Mandatory and voluntary labelling 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)

Loose foods (non pre-packed)

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.

The official response to the Commission from UEAPME which Food Solutions contributed to can be seen here

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

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

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

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

Allergen labelling is discussed on the allergen page and in detail the Handbook.

You know the rules with Food solutions.

Food Labelling

Why is labelling important?

The labelling proposal will affect you. See the latest information about progress and our response here. Thanks to all those who gave us their views.

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
• best before
• sell by/display until

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 handbook and in articles on the website.

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

Food Solutions represents you

Food Solutions Editor, Bob Salmon writes,"I am pleased to report that the Agency has listened to the views sent in by our members. I have had long talks with their senior officers both in London and in Brussels and the Agency has now adopted a position which would exempt small food businesses from some of the most expensive, and frankly unworkable, proposals of the Commission. Both the Agency and the Commission listen and take notice of our comments.

 We have therefore also put our members’ points verbatim to the Commission through our offices in Brussels . Not only that but I am due to address a delegation of MEPs in the next few weeks to pass on our members’ views. If we all ignore these consultations we will get what we deserve. That could mean some very expensive new rules and many caterers and retailers having to provide detailed analyses of their products."

Food Solutions in Brussels

Bob addressed the meeting of MEP's in Brussels in October. He was the only UK representative permitted to speak.

He put the small business point of view across. The regulation as it stands would be very costly to the industry and some aspects would be unworkable in practice - nutrition labelling of loose foods/restaurant meals.