SOFT DRINKS ġ S.L.231.20 1
SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 231.20
SOFT DRINKS REGULATIONS
1st May, 1978
LEGAL NOTICE 13 of 1978, as amended by Legal Notices 33 of 1978,
45 of 1984, 90 of 1994 and 34 of 1997.
Title .
Interpretation.
Amended by:
L.N. 45 of 1984;
L.N. 90 of 1994.
Cap. 231.
2. In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise
requires-
"the Act" means the Food, Drugs and Drinking Water Act;
"carbohydrate" means a substance containing only carbon,
hydrogen, and oxygen, in which the hydrogen and oxygen occur in
the same proportion as in water;
"comminuted citrus drink" means a soft drink produced by a
process involving the comminution of the entire citrus fruit;
"container" means any vessel, can, box or carton capable of
containing a soft drink which is, has been, or is capable of being
closed and includes any kind of bottle, but does not include any
counter dispenser or vending machine, or any unclosed cup, mug,
glass or other unclosed drinking vessel;
"cordial" means a clear squash or a clear crush;
"crush" means a soft drink containing fruit juice, not being a
comminuted citrus drink, intended for consumption without
dilution;
"fruit juice" means the clean, sound, undiluted juice of the fruit
or fruits from which it is obtained;
S.L. 231.44
"permitted artificial sweetener" means saccharin, calcium
saccharin and sodium saccharin, aspartame, as well as acesulfame
K in each case subject to the specific and the general purity criteria
referred to in the Sweeteners for Use in Foodstuffs Regulations;
"potable fruit content" means the total of the fruit constituents of
a soft drink derived from the juice, pith and peel;
"printing" includes the processes of embossing and firing on;
Cap. 29.
"registered trade mark" means a trade mark registered under the
provisions of the Industrial Property (Protection) Ordinance;
"to sell" includes to offer, expose, advertise or keep for sale and
to supply by way of compensation or otherwise;
"soft drink" means any liquid intended for sale as drink for
human consumption, either without or after dilution, and includes -
( a ) any fruit drink, and any fruit juice squash, crush or
cordial;
( b ) soda water, Indian or quinine tonic water, and any
sweetened artificially carbonated water whether
flavoured or unflavoured;
2 ġ S.L.231.20 SOFT DRINKS
( c ) ginger-beer and any herbal or botanical beverage;
but does not include -
(i) water from natural springs either in its natural
state or with added mineral substances;
(ii) fruit juice, sweetened or unsweetened, whether
concentrated or frozen or not;
(iii) milk or any preparation of milk;
(iv) tea, coffee, dandelion coffee, cocoa or
chocolate, or any preparation of tea, coffee,
dandelion coffee, cocoa or chocolate;
(v) any egg product;
(vi) any cereal product, except -
( aa ) flavoured barley water and liquid products
used in the preparation of barley water,
and
( ab ) cereal products containing alcohol, which
are not alcoholic beverages as defined in
accordance with sub-paragraph (ix);
(vii) meat, yeast or vegetable extracts, soup or soup
mixtures, or any similar product;
(viii) tomato juice, vegetable juice, or any preparation
of any such juice or juices;
S.L. 41.02 (ix) alcoholic beverages as defined in the Alcoholic
Beverages Regulations;
(x) any other unsweetened drink except soda water;
"squash" means a soft drink containing fruit juice, not being a
comminuted citrus drink, intended for consumption after dilution;
"sugar" means any soluble carbohydrate sweetening matter;
"sweetened" means containing added sugar or added
poly-alcohol or any permitted artificial sweetener.
Requirements as to 
composition of soft 
drink.
Amended by:
L.N. 34 of 1997.
3. (1) No soft drink shall contain any added artificial
sweetener other than a permitted artificial sweetener, and no person
shall sell any soft drink which does not comply with the provisions
of this sub-regulation.
(2) Any soft drink intended for consumption without dilution,
which is of a description shown in column one of the First Schedule
or the Third Schedule, shall conform to the requirements set out in
relation thereto in the other columns of the said Schedules as
respects the fruit juice or potable fruit content, as the case may be,
the quantity of added sugar and permitted artificial sweetener, and
other requirements.
