18.—(1) Notwithstanding the revocation of the 1998 Regulations by regulation 24 of the 2006 Regulations, in relation to any plastic material or article–
(a)manufactured before the 1st July 1998, the defence in regulation 3(3) of the 1998 Regulations;
(b)manufactured or imported into the European Community before 1st January 2003, the defence in regulation 10(15) of the 1998 Regulations;
(c)put into free circulation in the European Community before 30th November 2002, the defence in regulation 10(16) of the 1998 Regulations;
(d)manufactured or imported into the European Community before 1st March 2004, the defence in regulation 10(21)(a) of the 1998 Regulations;
(e)manufactured or imported into the European Community before 1st March 2003, the defence in regulation 10(21)(b) of the 1998 Regulations;
(f)containing azodicarbonamide and brought into contact with food before 2nd August 2005, the defence in regulation 10(23) of the 1998 Regulations; or
(g)manufactured or imported into the European Community before 1st March 2006, the defence in regulation 10(25) of the 1998 Regulations,
shall apply in relation to offences under these Regulations as it applied to offences under the equivalent provisions in those Regulations.
(2) In any proceedings for an offence under these Regulations other than an offence mentioned in regulation 17(1) it shall be a defence to prove —
(a)that the act constituting the alleged offence was committed in relation to a plastic material or article which was manufactured or imported into the European Community before 19th November 2007; and
(b)that the matter constituting the alleged offence would not otherwise have constituted an offence under these Regulations if the amendments to the Directive made by Commission Directive 2005/79/EC had not been implemented at the time the matter occurred.