Sugars for Human Consumption Order, 1999 (L.N. No. 77 of 1999)

B 560 Citation, commencement and scope. Interpretation. L.N. 77 of 1999 QUALITY CONTROL (EXPORTS, IMPORTS AND LOCAL GOODS) ACT (CAP. 225) Sugars for Human Consumption Order, 1999 (Order No. M 39 of 1999) IN exercise of the powers conferred by section 3 of the Quality Control (Exports, Imports and Local Goods) Act, the Malta Standardisation Authority has made the following Order: 1.1 This Order may be cited as the Sugars for Human Consumption Order, 1999, and may be referred to as Order No. 39 of 1999. 1.2 This Order shall become operative on the 1st July, 1999, which date shall be notified by the Authority in the Gazette. 1.3 No person may sell or offer for sale any product which is covered by this Mandatory Order unless such product complies with the provisions of this Mandatory Order. 2.1 In this Mandatory Order, unless the context otherwise requires, the following definitions shall apply: Semi-white sugar Purified and crystallized sucrose of sound and fair marketable quality, with a minimum polarisation of 99 .5°, a maximum invert sugar content of 0.10% by weight, a maximum loss on drying of 0.10% by weight and a maximum residual sulphur dioxide content of 15 mg/kg. Sugar or white sugar Purified and crystallized sucrose of sound and fair marketable quality, with a minimum polarisation of 99 .7°, a maximum invert sugar content of 0.04% by weight, a maximum loss on drying of 0.10% by weight, a maximum residual sulphur dioxide content of 15 mg/kg and a maximum type of colour of 12 points determined according to the test method (a) given in the Schedule to this Mandatory Order. Extra white sugar Purified and crystallized sucrose of sound and fair marketable quality, with a minimum polarisation of 99 .7°, a maximum invert sugar content of 0.04% by weight, a maximum loss on drying of 0.10% by weight, a maximum residual sulphur dioxide content of 15 mg/kg and provided that the number of points determined according to the provisions of the Schedule to this Mandatory Order does not exceed 8 points in total, or not more than: 4 points for the type of colour, 6 points for the ash content, 3 pointsfor the colour of the solution. Sugar solution The aqueous solution of sucrose with a minimum dry matter of 62% by weight, an invert sugar content (fructose:dextrose = 1.0 ± 0.2) not exceeding 3% by weight of dry matter, maximum conductivity ash of O .1 % by weight of dry matter determined according to test method (b) given in the Schedule to this Order, a maximum residual sulphur dioxide content of 15 mg/kg of dry matter and a maximum colour in solution of 45 ICUMSA ( determined according to test method ( c) given in the Schedule), provided that a sugar solution with a maximum colour in solution of 25 ICUMSA units may be designated as white sugar solution. Invert sugar solution The aqueous solution, of sucrose partially inverted by hydrolysis, with a proportion of invert sugar which is not predominant, a minimum dry matter of 62% by weight, an invert sugar content (fructose:dextrose = 1.0 ± 0 .1) of more than 3% but not more than 50%, by weight of dry matter, maximum conductivity ash of 0.4% by weight of dry matter (determined according to test method (b) given in the Schedule to this Order), and a maximum residual sulphur dioxide content of 15 mg/kg of dry matter, provided that an invert sugar solution with a maximum ash content of O .1 % and a maximum colour in solution of 25 I CUM SA units determined according to test method (c) given in the Schedule may be designated as white invert sugar solution. Invert sugar syrup The aqueous solution, possibly crystallized, of sucrose, partially inverted by hydrolysis, with a predominant proportion of invert sugar, a minimum dry matter of 62% by weight, an invert sugar content (fructose:dextrose = 1.0 ± 0 .1) of more than 50% by weight of dry matter, maximum conductivity ash of O .4% by weight of dry matter ( determined according to test method (b) given in the Schedule) and a maximum residual sulphur dioxide content of 15 mg/kg of dry matter, provided B 561 B 562 that an invert sugar syrup with a maximum ash content of 0.1 % by weight and a maximum colour in solution of 25 ICUMSA units determined according to method ( c) given in the Schedule may be designated as white invert sugar syrup. Glucose syrup The purified and concentrated aqueous solution of nutritive saccharides obtained from starch, with a minimum dry matter of 70% by weight, a minimum dextrose equivalent of 20% by weight of dry matter and expressed as D-glucose, a maximum sulphated ash of 1 % by weight of the dry matter and a maximum total sulphur dioxide content of 20 mg/kg in the finished product, provided that a sulphur dioxide content not exceeding 400 mg/kg is permitted for glucose syrup intended exclusively for use in sugar confectionery products and provided also that this requirement shall be without prejudice to other provisions determining the maximum sulphur dioxide content for various confectionery products. Dried glucose syrup Partially dried glucose syrup, with a minimum dry matter of 93% by weight, a minimum dextrose equivalent of 20 % by weight of dry matter and expressed as D-glucose, a maximum sulphated ash of 1 % by weight of the dry matter and a maximum total sulphur dioxide content of 20 mg/kg in the finished product, provided that a sulphur dioxide content not exceeding 150 ppm is permitted if the dried glucose syrup is intended for use in sugar confectionery products only and provided also that this requirement shall be without prejudice to other provisions relating to the maximum sulphur dioxide content for various confectionery products. Dextrose monohydrate Purified and crystallized D-glucose containing one molecule of water of crystallization, a minimum dextrose content of 99 .5 % by weight of dry matter expressed as D-glucose, a minimum dry matter of 90 .0 % by weight, maximum sulphated ash of 0.25% by weight of dry matter and a maximum total sulphur dioxide content of 15 mg/kg. Dextrose anhydrous Purified and crystallized D-glucose not containing any water of crystallization, a minimum dextrose content of 99 .5 % by weight of dry matter expressed as D-glucose, a minimum dry matter of 98 % by weight, a maximum sulphated ash of 0 .25 % by weight of dry matter and a maximum total sulphur dioxide content of 15 mg/kg. B 563 3.1 Without prejudice to the provisions of paragraph 3.2 Colouring. hereunder, products referred to in paragraph 2.1 may not be submitted to a blueing process. 