(3) Any soft drink intended for consumption after dilution
which is of a description shown in column one of the Second
Schedule or the Fourth Schedule, shall conform to the requirements
set out in relation thereto in the other columns of the said Schedules
as respects the fruit juice or potable fruit content, as the case may
be, the quantity of added sugar and permitted artificial sweetener.
SOFT DRINKS ġ S.L.231.20 3
(4) No soft drink intended for consumption, without or after
dilution, by persons suffering from diabetes shall contain any
added sugar and no provision of these Regulations specifying a
maximum quantity of permitted artificial sweetener shall apply in
relation to any such soft drink.
(5) Any soft drink intended for consumption, without or after
dilution, as a low calorie soft drink shall, in addition to conforming
to the relevant requirements as respects the fruit juice or potable
fruit content, as the case may be, comply with a maximum calorie
content as follows:
( a ) if intended for consumption after dilution it shall
contain not more than 7.5 calories per 28.4 mls;
( b ) if intended for consumption without dilution it shall
contain not more than 1.5 calories per 28.4 mls:
Provided that provisions of these Regulations specifying a
minimum quantity of added sugar or a maximum quantity of
permitted artificial sweetener shall not apply in relation to any such
soft drink.
(6) Notwithstanding sub-regulation (3) and saving sub-
regulation (4), any soft drink intended for consumption after
dilution, may contain an amount of fruit juice or potable fruit
content or added sugar or permitted artificial sweetener such that
when diluted according to instructions on the label, the diluted
product shall comply with the requirements for soft drinks for
consumption without dilution:
Provided that the dilution ratio shall not be less than four
parts of water to one part of the concentrate.
(7) No person shall sell any drink under such a description as
to lead an intending purchaser to believe that he is purchasing a soft
drink to which sub-regulation (2), (3), (4), (5) or (6) applies, unless
the soft drink complies with the appropriate requirements set out or
referred to in those sub-regulations in relation to that soft drink.
(8) ( a ) No person shall advertise, expose for sale, sell or
supply by way of compensation or otherwise, any soft
drink whose descriptive name bears resemblance to or
is identical with another product, drug or medicine the
use of which is either prohibited or restricted by law.
( b ) No person shall advertise any soft drink implying
directly or indirectly any intoxicating attributes.
Acids in soft 
drinks.
S.L. 231.37
S.L. 231.30
4. (1) No soft drink may contain any acid other than ascorbic
acid, citric acid, lactic acid, malic acid, nicotinic acid, tartaric acid
drinks, or any other acid, in so far as the use of that acid in that soft
drink is permitted by the Permitted Food Additives Regulations, or
by the Use of Colours in Foodstuffs Regulations.
(2) Any soft drink, other than a fruit squash, a fruit crush or a
comminuted citrus drink, may contain acetic acid and phosphoric
acid.
(3) No person shall sell any soft drink which does not comply
with the provisions of this regulation.
4 ġ S.L.231.20 SOFT DRINKS
Labelling of soft 
drinks.
Amended by:
L.N. 45 of 1984;
L.N. 90 of 1994.
5. (1) Subject to the provisions of these Regulations no
person shall sell any soft drink in a container unless there is on the
container a label bearing, besides the information required under
article 14 of the Act, the following additional information:
( a ) in the case of a ready to drink beverage containing
fruit juice, the word "CRUSH'' preceded by the
appropriate name of the fruit or fruits;
( b ) in the case of a beverage containing fruit juice,
intended to be diluted, the word "SQUASH'' preceded
by the appropriate name of the fruit or fruits;
( c ) in the case of a ready to drink beverage or of a
beverage intended to be diluted, in either case
prepared by a process involving the comminution of
the entire fruit the word "DRINK" preceded by the
appropriate name of the fruit or fruits;
( d ) in the case of a beverage falling under paragraph ( a ) or
( b ) of this sub-regulation, instead of the word
"CRUSH" or of the word "SQUASH" there may be the
word ''CORDIAL" if the beverage is clear;
( e ) in the case of a beverage, whether ready to drink or
which needs dilution, and which is artificially
flavoured but not having the minimum requirements of
fruit juice or fruit content, the word "FLAVOUR" or
the suffix "ADE" in either case preceded by the
appropriate name of the fruit or fruits.
