Amendments to Regulation (EC) 852/2004: 2004-2021 timeline and consolidated text
Updated 2026-07-12 · Reviewed by: Redazione ce85204 — revisione editoriale assistita da AI (2026-07-12)
Regulation (EC) 852/2004 has been amended three times: Reg. (EC) 1019/2008 (clean water, Annex II Chapter VII), Reg. (EC) 219/2009 (alignment of the committee procedure) and Reg. (EU) 2021/382 (allergens in primary production, food redistribution and food safety culture), in force since 24 March 2021. The applicable text is the consolidated version 02004R0852-20210324.
This page sets out the full timeline of amendments made to Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 since its adoption. The text that actually applies today is not the original 2004 version but the consolidated text incorporating the corrigendum and the amending regulations. The reference consolidated version is 02004R0852-20210324, updated to 24 March 2021 Article 1(1) of Regulation (EC) No 852/2004.
At a glance
- Regulation (EC) 852/2004 has been subject to one corrigendum (2004) and three substantive amendments (2008, 2009, 2021).
- The corrigendum published in OJ L 226 of 25 June 2004 corrected material errors in the original text Corrigendum, OJ L 226, 25.6.2004.
- Regulation (EC) 1019/2008 amended Annex II Chapter VII on clean water Article 1 of Regulation (EC) No 1019/2008.
- Regulation (EC) 219/2009 aligned the committee procedure with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny Article 1 of Regulation (EC) No 219/2009.
- Regulation (EU) 2021/382, in force since 24 March 2021, introduced duties on allergens in primary production, food redistribution and food safety culture Article 1 of Regulation (EU) 2021/382.
Commentary
Timeline of the amendments
| Ref. | Act | Subject matter | In force |
|---|---|---|---|
| — | Corrigendum, OJ L 226, 25.6.2004 | correction of material errors in the original text Corrigendum, OJ L 226, 25.6.2004 | 2004 |
| M1 | Reg. (EC) 1019/2008 | Annex II Chapter VII: use of clean water for fishery products and molluscs Article 1 of Regulation (EC) No 1019/2008 | 28.10.2008 |
| M2 | Reg. (EC) 219/2009 | alignment of the Article 14 committee procedure with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny Article 1 of Regulation (EC) No 219/2009 | 20.4.2009 |
| M3 | Reg. (EU) 2021/382 | Annex I Part A point 5a (allergens), Annex II Chapter Va (redistribution), Chapter XIa (food safety culture) Article 1 of Regulation (EU) 2021/382 | 24.3.2021 |
The M1-M2-M3 numbering follows the chronological order of the amending acts consolidated into the text in force. The 2004 corrigendum is not an amending act in the strict sense: it operates on the published text to correct linguistic divergences and typographical errors, without altering the substance of the rules Corrigendum, OJ L 226, 25.6.2004.
What changed and what did not
The core of the regulation — operator responsibility, the HACCP self-checking duty Article 5(1) of Regulation (EC) No 852/2004, registration and approval of establishments Article 6(2) of Regulation (EC) No 852/2004, the general hygiene requirements of Annex II — has remained unchanged since 2006. The three amendments acted on narrow points: one technical requirement on water (2008), a procedural aspect internal to the EU institutions (2009) and, in 2021, the addition of three new substantive duties. Only Regulation (EU) 2021/382 affects the obligations of the food business operator.
How to read the text in force
The regulation is directly applicable and does not require transposition. The reliable source is always the EUR-Lex consolidated text, not the original versions found online: the latter do not reflect the amendments and can be misleading. The consolidated version 02004R0852-20210324 incorporates all the amendments listed above and is the one commented article by article in this knowledge base, starting from the regulation page.
Common errors
- Citing the original 2004 version as if it were in force. Since 24 March 2021 the applicable text is the consolidated version 02004R0852-20210324, which includes Chapters Va and XIa of Annex II Annex II, Chapter XI bis, point a of Regulation (EC) No 852/2004: advice based on the 2004 text overlooks food safety culture and redistribution.
- Confusing the 2004 corrigendum with a substantive amendment. The corrigendum in OJ L 226 corrects material errors and adds no obligations Corrigendum, OJ L 226, 25.6.2004; the substantive amendments are the three regulations of 2008, 2009 and 2021.
- Attributing a "certification" duty to Regulation (EU) 2021/382. The 2021 regulation introduces management and documentary duties, not a certificate: compliance is demonstrated to the competent authority Article 5(4) of Regulation (EC) No 852/2004.
Frequently asked questions
How many times has Regulation (EC) 852/2004 been amended?
Three times substantively — Reg. (EC) 1019/2008, Reg. (EC) 219/2009 and Reg. (EU) 2021/382 — plus one corrigendum published in 2004 Corrigendum, OJ L 226, 25.6.2004. The text in force is the consolidated version 02004R0852-20210324.
Which is the most important amendment?
Regulation (EU) 2021/382, in force since 24 March 2021: it is the only one adding new operator duties, on allergens in primary production, food redistribution and food safety culture Annex II, Chapter XI bis, point a of Regulation (EC) No 852/2004.
What is the 2004 corrigendum?
It is an act published in OJ L 226 of 25 June 2004 correcting material errors and linguistic divergences in the original text of the regulation, without changing the substance of the rules Corrigendum, OJ L 226, 25.6.2004.
Does Regulation (EC) 219/2009 concern food operators?
Not directly. Regulation (EC) 219/2009 aligns the Article 14 committee procedure with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny Article 14(3) of Regulation (EC) No 852/2004: it is a procedural amendment internal to the institutions, with no new obligations for the business.
Where do I find the up-to-date text of the regulation?
In the consolidated version 02004R0852-20210324 published by EUR-Lex, which incorporates the corrigendum and the three amending regulations. It is the only version reflecting the law in force Article 1(1) of Regulation (EC) No 852/2004.
Sources
- EUR-Lex — Regulation (EC) No 852/2004, consolidated text as of 24 March 2021 (CELEX 02004R0852-20210324): https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:02004R0852-20210324 — accessed 2026-07-12.
- EUR-Lex — Corrigendum to Regulation (EC) No 852/2004, OJ L 226, 25.6.2004 (CELEX 32004R0852R(01)): https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32004R0852R(01) — accessed 2026-07-12.
- EUR-Lex — Regulation (EC) No 1019/2008 (CELEX 32008R1019), OJ L 277, 18.10.2008: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32008R1019 — accessed 2026-07-12.
- EUR-Lex — Regulation (EC) No 219/2009 (CELEX 32009R0219), OJ L 87, 31.3.2009: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32009R0219 — accessed 2026-07-12.
- EUR-Lex — Regulation (EU) 2021/382 (CELEX 32021R0382), OJ L 74, 4.3.2021: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32021R0382 — accessed 2026-07-12.
Drafting and review
ce85204 editorial team. Draft generated with AI from primary sources; AI-assisted editorial review (see methodology).