3 .2 Products intended for further manufacturing purposes, such as sugar 1used in confectionery, may contain colorants in accordance with any applicable Regulations. 3.3 Glucose syrup and dried glucose syrup which contain a Sulphurdioxide. quantity of sulphur dioxide exceeding 20 mg/kg may not be offered for retail sale. 4.1 Semi-white sugar, sugar or white sugar and extra white sugar, Standard weights. when packed at a net individual weight exceeding 100 g but not exceeding 5 kg, may only be offered for sale in the following individual net weights: 125 g, 250 g, 500 g, 750 g, 1 kg, 1.5 kg, 2 kg, 2.5 kg, 3 kg, 4kg,5 kg. 5.1 The products covered by this Mandatory Order may not be Labelling. sold unless their package, container or label bears the following declarations, visibly, clearly and indelibly: 5 .1.1 the description by which the products are designated as given in Regulation 2.1, provided that the words "monohydrate" and "anhydrous" are optional on dextrose monohydrate and dextrose anhydrous for retail sale; 5 .1.2 the declaration "includes colouring agents" if colorants have been added according to the provisions of paragraph 3 .2; in this case the term "white" may not be used; 5 .1.3 the net weight, provided that products weighing individually less than 50 g are exempt from this requirement, however if two or more such products are packed together in an outer package and if the net weight-of the products, inclusive of packaging is 50 g or more, the total net weight of the products contained in the outer package must be indicated thereon. The indication of net weight may be replaced by that of the minimum net weight for semi-white sugar, sugar or white sugar, extra white sugar, dextrose monohydrate and dextrose anhydrous if these are offered for sale in pieces or small sachets; 5 .1.4 the name or trade name and address or registered office of the manufacturer or packer or of a seller established in Malta, provided that this provision does not affect the right of the manufacturer to require that either his name or his trade name be mentioned; B 564 Methods of analysis. 5 .1.5 for glucose syrup and dried glucose syrup containing more than 20 ppm by weight of sulphur dioxide, a reference to the foodstuff for the manufacture of which it is intended; the maximum sulphur dioxide content must be declared on the accompanying documents; 5 .1.6 a declaration of the dry matter and invert sugar content in the case of sugar solution, invert sugar solution and invert sugar syrup; 5 .1.7 the word "crystallized" in the case of invert sugar syrup containing crystals in the solution. 5 .2 Products covered by this Mandatory Order may bear other descriptions apart from the above provided they do not mislead the consumer. 5.3 The reserved names as defined in paragraph 2.1 may be used only for the products defined therein and complying with this Mandatory Order and must be used to designate these products in trade. "Sugar" or "white sugar" may also be used to designate extra white sugar. However, this requirement shall not affect arrangements whereby these names can be used additionally, in accordance with custom, to indicate other products which cannot be confused with the products covered by this Mandatory Order. 5 .4 The restrictions on the use of the term "sugar" pursuant to paragraph 5 .3, when not accompanied by any qualifying term, shall only apply to direct trade in food sugars as such and shall not apply to compound products in which such sugars have been used as ingredients. 5 .5 If the products covered by this Mandatory Order are packed in amounts the net weight of which is equal to or exceeds 10 kg and are not intended for retail sale, the label descriptions prescribed by paragraphs 5.1.3, 5.1.5, 5.1.6 and 5.1.7 may appear only on the accompanying documents. 5 .6 The labelling information prescribed by paragraphs 5 .1.1, 5 .1.2, 5 .1.5, 5 .1.6 and 5 .1.7 must be given in at least one of the following languages: Maltese, English, Italian. 5 .7 The provisions of this Order regarding labelling shall apply without prejudice to other provisions on labelling. 6.1 The methods of analysis applicable to the products covered by this Mandatory Order shall be those prescribed by Directive 79/796/EEC of the European Community. B 565 7 .1 This Mandatory Order shall not apply to impalpable sugars Applicability. (including icing sugar), candy sugars or loaf sugars. 7 .2 This Mandatory Order shall not apply to products intended for export. SCHEDULE Method of determining the Colour Type, the Ash Content and the Colour in Solution of Sugar (White) and of Extra White Sugar A "point" corresponds: (a) for colour type, to 0.5 units calculated by the method of the Brunswick Institute for Agricultural and Sugar Industry Technology as set out in A, paragraph (2) of the Annex to Commission Regulation (EEC) No. 1265/69 of 1st July, 1969 establishing the methods for determining the quality of sugar bought in by intervention agencies (Official Journal No. L163, 4.7.1969, p.1); (b) for ash content, to 0.0018% calculated by the method of the International Commission for Uniform Methods of Sugar Analysis (ICUMSA) as set out in A, paragraph (1) of the Annex to the said Regulation; ( c) for colour in solution, to 7 .5 units calculated by the I CUMS A method as set out in A, paragraph (3) of the Annex to the said Regulation. Ippubblikat mid-Dipartiment ta' 1-Informazzjoni - 3, Pjazza Kastilja - Published by the Department of Information - 3, Castille Place Mitbugh fl-Istamperija tal-Gvem - Printed at the Government Printing Press Prezz 13c - Price 13c