(2) No person shall sell any soft drink which does not comply
with the compositional requirements of these Regulations as
respect fruit juice or potable fruit content, in a container bearing a
label on which there appears -
( a ) any pictorial or other device suggestive of any fruit or
fruits; or
( b ) any word suggestive of any fruit or fruits not
represented in the flavouring of that drink.
(3) Where any soft drink contains any permitted artificial
sweetener it shall bear a label stating whether it contains only
saccharin sodium or saccharin calcium or aspartame or acesulfame
K, or any of them in addition to sugar:
Provided that where a soft drink contains aspartame there
shall also be an indication on the label that aspartame contains
phenylalanine.
Semi-sweet soft 
drinks.
6.  A soft drink which is semi-sweet shall be labelled as such,
which label shall also contain a description of that soft drink in
accordance with regulation 5.
Special soft drinks. 7. A soft drink intended for consumption by diabetics or as a
low calorie soft drink shall be clearly labelled "Fit for Diabetics" or
"Low Calorie", as the case may be, which label shall also contain a
description of that soft drink in accordance with regulation 5.
Vending machines. 8. No person shall sell in or from any vending machine any
soft drink, whether in a container or not, unless there appears on the
SOFT DRINKS ġ S.L.231.20 5
front of that vending machine in clear lettering and in a
conspicuous position a declaration giving the description specified
in regulations 5, 6 and 7 for the soft drink contained therein, where
applicable, and otherwise the descriptive name of that soft drink.
Use of caffeine in 
soft drinks.
Amended by:
L.N. 33 of 1978.
Substituted by:
L.N. 34 of 1997.
9. No soft drink shall contain any caffeine in excess of 200 mg
per litre:
Provided that a person may import, advertise, expose for
sale, distribute, sell or supply by way of compensation or otherwise
any soft drink with a caffeine content in excess of 200 mg per litre
and up to 350 mg per litre with the prior approval of the Council of
Health and provided such person abides by any conditions which
the said Council may impose.
6 ġ S.L.231.20 SOFT DRINKS
Amended by: FIRST SCHEDULE
L.N. 45 of 1984;
L.N. 90 of 1994.
Requirements as to Composition for Soft Drinks, other than Semi-Sweet Soft 
Drinks, for Consumption without Dilution
The requirements as to composition for soft drinks, other than any soft drink sold
as a semi-sweet soft drink, for consumption without dilution shall be those shown in
the Table below.
TABLE
Column 1 Column 2 Column 3 Column 4 Column 5 Column 6 Column 7
Description of soft 
drink
Minimum 
quantity of fruit 
juice (expressed 
in terms of juice 
of natural 
strength) or 
potable fruit 
content, as the 
case may be
Minimum 
quantity of 
added sugar 
per litre
Maximum 
quantity of 
saccharine, 
calcium 
saccharine or 
sodium 
saccharine 
per 45.4 
litres
Maximum 
quantity of 
permitted 
aspartame 
in the 
beverage as 
consumed
Maximum 
quantity of 
acesulfame 
K permitted 
in the 
beverage as 
consumed
Other 
require-
ments as to 
composi-
tion
Citrus juice and barley
water
3% citrus fruit 
juice by volume
45 grams 3.7 grams 0.1% 300 
milligrams 
per litre or 
13.62 
grams per 
45.4 litres
Lime crushes, lime
