1.When national guides to good practice are developed, they shall be developed and disseminated by food business sectors:
(a) | in consultation with representatives of parties whose interests may be substantially affected, such as competent authorities and consumer groups; |
(b) | having regard to relevant codes of practice of the Codex Alimentarius; and |
(c) | when they concern primary production and those associated operations listed in Annex 1, having regard to the recommendations set out in Part B of Annex I. |
2.National guides may be developed under the aegis of a national standards institute referred to in Annex II to Directive 98/34/EC ( 13 ) .
3.Member States shall assess national guides in order to ensure that:
(a) | they have been developed in accordance with paragraph 1; |
(b) | their contents are practicable for the sectors to which they refer; and |
(c) | they are suitable as guides to compliance with Articles 3,4 and 5 in the sectors and for the foodstuffs covered. |
4.Member States shall forward to the Commission national guides complying with the requirements of paragraph 3. The Commission shall set up and run a registration system for such guides and make it available to Member States.
5.Guides to good practice drawn up under Directive 93/43/EEC shall continue to apply after the entry into force of this Regulation, provided that they are compatible with its objectives.