FSA Northern Ireland industry update

Dear subscriber,

Welcome to our industry update, where we:

• Share developments in the food and feed industry
• Highlight new guidance and requirements affecting the food system

In this edition:

• Meat charging consultation  
• The Breakfast Foods (Amendment) Regulations  
• End of EU Transitional Period for Smoke Flavourings 
• SPS agreement: preparing your business 
• Reminder: Glycerol in slush ice drinks and home kits
• Self Catering Pack addendums
• The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme - FHRS 10

Meat charging consultation  

The FSA in NI is consulting on proposals to revise the current system of financial support for official controls in approved meat establishments.  

The proposals are particularly relevant to operators of approved slaughterhouses, cutting plants and game handling establishments that are subject to charging for meat hygiene official controls as well as organisations representing the meat processing and farming sectors.

The consultation closes on 12 June 2026. Businesses and representative organisations are encouraged to respond including those  who previously attended stakeholder engagement events.   

To respond to the consultation and for more information, click here. 

The Breakfast Foods (Amendment) Regulations  

A reminder to stakeholders that amendments to the regulations on honey, fruit juices, jams, jellies, marmalades and certain preserved milk products via The Breakfast Foods (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026, will apply from 14 June 2026. 

Any products lawfully placed on the market or labelled before 14 June 2026 in accordance with the Regulations, as in operation at the time, may continue to be marketed until these stocks are exhausted.  

A separate Statutory Rule to update the compositional requirements for jelly and extra jelly will be published, intended to come into operation 30 June 2026.  

This is for information only and is relevant to food business operators with an interest in: 

• The Honey Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015

• The Jam and Similar Products Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2018   

• The Fruit Juices and Fruit Nectars Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2013   

• The Condensed Milk and Dried Milk Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2018.  

If you require any support, please contact: fcslni@food.gov.uk.    

End of EU Transitional Period for Smoke Flavourings in soups, snacks and sauces 

This update is particularly relevant to producers of, sauces, soups and snack products as well as meat, cheese, processed fish that use smoke flavourings.   

In 2024, the European Commission (EC) published Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2067, which removed eight smoke flavouring primary products (PP SF 001, SF 002, SF 003, SF 004, SF 005, SF 006, SF 008 and SF 009) from the Union list following the expiry of their authorisations. The Commission decided not to renew these authorisations due to safety concerns identified by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).   

Transitional arrangements were introduced to allow businesses time to adapt to the removal of the authorisations. The end of the first transitional period is rapidly approaching its end date:  

• 1 July 2026 for soups, snacks and sauces etc. This transition period only applies where smoke flavourings were already authorised for use in a particular food category. It does not apply to any new or previously unauthorised uses, which must already comply with the 2024 legislation. 

• There is an additional transition period of 1 July 2029 for food categories Cheese and cheese products, Meat, Processed fish and fishery products including crustaceans and molluscs, Fish roe and their corresponding sub-categories.  

Industry stakeholders are also reminded of labelling requirements for smoke flavourings. Where a smoke flavouring imparts a smoky effect to food, it must be declared in the ingredients list as smoke flavourings. Where no smoky effect is imparted; it may be declared simply as flavourings.  

In all cases, foods placed on the market before the end of the relevant transition period may remain on the market until their date of minimum durability or ‘use by’ date. After the expiry of these periods, foods containing any of the affected smoke flavouring primary products may no longer be lawfully placed on the EU or Northern Ireland market.   

We encourage industry stakeholders to note the approaching end of the first transitional period and to begin making any necessary changes now to ensure readiness for full compliance. 

We welcome any feedback from industry regarding smoke flavourings coming into force by emailing infofsani@food.gov.uk.

SPS agreement: preparing your business 

The UK Government has published new guidance to help businesses prepare for the proposed UK-EU sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement covering the trade and movement of plants, plant products, animals, animal products, feed and food. 

The agreement is expected to take effect in mid-2027, although timings remain subject to ongoing negotiations. Businesses in the agri-food sector are encouraged to begin preparing for the proposed changes now. 

The guidance outlines areas likely to be affected, potential processes and digital systems and how businesses can stay informed as negotiations progress. 

Further information can be found here. If you have any questions, please contact: wfdelivery@food.gov.uk. 

Reminder: Glycerol in slush ice drinks and home kits – advice for businesses 

With the summer season approaching, businesses selling slush iced drinks are reminded to review the Food Standard Agency’s guidance on the use of glycerol in slush iced drinks, including make at home kits.  

The guidance includes advice on sales to children, serving sizes, refill promotions product labelling and the safe use of glycerol. Businesses should ensure staff are familiar with the guidance and review any products or promotions that may be targeted at children. 

Posters and supporting materials are available on the FSA website, and you can download our display poster here. 

For more information visit our website. We also welcome any feedback from industry by emailing infofsani@food.gov.uk. 

Safe Catering Pack addendums

The Food Standards Agency will publish two new Safe Catering Pack addendums on its website in July, covering food safety donations and food safety culture. 

These addendums are particularly relevant for: 

• Food businesses donating or receiving food, including those involved in redistribution; and 

• All food businesses using the Safe Catering Pack, to support strengthening day-to-day food safety practices. 

The addendums provide clear, practical guidance to help businesses meet existing legal requirements, including managing food donations safely and demonstrating an appropriate food safety culture. They have been developed to support consistency and clarity, and do not introduce new regulatory requirements. 

Food businesses are encouraged to review the addendums and use them alongside their existing Safe Catering Pack to ensure their procedures reflect current requirements and best practice. 

The addendums will be available from July on the FSA website. 

The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme - FHRS10  

This October, we will celebrate ten years of the mandatory Food Hygiene Rating Scheme. If you would like to participate in our communications activity, we welcome your views and experience of the Scheme. Contact: NI.Communications@food.gov.uk. 

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