juice and soda
3% lime juice by 
volume
45 grams 3.7 grams 0.1% 300 
milligrams 
per litre or 
13.62 
grams per 
45.4 litres
Citrus crushes
(including citrus
crushes containing
a bitter principle)
not otherwise
specified in this
Schedule
5% citrus fruit 
juice by volume
45 grams 3.7 grams 0.1% 300 
milligrams 
per litre or 
13.62 
grams per 
45.4 litres
Any description of
soft drink
containing a
mixture of citrus
and non-citrus
fruit juices not
otherwise
specified in this
Schedule
5% fruit juice by 
volume
45 grams 3.7 grams 0.1% 300 
milligrams 
per litre or 
13.62 
grams per 
45.4 litres
Comminuted citrus
fruits and barley
drinks
1½% potable 
citrus fruit 
content by 
weight in 
volume
45 grams 3.7 grams 0.1% 300 
milligrams 
per litre or 
13.62 
grams per 
45.4 litres
Comminuted citrus
drinks (including
comminuted citrus
drinks containing
a bitter principle
or any citrus or
non-citrus juice)
not otherwise
specified in this
Schedule
2% potable 
citrus fruit 
content by 
weight in 
volume
45 grams 3.7 grams 0.1% 300 
milligrams 
per litre or 
13.62 
grams per 
45.4 litres
SOFT DRINKS ġ S.L.231.20 7
Column 1 Column 2 Column 3 Column 4 Column 5 Column 6 Column 7
Description of soft 
drink
Minimum 
quantity of fruit 
juice (expressed 
in terms of juice 
of natural 
strength) or 
potable fruit 
content, as the 
case may be
Minimum 
quantity of 
added sugar 
per litre
Maximum 
quantity of 
saccharine, 
calcium 
saccharine or 
sodium 
saccharine 
per 45.4 
litres
Maximum 
quantity of 
permitted 
aspartame 
in the 
beverage as 
consumed
Maximum 
quantity of 
acesulfame 
K permitted 
in the 
beverage as 
consumed
Other 
require-
ments as to 
composi-
tion
Any description of
soft drink
containing
fermented apple
juice or fermented
pear juice
5% fermented 
apple juice or 
fermented pear 
juice by volume
45 grams 3.7 grams 0.1% 300 
milligrams 
per litre or 
13.62 
grams per 
45.4 litres
Any other description
of soft drink
containing fruit
juice not otherwise
specified in this
Schedule
5% fruit juice by 
volume
45 grams 3.7 grams 0.1% 300 
milligrams 
per litre or 
13.62 
grams per 
45.4 litres
Indian or quinine tonic
water
- 45 grams 3.7 grams 0.1% 300 
milligrams 
per litre or 
13.62 
grams per 
45.4 litres
To contain
not less
than 60 mg
of quinine
(calculated
as quinine
sulphate
B.P.) per
litre
Soda water - - - 0.1% 300 
milligrams 
per litre or 
13.62 
grams per 
45.4 litres
To contain
not less
than 600
mg of
sodium
bicarbon-
ate per
litre
Dry ginger ale - 30 grams 3.7 grams 0.1% 300 
milligrams 
per litre or 
13.62 
grams per 
45.4 litres
Brewed ginger-beer
and herbal and
botanical
beverages
- 20 grams 5.30 grams 0.1% 300 
milligrams 
per litre or 
13.62 
grams per 
45.4 litres
Any description of
soft drink (except
those mentioned in
the Second
Schedule) not
otherwise
specified in this
Schedule
- 45 grams 3.7 grams 0.1% 300 
milligrams 
per litre or 
13.62 
grams per 
45.4 litres
8 ġ S.L.231.20 SOFT DRINKS
Amended by: SECOND SCHEDULE
L.N. 33 of 1978;
L.N. 45 of 1984;
L.N. 90 of 1994.
Requirements as to Composition for Soft Drinks, other than Semi Sweet Soft 
Drinks, for Consumption after Dilution
The requirements as to composition for soft drinks, other than any soft drink sold
as a semi-sweet drink for consumption after dilution shall be those shown in the
Table below.
