Food Standards Scotland (FSS) is consulting on the implementation of the amendments being made to the Bread and Flour Regulations 1998 in Scotland which includes the introduction of the mandatory fortification of flour with folic acid.
This follows the 12-week UK wide consultation published in September 2022 and the publication of the Consultation and Government response published on 17 Jan 2024 which confirmed that the 1998 Regulations are to be amended as follows to;
- Implement the public health policy across the UK to mandate the compulsory fortification of non-wholemeal wheat flour with 250 micrograms of folic acid per 100 grams of non-wholemeal wheat flour.
- Increase the minimum level of calcium carbonate, iron, and niacin in non-wholemeal wheat flour in line with the 15% Nutrient Reference Value (NRV) per 100g of flour.
- Replace the calcium specification in the Bread and Flour Regulations with the specification laid out in Regulation EC 231/2012 laying down the specifications for Food Additives.
- Specify in the regulations that fortification only applies to non-wholemeal wheat flour derived from “common wheat”.
- Introduce an exemption from fortification for flour produced by small-scale mills (applying to those producing less than 500 metric tonnes per annum).
- Remove the requirement relating to minimum levels of iron, thiamine and niacin naturally present in wholemeal flour and replace with a legal definition that wholemeal flour must consist of the whole product from the milling and grinding of cleaned cereal.
- Provide for an adjustment period of 24 months.
FSS would be grateful for your participation and feedback regarding any Scottish specific implications in respect of the changes and the estimated costs associated with the implementation of these changes to establish the accuracy of the costs.
The consultation can be accessed here and closes 27 September.
