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EU FAQ 2008

food labeling

Mandatory and voluntary labellling information.

Mandatory information - that must be on food labels includes:

  • name of product
  • list of ingredients
  • net quantity
  • date of minimum durability
  • allergen information

A table in the Guide and articles on the website go into more detail on the requirements.

Voluntary information - extra information for consumers for product marketing purposes:

  • vegetarian/vegan
  • special offers
  • brand information
  • environmental impact (dolphin friendly)

Separate rules apply to foods sold loose (not pre-packed) and to very small packs.

There are currently some forty separate regulations covering labelling so the rules are complex.

The draft EC regulation on the provision of food information to consumers (Jan 08 version) can be viewed here.

 

  

Labelling

Why is labelling important?

The new labelling proposal will affect you. More detail and our draft response here. Have your say while you may.

The laws on food labelling are under review. The basic concept is contained in article 16 of 178/2002, which says:

"Without prejudice to more specific provisions of food law, the labelling, advertising and presentation of food or feed, including their shape, appearance or packaging, the packaging materials used, the manner in which they are arranged and the setting in which they are displayed, and the information which is made available about them through whatever medium, shall not mislead the consumer."

This means the food must be what it says it is as well as what it looks like.


Dates on labels

It is a legal requirement that all pre-packed foods are labelled with a durability date.

There are three dates you might see.

  • use by
    • critical for perishable foods, selling after this date is an offence as food safety could be compromised
  • best before
    • quality and/or texture may be affected, but sale is not prohibited
  • sell by/display until
    • for stock rotation, should have best before or use by date as well

Eggs - special rules

Sell by date should be no more than 21 days from date of lay.

Use by date no more than 28 days from lay.

Egg marking codes denoting production method and origin are discussed in depth in the guide and in articles on the website.

There are currently 87 pieces of EU and UK legislation egg producers should be aware of.

Claims on labels

A claim: "means any message or representation, including pictorial, graphic or symbolic representation, in any form, which states, suggests or implies that a food has particular characteristics." (EC 1924/2006)

This prohibits any claim as defined above suggesting a beneficial relationship between that food and health.

There will be a positive list of generic terms that can be made in the next few years.

Meanwhile, there are recognised claims and conditions applying to them such as:

  • low fat
  • high fibre
  • sugar free

The Guide quotes the full list of permitted claims and their conditions.

If any claim is made there must also be a panel showing the nutients and their quantities.

The full text of the Regulation EC 1924/2006 is on the website

Allergen labelling is discussed on the allergen page.