TABLE
Column 1 Column 2 Column 3 Column 4 Column 5 Column 6
Description of soft drink
Minimum 
quantity of fruit 
juice (expressed 
in terms of juice 
of natural 
strength) or 
potable fruit 
content, as the 
case may be
Minimum 
quantity of 
added sugar 
per litre
Maximum 
quantity of 
saccharine, 
calcium 
saccharine or 
sodium 
saccharine 
per 45.4 
litres
Maximum 
quantity of 
permitted 
aspartame in 
the beverage 
as consumed
Maximum 
quantity of 
acesulfame 
K permitted 
in the 
beverage as 
consumed
Citrus juice and barley
water
15% citrus fruit 
juice by volume
225grams 19 grams 0.1% 300 
milligrams 
per litre or 
13.62 grams 
per 45.4 
litres
Citrus squashes (including
citrus squashes
containing a bitter
principle) not otherwise
specified in this
Schedule
25% citrus fruit 
juice by volume
225 grams 19 grams 0.1% 300 
milligrams 
per litre or 
13.62 grams 
per 45.4 
litres
Any description of soft
drink containing a
mixture of citrus and
non citrus fruit juices
not otherwise specified
in this Schedule
25% fruit juice by 
volume
225 grams 19 grams 0.1% 300 
milligrams 
per litre or 
13.62 grams 
per 45.4 
litres
Comminuted citrus fruit
and barley drinks
7% potable citrus 
fruit content by 
weight in volume
225 grams 19 grams 0.1% 300 
milligrams 
per litre or 
13.62 grams 
per 45.4 
litres
Comminuted citrus drinks
(including comminuted
citrus drinks containing
a bitter principle or any
citrus or non-citrus
juice) not otherwise
specified in this
Schedule
10% potable 
citrus fruit 
content by weight 
in volume 
225 grams 19 grams 0.1% 300 
milligrams 
per litre or 
13.62 grams 
per 45.4 
litres
Non-citrus fruit squashes 10% non-citrus 
fruit juice by 
volume 225 
grams
225 grams 19 grams 0.1% 300 
milligrams 
per litre or 
13.62 grams 
per 45.4 
litres
Any description of soft
drink (except those
mentioned in the First
Schedule) not
otherwise specified in
this Schedule
- 225 grams 19 grams 0.1% 300 
milligrams 
per litre or 
13.62 grams 
per 45.4 
litres
SOFT DRINKS ġ S.L.231.20 9
THIRD SCHEDULE Amended by:
L.N. 45 of 1984;
L.N. 90 of 1994.
Requirements as to Composition for Semi-sweet Soft Drinks
for Consumption without Dilution 
The requirements as to composition for soft drinks, sold as semi-sweet soft-drinks,
for consumption without dilution shall be those shown in the Table below.
TABLE
Column 1 Column 2 Column 3 Column 4 Column 5 Column 6
Description of semi-
sweet soft drinks
Minimum 
quantity of 
fruit juice 
(expressed in 
terms of juice 
of natural 
strength) or 
potable fruit 
content, as the 
case may be
Quantity of added 
sugar per litre
Maximum 
quantity of 
saccharine, 
calcium 
saccharine 
or sodium 
saccharine 
per 45.4 
litres
Maximum 
quantity of 
permitted 
aspartame in 
the beverage 
as consumed
Maximum 
quantity of 
acesulfame 
K permitted 
in the 
beverage as 
consumed
Minimum Maximum
Citrus juice and barley
water
3% citrus fruit 
juice by 
volume
22.5 
grams
30 grams 1.9 grams 0.1% 300 
milligrams 
per litre or 
13.62 grams 
per 45.4 
litres
Lime crushes, lime
juice and soda
3% lime fruit 
juice by 
volume
22.5 
grams
30 grams 1.9 grams 0.1% 300 
milligrams 
per litre or 
13.62 grams 
per 45.4 
litres
Citrus crushes
(including citrus
crushes containing
a bitter principle)
not otherwise
specified in this
Schedule
5% citrus fruit 
juice by 
volume
22.5 
grams
30 grams 1.9 grams 0.1% 300 
milligrams 
per litre or 
13.62 grams 
per 45.4 
litres
Any description of soft
drink containing a
mixture of citrus
and non citrus fruit
juices not
otherwise specified
in this Schedule
5% fruit juice 
by volume 
22.5 
grams
30 grams 1.9 grams 0.1% 300 
milligrams 
per litre or 
13.62 grams 
per 45.4 
litres
Comminuted citrus
fruit and barley
drinks 
1½% potable 
citrus fruit 
content by 
weight in 
volume
22.5 
grams
30 grams 1.9 grams 0.1% 300 
milligrams 
per litre or 
13.62 grams 
per 45.4 
litres
Comminuted citrus
drinks (including
comminuted citrus
drinks containing a
bitter principle or
any citrus or
non-citrus juice)
not otherwise
specified in this
Schedule
2% potable 
citrus fruit 
content by 
weight in 
volume
22.5 
grams
30 grams 1.9 grams 0.1% 300 
milligrams 
per litre or 
13.62 grams 
per 45.4 
litres
10 ġ S.L.231.20 SOFT DRINKS
Amended by: FOURTH SCHEDULE
L.N. 45 of 1984;
L.N. 90 of 1994.
