apparent charge or control of the food of his intention to do so, apply to the District Court for an order directing that the food be disposed of (by destruction or otherwise) in a manner specified in the order that will prevent its being used for human consumption.
(3) Where an application in that behalf is duly made to the District Court under this section, that Court—
(a) shall, if it is satisfied that any food seized under this Act does not comply with regulations under this Act, order that the food be disposed of (by destruction or otherwise) in a manner specified in the order that will prevent its being used for human consumption, and
(b) may, if it is not satisfied that any food seized under this Act did not comply with regulations under this Act at the time of its seizure, order, if it thinks it appropriate to do so, the restoration of the food to the person from whom it was seized and order the payment by the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, the Minister for Industry and Commerce or the Minister for Health, as it thinks appropriate, to the owner of the food of such compensation (if any), costs (if any) and expenses (if any) as it considers reasonable having regard to any loss, costs and expenses incurred by the owner by reason of its seizure.
(4) (a) Subject to paragraphs (b) and (c) of this subsection, an order under subsection (3) of this section shall not have effect until the expiration of 14 days from the date of its making.
(b) If an appeal to the Circuit Court is taken against an order under the said subsection (3), the order shall, if the Circuit Court determines that it shall have effect, have effect at such time as that Court determines.
(c) If the District Court is satisfied that for any reason an order made by it under the said subsection (3) should have effect before the expiration of 14 days from the date of its making and it specifies in the order the time when it should have effect, the order shall have effect at the time so specified.
(d) Where, on an appeal to the Circuit Court from an order of the District Court made under subsection (3) of this section, the Court is not satisfied that the food to which the appeal relates did not comply with regulations under this Act at the time of its seizure, it may, if it thinks it appropriate to do so, order the restoration of the food to the person from whom it was seized and may order the payment by the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, the Minister for Industry and Commerce or the Minister for Health, as it thinks appropriate, to the owner of the food of such compensation (if any), costs (if any) and expenses (if any) as it considers reasonable having regard to any loss, costs and expenses incurred by the owner by reason of its seizure or disposal under this Act or such seizure and disposal.
Provisions in relation to prosecutions for offences.
6.—(1) Where it is proved in any prosecution for an offence under this Act that a person manufactured, prepared, imported, exported, transported or stored food, it shall be presumed, until the contrary is proved, that the food was intended for sale for human consumption.
(2) Where it is proved in any prosecution for an offence under this Act that food was sold, it shall be presumed, until the contrary is proved, that the food was sold for human consumption.
(3) Where it is proved in any prosecution for an offence under this Act that anything was found on premises used for the manufacture or preparation of food and that the thing was capable of use in or for the purposes of such manufacture or preparation, it shall be presumed, until the contrary is proved, that it was being used in or for the purposes of the manufacture or preparation of food intended for sale for human consumption.
(4) If the defendant in any prosecution for an offence under section 2 of this Act in relation to food proves—
(a) that he received the food as being in compliance with the regulations under the said section 2 and with a written warranty to that effect and that he duly notified the prosecutor of the warranty and its contents before the hearing of the prosecution,
(b) that he had no reason to believe at the time when he disposed of the food that it did not comply with the said regulations, and
(c) that the food, when disposed of by him, was in the same state as when he received it,
the defendant shall be discharged from the prosecution.
(5) (a) A statement by the manufacturer, importer or seller of food in an invoice or on a label attached to the food or on the packet or container in which the food is sold that the food complies with the regulations under the said section 2 shall be deemed for the purposes of subsection (4) (a) of this section to be a warranty.
(b) A statement of the kind referred to in paragraph (a) of this subsection by the manufacturer of imported food shall be deemed, for the purposes of this section, to have been made by the importer of the food.
(6) It shall be a defence for the defendant, in any prosecution for an offence under section 2 of this Act which relates to food in the course of transport or storage but does not relate to the conditions under which or the circumstances in which the food is transported or stored, to show that the transport or storage of the food was effected by him under a contract for services between the defendant or his agent and the owner of the food or his agent.
(7) Where it appears to a person enforcing a particular provision of this Act that an offence has been committed in respect of which proceedings might be taken against some person but that that person could establish a defence under subsection (4) or (6) of this section by proving that the offence complained of was due to an act or default of some other person, the person enforcing the said provision may take proceedings against that other person without taking proceedings against the first-mentioned person.
Obstruction of enforcement of regulations.
7.—A person who wilfully obstructs the enforcement of a regulation under this Act shall be guilty of an offence.
Penalties.
8.—A person guilty of an offence under this Act shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £200 and, in the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine not exceeding £10 for each day on which the offence is continued or, at the discretion of the court, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both such fine or fines and such imprisonment.
Provisions in relation to regulations.
9.—(1) Before a Minister of State makes regulations under a provision of this Act, he shall consult with the other Ministers of State mentioned in the provision.
(2) Every regulation under this Act shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as may be after it is made and, if a resolution annulling the regulation is passed by either such House within the next twenty-one days upon which that House has sat after the regulation is laid before it, the regulation shall be annulled accordingly but without prejudice to anything previously done thereunder.
Expenses.
10.—The expenses incurred by any Minister of State in the administration of this Act shall, to such extent as may be sanctioned by the Minister for Finance, be paid out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas.
Short title.
11.—This Act may be cited as the Food Standards Act, 1974.