Requirements as to Composition for Semi-Sweet Soft Drinks
for Consumption after Dilution
The requirements as to composition for soft drinks, sold as semi-sweet soft drinks,
for consumption after dilution shall be those shown in the Table below.
TABLE
Column 1 Column 2 Column 3 Column 4 Column 5 Column 6
Description of semi-
sweet soft drinks
Minimum 
quantity of 
fruit juice 
(expressed in 
terms of juice 
of natural 
strength) or 
potable fruit 
content, as the 
case may be
Quantity of added 
sugar per litre
Maximum 
quantity of 
saccharine, 
calcium 
saccharine 
or sodium 
saccharine 
per 45.4 
litres
Maximum 
quantity of 
permitted 
aspartame in 
the beverage 
as consumed
Maximum 
quantity of 
acesulfame 
K permitted 
in the 
beverage as 
consumed
Minimum Maximum
Any description of soft
drink containing
fruit juice not
otherwise specified
in this Schedule.
5% fruit juice 
by volume
22.5 
grams
30 grams 1.9 grams 0.1% 300 
milligrams 
per litre or 
13.62 grams 
per 45.4 
litres
Column 1 Column 2 Column 3 Column 4 Column 5 Column 6
Description of semi-sweet 
soft drinks
Minimum 
quantity of fruit 
juice (expressed 
in terms of 
juice of natural 
strength) or 
potable fruit 
content, as the 
case may be
Quantity of added 
sugar per litre
Maximum 
quantity of 
saccharine, 
calcium 
saccharine 
or sodium 
saccharine 
per 45.4 
litres
Maximum 
quantity 
of 
permitted 
aspartame 
in the 
beverage 
as 
consumed
Maximum 
quantity of 
acesulfame 
K 
permitted 
in the 
beverage 
as 
consumed
Minimum Maximum
Citrus juice and barley
water
15% citrus fruit 
juice by volume
110 
grams
150 
grams
9.5 grams 0.1% 300 
milligrams 
per litre or 
13.62 
grams per 
45.4 litres
Citrus squashes (including
citrus squashes
containing a bitter
principle) not otherwise
specified in this
Schedule
25% citrus fruit 
juice by volume
112.5 
grams
150 
grams
9.5 grams 0.1% 300 
milligrams 
per litre or 
13.62 
grams per 
45.4 litres
Comminuted citrus fruit and
barley drinks
7% potable 
citrus fruit 
content by 
weight in 
volume
112.5 
grams
150 
grams
9.5 grams 0.1% 300 
milligrams 
per litre or 
13.62 
grams per 
45.4 litres
SOFT DRINKS ġ S.L.231.20 11
Column 1 Column 2 Column 3 Column 4 Column 5 Column 6
Description of semi-sweet 
soft drinks
Minimum 
quantity of fruit 
juice (expressed 
in terms of 
juice of natural 
strength) or 
potable fruit 
content, as the 
case may be
Quantity of added 
sugar per litre
Maximum 
quantity of 
saccharine, 
calcium 
saccharine 
or sodium 
saccharine 
per 45.4 
litres
Maximum 
quantity 
of 
permitted 
aspartame 
in the 
beverage 
as 
consumed
Maximum 
quantity of 
acesulfame 
K 
permitted 
in the 
beverage 
as 
consumed
Minimum Maximum
Comminuted citrus drinks
(including comminuted
citrus drinks containing
a bitter principle or any
citrus or non-citrus
juice) not otherwise
specified in this
Schedule
10% potable 
citrus fruit 
content by 
weight in 
volume
112.5 
grams
150 
grams
9.5 grams 0.1% 300 
milligrams 
per litre or 
13.62 
grams per 
45.4 litres
Non-citrus fruit squashes 10% non-citrus 
fruit juice by 
volume
112.5 
grams
150 
grams
9.5 grams 0.1% 300 
milligrams 
per litre or 
13.62 
grams per 
45.4 litres
Any description of soft
drink containing a
mixture of citrus and
non-citrus fruit juice not
otherwise specified in
this Schedule
25% fruit juice 
by volume
112.5 
grams
150 
grams
9.5 grams 0.1% 300 
milligrams 
per litre or 
13.62 
grams per 
45.4 litres
